[UPoneacre]

We've only been on our holding for a couple of years and still have yet to grapple fully with our small field that was largely neglected by the previous owners. It is all grass but contains a fairly good proportion of cocksfoot and at the end of last year we couldn't get it cut due to the wet weather so it was left over-long over winter. This has left it with a fair amount of beaten down dried out long grass among lumpier bits about 8-10" high. I need to tackle this shortly as the ground has now dried off enough to get on it.

The question is would it be better to chain harrow first to remove as much rubbish as possible, then top it to level it off, or top it first then tidy up with the harrow? Any suggestions?

[Possum]

We have the same problem this year. The grass is much longer than usual due to the mild winter. We have topped first and will harrow next week. If you try to harrow in long grass it can pull up the grass and leave the thatch.

[UPoneacre]

Thanks Possum; that sounds like the logical idea.
As luck would have it we haven't got our new harrow just yet but as the rain has arrived it'll all have a to wait a bit longer after all