Flail question (smallholding paddocks leaving dry grass behind)

[harry44]

We live on a non working farm with around 10 acres, finally managed to get on top of the fields and keeping the grass height low.

Quick question though, i top the fields when the grass grows around 4" or so, but every time we seem to just churn up dry grass and it sits on the top and seems to be a never ending cycle.

The cut quality seems really good but we end up being left with a layer of dry grass over the top of the land.

Am i doing something wrong with pto speed or do i need to invest in something like a flail collector or just a pto brush collector to get rid of that old layer of dry grass?

Something like this:

Winton WFC120 1.2m PTO Flail Mower & Collector

The WFC120 Winton Flail Collector is an ideal attachment for lawns, parks, amenity areas, vineyards and also wildflower meadows.

www.zarosmachinery.co.uk

It has been a bad year as all of you know as i only started topping in around april and the grass was very long.

 

[Moors Lad]

Cards on table, I think it`s a crying shame that little bits of land are not producing food - a 10 acre "lawn" is criminal in my eyes! Anyway to try to help... Is your land level enough to cut with bigger machines and with gateways/ access for a local farmer to take a cut of hay/haylage off at this time of year ? Maybe you are not in a livestock area... One good cut at this time of year would probably leave it so that you could keep on top of it with your existing machine - don`t expect to get paid but it would be a possible solution...

 

[suffolksmallholder]

I cut as high as my machine can go, so that’s about 200mm 20cm or 8” in old money. FYI have just finished topping.
@Moors Lad. Ours is similar sized. We have a mixed bag of grasses,(no bloody ryegrass!) orchids and in amongst this are our elderly ponies, pheasants, goldfinches, skylarks and hares plus a lot of others. Not forgetting sixteen different tree species.
No way do I want coos or the hassle of sherp. I have an orchard & we are almost self sufficient with a broad range of vegetables and salads.
I let the neighbours deal with their monoculture and flea beetle problems.
Not disrespecting your input, simply stating it from my side of the fence.
SS

 

[Moors Lad]

the hassle of sherp.

What`s tha mean....??? Hassle?????

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Bloody things just want to die!
Had enough of them with contract grazers who couldn’t be bothered with their welfare
Funny creatures them sherp
SD

 

[Kidds]

Give it a cut before winter and it will rot down before spring, keep on top of it after that and the problem will be much reduced.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

@harry44 don’t collect. Just flail or top.
As per my post.
SS

 

[steveR]

I think that the OP, @harry44 needs to think in terms of parkland maintenance. What sort of topper are you using??

Start cutting early on, and then cut regularly, 2" max and keep at it.... As you have found already, leaving it long just creates even more material on top. A Rotary topper, with mulching kit would be perfect. BUT, this will be time consuming and not cheap.