Establishing grass and wildflowers using 750a

[Simon Chiles]

I did attempt to spot spray thistles once. Too much like hard work. I conveniently haven't got my knapsack spraying qualification yet!

I'll phone your Dad on Monday and suggest that it's soon rectified.

 

[Feldspar]

I'll phone your Dad on Monday and suggest that it's soon rectified.

He's fed up with qualifications at the moment since we've had our health and safety consultancy visit. He jumped 6 feet in the air when the new H&S file appeared. You need a manual handling course to get it out of the box. The visiting guy rather upset him when he suggested that he ought to throw away his woodloused old rickety wooden ladders that he's used for 60 odd years.

 

[Great In Grass]

Environmental grass mixes unlikely to contain clover?

Just checked we have 5 different species of clover in 19 different Mid & Higher tier stewardship mixes for 2017.

 

[Simon Chiles]

Just checked we have 5 different species of clover in 19 different Mid & Higher tier stewardship mixes for 2017.

Sorry. Old rules for environmental mixes always banned clover. New ones could be a useful way of building soil fertility then.

 

[Feldspar]

Sorry. Old rules for environmental mixes always banned clover. New ones could be a useful way of building soil fertility then.

The whole field option is a 2 year legume and grass mix. Should be good for the soil. Shame we only have 40ac worth. The way it's all structured means we have 130ac of fallow which we're not allowed to put cover crops or anything in -- annoying.

 

[Simon Chiles]

He's fed up with qualifications at the moment since we've had our health and safety consultancy visit. He jumped 6 feet in the air when the new H&S file appeared. You need a manual handling course to get it out of the box. The visiting guy rather upset him when he suggested that he ought to throw away his woodloused old rickety wooden ladders that he's used for 60 odd years.

PS. When drilling the wild flowers into grass don't forget to take the thickness of the grass matt when setting depth. Seeding into topped grass will result in uneven seeding especially if it's left in clumps, always top after drilling.

 

[Great In Grass]

Sorry. Old rules for environmental mixes always banned clover. New ones could be a useful way of building soil fertility then.

That's why I checked you got me thinking we have three different Reds, Alsike and Crimson clover, 21 mixes in total supplier said it could have been more!

 

[Feldspar]

PS. When drilling the wild flowers into grass don't forget to take the thickness of the grass matt when setting depth. Seeding into topped grass will result in uneven seeding especially if it's left in clumps, always top after drilling.

Do you think better to drill wild flowers in the spring, or do a bit of experimenting this spring and then try and drill in the autumn (if indeed you can drill them in the autumn)?

 

[Great In Grass]

The whole field option is a 2 year legume and grass mix. Should be good for the soil. Shame we only have 40ac worth.

Would that be AB15?

 

[Feldspar]

Would that be AB15?

yes

 

[Great In Grass]

Do you think better to drill wild flowers in the spring, or do a bit of experimenting this spring and then try and drill in the autumn (if indeed you can drill them in the autumn)?

August to late-September.

 

[Great In Grass]

I'd be happy to quote if you'd like to start a conversation listing your requirements I'll sharpen my pencil and get to work.

 

[Simon Chiles]

Do you think better to drill wild flowers in the spring, or do a bit of experimenting this spring and then try and drill in the autumn (if indeed you can drill them in the autumn)?

I expect drilling in the Autumn would be more successful but you'll have to fill us in on what you are planting before we can give you proper advice.

 

[Feldspar]

I expect drilling in the Autumn would be more successful but you'll have to fill us in on what you are planting before we can give you proper advice.

Will let you know in due course!

 

[Great In Grass]

Regarding the wild flowers I'd keep cutting the grass and remove it up until sowing to reduce soil fertility as best you can.

 

[Feldspar]

Regarding the wild flowers I'd keep cutting the grass and remove it up until sowing to reduce soil fertility as best you can.

That's always the other problem being in non-grass country. Not many people have ways of remove cut grass.

 

[Great In Grass]

That's always the other problem being in non-grass country. Not many people have ways of remove cut grass.

Hmm, yes makes things difficult. You could always pinch a few of Clive's sheep when he's not looking.

 

[Simon Chiles]

That's always the other problem being in non-grass country. Not many people have ways of remove cut grass.

Flail collector is the best tool for that job. Also useful for harvesting wildflower seeds and then spreading the clippings to another site, must be spread instantly otherwise they heat and loose germination.

 

[Great In Grass]

Flail collector is the best tool for that job. Also useful for harvesting wildflower seeds and then spreading the clippings to another site, must be spread instantly otherwise they heat and loose germination.

Had to google that machine may be possible to hire from a turf grower or golf club?

 

[Feldspar]

Had to google that machine may be possible to hire from a turf grower or golf club?

Yes, could look at see if there is one for hire.