Grassland rejuvenator

[Thelastshepherd]

Has anyone got or had experience with the any of these? I'm looking to oversow most of my grass and thought these might be worth the investment. I don't have anything at the moment so I'm comparing to contractors or buying each bit individually.

Any advice would be great.

 

[Macsky]

Had a go with an aitchison after silage a few years ago, didn’t go great. The grass was flat before cutting so there was a lot of trash to get through, and there was a thick old turf as well so the drill struggled to penetrate, fertility wasn’t right, it went in too late and although it did germinate, it turned very cold and the drills turned into tiny ditches and drowned the seedlings.

In hindsight the field was not suitable for rejuvenation.

I think it’s much more important to try and get the conditions as good as you can for the seed introduced, that will be much more variable than the kit used.

I’m not entirely convinced, with the cost of seed, fert and lime, that oversowing is a great idea.

 

[Thelastshepherd]

At the moment I can't do anything till we get a little moisture! I'm leaning more to over sow route as I'm short of grazing fields anyway and don't want to get into more bother with fields that the cows can't get out on

 

[Yale]

I’m not entirely convinced, with the cost of seed, fert and lime, that oversowing is a great idea.

However you should be entirely convinced that if nutrients are not right then it’s a bad job all round,improved or not.

The action of overseeding is the tip of the iceberg,or the icing on the cake.

Below the waterline or the lack of nutrients are the unseen menace ready to sink your overseed.

 

[Dman2]

think @Kevtherev is your man for this

 

[Kevtherev]

What sort of rejuvenator are you thinking about?
Establishing grass in existing grass is challenging at times but can be done.

 

[ollie989898]

Soil test first.

I dont like overseeding much unless there is bare dirt showing.

 

[CornishRanger]

Are you looking at any reguvenator in particular? There is more than one way to overseed though I'm no expert I guess it's horses for courses, what works on some ground in some conditions will be unsuitable on other ground, or even just in different conditions.

@Great In Grass will probably be able to able to add something useful

 

[Kevtherev]

Tips for overseeding and renovation of grassland
1.soil test ph and p&k
2.bare off to the boards with sheep or cattle or spray off with glyphosate
3. Choose a dedicated renovation mixture (I use aggressive tetraploid grasses and hybrids)
4 Go in at a fairly high seed rate 10-12kg per acre
5.either direct drill or use an einbock type Harrow (I’ve used both)
6.large leaved clover is better for overseeding ime
7.remember about soil pests slugs and leather jackets especially in older pastures
8. Grazing management after sowing to take out existing grass which is a serious competitor
9.roll lightly after sowing either with an empty ballast roller which I use or walk sheep across it for a few days.
10. Conserve moisture as much as possible and monitor closely the new Seeds
11. Don’t put slug pellets in with the seed broadcast after if needed (contains attractant)
12.after a cut of silage I find is best as the existing grass is weakened and barer more open leys are more successful.
13.weed control after as drilling or scratching wakes up existing weed seeds
14.consider a pioneer crop of stubble turnips or rape/kale as a break crop and establish grass after the following spring
(More chance of weed control)
This is based on my own experience over the years not quoted from Sales literature.
Most seed companies will offer a renovation mix or mix one to your own specifications.
I get a couple of firms to make them to my own specs.

 

[Kevtherev]

@hally is also very experienced in this area as well

 

[Kevtherev]

Also remember no two fields are the same and it has many variables including the weather!
Can be a great success or a great big disaster!!

 

[Kevtherev]

What can be achieved if everything goes to plan

 

[Kevtherev]

Just to add even though I sell forage seed there is sometimes no need to buy seed a pasture can sometimes be improved solely by management

 

[Kiwi Pete]

It seems like only last month everyone was wondering how to overseed without it getting swamped out by grass
Now is about as "shocked and awed" as it gets, in our type of climate- it has got the proper sulks....
From an oversowing perspective, this would be about ideal year, provided rain comes to keep it going, and you could nip off that first little pick as the existing sward comes back to life?
The only negatives I can see are cracks swallowing seed, fritfly, and the desire to bite off every blade of grass that grows from now on - if all the nutrient ducks are in a row, of course.

Be a nasty month to be a slug!

 

[hally]

@hally is also very experienced in this area as well

I think you’ve got all the bases well covered Kev

 

[kill]

Tips for overseeding and renovation of grassland
1.soil test ph and p&k
2.bare off to the boards with sheep or cattle or spray off with glyphosate
3. Choose a dedicated renovation mixture (I use aggressive tetraploid grasses and hybrids)
4 Go in at a fairly high seed rate 10-12kg per acre
5.either direct drill or use an einbock type Harrow (I’ve used both)
6.large leaved clover is better for overseeding ime
7.remember about soil pests slugs and leather jackets especially in older pastures
8. Grazing management after sowing to take out existing grass which is a serious competitor
9.roll lightly after sowing either with an empty ballast roller which I use or walk sheep across it for a few days.
10. Conserve moisture as much as possible and monitor closely the new Seeds
11. Don’t put slug pellets in with the seed broadcast after if needed (contains attractant)
12.after a cut of silage I find is best as the existing grass is weakened and barer more open leys are more successful.
13.weed control after as drilling or scratching wakes up existing weed seeds
14.consider a pioneer crop of stubble turnips or rape/kale as a break crop and establish grass after the following spring
(More chance of weed control)
This is based on my own experience over the years not quoted from Sales literature.
Most seed companies will offer a renovation mix or mix one to your own specifications.
I get a couple of firms to make them to my own specs.

Surely with "perfect" timing when this dry period end's that many refer to as a "drought" ends it could be perfect timing to overseed as old pastures are looking very burnt and new seeds may just get an opportunity for a quick start?

 

[Kevtherev]

Surely with "perfect" timing when this dry period end's that many refer to as a "drought" ends it could be perfect timing to overseed as old pastures are looking very burnt and new seeds may just get an opportunity for a quick start?

Yes after heavy rain and you drilled into a dead burnt ley the new grass would romp away.
That’s my thoughts anyway

 

[Grassman247]

It can be done quite well, I went in with half rate round up to knock the old ley and then went in with a Moore uni drill, worked a charm.


For some reason won’t allow me to upload an image, any ideas admin?

 

[Macsky]

Has anyone had much success stitching into thick oooooold acidic (5.5) turf?

 

[ploughman1963]

Has anyone had much success stitching into thick oooooold acidic (5.5) turf?

I think you would be wasting your time and seed