Sowing grass seed

Boss Man

Member
Livestock Farmer
I know there are many different ways! We have been using a wag tail for donkeys years but have been thinking of cutting out one job and trying to one pass it with a air seeder mounted onto a power harrow

has anyone tried this and how has it established? We normally run a chain harrow over after seeding with the wag tail as the seed is on the surface, i think this setup will have same issue.
 

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Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
You have a good point, by using the tine harrow seeder it will still cut out the chain harrowing after spreading the seed out.
Yes , if there is wet weather in the forecast I sometimes just roll and don't bother with the chain harrow , the biggest crime with small seed as you probably know is putting them to deep , when we one cultivated ground with that harrow the tines just brush the ground
 

Boss Man

Member
Livestock Farmer
Yes , if there is wet weather in the forecast I sometimes just roll and don't bother with the chain harrow , the biggest crime with small seed as you probably know is putting them to deep , when we one cultivated ground with that harrow the tines just brush the ground
Our issue is having the seeds on the surface of the ground, hence the chain harrowing. With the tined cultivator as you said its tucked away just underneath the surface. The only other option would be a guttler greenmaster
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
Our issue is having the seeds on the surface of the ground, hence the chain harrowing. With the tined cultivator as you said its tucked away just underneath the surface. The only other option would be a guttler greenmaster
More expensive to do a no better job , simple works the best with grass seed ,unless your direct drilling
 

DrDunc

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Dunsyre
Surely the seed will land behind the tine harrow so would be on surface?
The outlets on my einbock are near the front of the tines. The seed gets covered perfectly once you've adjusted the depth wheels correctly.
Accuracy is tremendous for both grass and rape seed that it's used for here

I used to use an air seeder on the power harrow. Though the pipes were removed from the Coulter's making the seed spread further, it still left distinct rows of seed. It also needed another pass with tine harrows to cover the seed
 

gwi1890

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North wales
Experimented a bit last year , the usual routine is disk, broadcast and roll following roots that were dd for winter forage, last year I just broadcast with a fert spinner and let the sheep in to trod it in, surprising the results you can get without chucking money at it, this picture was taken last week.

88A40478-DB7C-4F9D-A4D2-A1C9F5E9743A.jpeg
 

Derrick Hughes

Member
Location
Ceredigion
The outlets on my einbock are near the front of the tines. The seed gets covered perfectly once you've adjusted the depth wheels correctly.
Accuracy is tremendous for both grass and rape seed that it's used for here

I used to use an air seeder on the power harrow. Though the pipes were removed from the Coulter's making the seed spread further, it still left distinct rows of seed. It also needed another pass with tine harrows to cover the seed
Providing the operator keeps the depth wheels down and tines not set agresive
 

Boss Man

Member
Livestock Farmer
More expensive to do a no better job , simple works the best with grass seed ,unless your direct drilling
I have seen the direct slot seeders working, they do well but thinking that its just a sort of quick fix. I also saw the spacings too wide apart but the chap did say to cross stitch but thats extra time again comparing to likes of tine harrow or guttler
 

sheepdogtrail

Member
Livestock Farmer
I would still role it if you can
Moisture retention is essential in the spring, like don't leave ploughing to long to dry out before working down and rolling
I would agree to roll if you can and the conditions are favorable for it. Rolling is extra insurance that helps ensure the crucial seed to soil contact is well made and the seed just slightly covered.
 

devonbeef

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon UK
I always blow the seed on top of powerharrowing and just roll in, very happy with the results.
The one time i did that last year had a flock of small birds spent the next few weeks eating the seeds, did you find that a issue ? My reseed came up but thinner than i hoped , i,m thinking because of birds.Next time i won,t be skipping a light harrow.
 

HarryB97

Member
Mixed Farmer
The one time i did that last year had a flock of small birds spent the next few weeks eating the seeds, did you find that a issue ? My reseed came up but thinner than i hoped , i,m thinking because of birds.Next time i won,t be skipping a light harrow.
Never had that issue, the drill also has a full width tyre packer on which rolls the seed as well as flicking a little soil about.
 

KB6930

Member
Location
Borders
I know there are many different ways! We have been using a wag tail for donkeys years but have been thinking of cutting out one job and trying to one pass it with a air seeder mounted onto a power harrow

has anyone tried this and how has it established? We normally run a chain harrow over after seeding with the wag tail as the seed is on the surface, i think this setup will have same issue.
No reason why this won't work if you really want just rig up a row of scratcher tines after.

There's an argument here every year about harrowing seed in we use either browns harrow for undersowing or with the combi drill if it's just straight grass which is usually just after the sumo trio .

I tried a few runs in the middle of a 40 acre field just blowing seed on the top with the browns and there's absolutely no difference between harrowing it in and just rolling it
 

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