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Author Topic: Improving hay field  (Read 2085 times)

sadlerlou

  • Joined Mar 2016
Improving hay field
« on: August 01, 2017, 03:36:51 pm »
Hi all!

I'm looking for advice on a 10 acre hay field which i have taken on! It suffered terrible damage from the badgers last winter resulting in several large areas which had been turned over by them. In these areas i have had hemlock (not the giant type) take hold and to be honest the whole field is looking tired.

Hay has been cut from it now and it has now greened over, would you recommend getting horses and sheep in there to graze it down then over seed and fertilize in spring? Its rented ground which had cattle on it for years so I don't want to go mad money wise however it does need some love!

Any ideas welcome!


Still playing with tractors

  • Joined Jul 2012
  • Cumbernauld
  • You can never have enough HP
Re: Improving hay field
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2017, 02:31:47 pm »
Hi the basics of overseeding and feeding the sward would be a good start along with aeration. You could run a power harrow or rotovator over the damaged bits, but its getting towards the end of the window to get much growth this rear but it will bounce back next spring.

hope that helps

Zebedee

  • Joined Jul 2013
Re: Improving hay field
« Reply #2 on: August 12, 2017, 06:30:42 pm »
What's wrong with your field? What do you want to improve exactly?

It's more likely you have hogweed than Hemlock.

Backinwellies

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  • Joined Sep 2012
  • Llandeilo Carmarthenshire
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Re: Improving hay field
« Reply #3 on: August 12, 2017, 07:09:33 pm »
You need to put back not take more off   harrow and add muck  maybe top later if grows.... may well need aeration.
Linda

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landroverroy

  • Joined Oct 2010
Re: Improving hay field
« Reply #4 on: August 12, 2017, 07:30:18 pm »
What's wrong with your field? What do you want to improve exactly?

It's more likely you have hogweed than Hemlock.


I would have thought Cow Parsley. It used to be called Mother Die in the old days to stop children eating it, because it is very difficult to distinguish it from Hemlock.
Wouldn't expect Hemlock to be growing profusely in a former hay field. :thinking: [size=78%] [/size]
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