Kev's Grass renovation thread

[Kevtherev]

Timothy always does well in this area for some reason
Maybe it likes wet feet

 

[Kiwi Pete]

My vote is to go a big leaf clover and a groundhugger little leafed one. Stick with a wee dash of Timothy. Not too sure on your ryegrasses but a bit of Italian or hybrid seems to work pretty well for the cold wet stuff on the wrong side of the planet. Just runs out eventually you don't let it selfseed at least every other year.
My 2p

 

[Great In Grass]

Small type white clovers bring very little to a sward they have low productivity and contribute little to grazing animal production they very seldom exceed 3" in height.

I'd go with a specialist blend relating to the intended use of the ley cutting, grazing or dual purpose.

 

[Kevtherev]

Sheep tend to like the smaller clovers that grow in a matt close to the ground
Just ask @Forage Trader

 

[Great In Grass]

Sheep tend to like the smaller clovers that grow in a matt close to the ground
Just ask @Forage Trader

If small leaved clovers were that good why are there only 3 listed out of a total of 20 white clovers currently on the Recommended Grassland and Clovers list, the best of those Aber S.184 was listed in 1966!. Also after light defoliation they have well below average ground cover.

 

[Kevtherev]

Timothy is a very good performer imo
We have a lot of rain in Wales don't we @rc mx110

 

[Kiwi Pete]

If small leaved clovers were that good why are there only 3 listed out of a total of 20 white clovers currently on the Recommended Grassland and Clovers list, the best of those Aber S.184 was listed in 1966!. Also after light defoliation they have well below average ground cover.

Ask sheep farmers where's their big leaved upright clovers, and what are your sheep eating in summer? Not showy, but not unproductive.
Depends on a lot of different factors mainly management, I'd still drop a couple of kilo of each in, if I had to stop at 2 clovers. I use 4 clovers and none are at tops of lists, probably
Apologies if that sounds combative, 2.10am here and far too hot for sleep after 30° all day.. no offence intended!

 

[hally]

Timothy always does well in this area for some reason
Maybe it likes wet feet

Yeah I like Timothy good early growth and palatability for sheep but it can be difficult to establish when competing against old grasses

 

[Kevtherev]

Yeah I like Timothy good early growth and palatability for sheep but it can be difficult to establish when competing against old grasses

Yes indeed in a DD situation it may not be so good but I'm willing to try it.

 

[onthehoof]

Only because the catalogue is sat on the table at the moment

 

[Great In Grass]

Ask sheep farmers where's their big leaved upright clovers, and what are your sheep eating in summer? Not showy, but not unproductive.
Depends on a lot of different factors mainly management, I'd still drop a couple of kilo of each in, if I had to stop at 2 clovers. I use 4 clovers and none are at tops of lists, probably
Apologies if that sounds combative, 2.10am here and far too hot for sleep after 30° all day.. no offence intended!

No apologise needed.

I didn't actually say use a large leaved clover particularly for sheep I'd look more towards intermediate clovers they are more dependably than large with their many more stolons and leaves at ground level they will also has an earlier flowering period. Intermediates persist better in grazing situations & produce more forage than small types. Because of these traits, intermediate types of white clover persist well in grazing situations.

Your half way around the world and things are slightly different you wouldn't find many over here sowing more than a kilo of clover to the acre, even less or none at all in a true silage ley.

 

[Kevtherev]

Only because the catalogue is sat on the table at the moment
View attachment 475110 View attachment 475116

Cotswolds catalogue?

 

[onthehoof]

Yes have you got one, they're not the cheapest though

 

[Kevtherev]

Yes I have one sent every year but very expensive

 

[S J H]

Sorry to hijack Kev, but what type of grass is that Is usually in old ridge and furrow fields, it's very fine looking.

 

[Kevtherev]

Sorry to hijack Kev, but what type of grass is that Is usually in old ridge and furrow fields, it's very fine looking.

Probably a fescue of some sort I'd guess?
Old pastures usually have some and crested dogs tail [emoji51]

 

[S J H]

Probably a fescue of some sort I'd guess?
Old pastures usually have some and crested dogs tail [emoji51]

Cheers Kev, yes that's it, like this.

 

[Kevtherev]

Cheers Kev, yes that's it, like this.

View attachment 475124

Thought that was Donald's hair for a minute!!!

 

[Great In Grass]

Yes have you got one, they're not the cheapest though

View attachment 475118

To be fair to Cotswolds they do a lot of trials work which benefits you guys very much indeed, they also sell a lot of seed and I dare say some of their debtors need servicing.

They also only incorporate RGCL seed varieties into their better leys and these do come at a premium price particularly if they begin with Aber.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

No apologise needed.

I didn't actually say use a large leaved clover particularly for sheep I'd look more towards intermediate clovers they are more dependably than large with their many more stolons and leaves at ground level they will also has an earlier flowering period. Intermediates persist better in grazing situations & produce more forage than small types. Because of these traits, intermediate types of white clover persist well in grazing situations.

Your half way around the world and things are slightly different you wouldn't find many over here sowing more than a kilo of clover to the acre, even less or none at all in a true silage ley.

Wow really? What fixes all the nitrogen??
That's mind blowing.
I have 2kg of red 3kg of white and a kilo of T. supinatum? annual clover anyway, wee pink fella. Plenty of ground cover all year.
A bit of an overboard mix but then so is the grass side of the equation, I don't mind a good seed bill if it's all at work for me.
Edit, put down your pills, that's per hectare!!