Lime on grassland

[Nick14]

Hi all,

My grassland has never been treated in my lifetime, I’m wanting to give it a lift as I do attempt to take hay from it. How much lime should I give it? It’s around 4 acres and has had the odd sheep on it but mostly 4 pigs who have rotorvated it for me.

can I spread with a spinner in March/April?

 

[Meallydave]

I’ve got 2 balls but unfortunately none of them are crystal. You really need to take a soil sample and get it analysed for ph and nutrient levels to determine if it would benefit from lime or not.

 

[ollie989898]

As above, soil sample first. If you apply lime it doesn't need you will be wasting money or potentially create a world of grief.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

And remember you should not put on more than 2 tons/acre in one go, if it needs more than that, 2 tons then wait a couple of years and sample again. Any more than 2 tons and it locks up trace elements.

 

[tr250]

Have you got a neighbour that you can fit in when he gets his lime tested? @Cab-over Pete @Mounty

 

[Mounty]

Not sure where OP is based but with 4 acres it might be a job for granular lime. Minimum quantity we can do is 20 tonnes.
As others have said, it needs testing first. Might never have been treated as it has no requirement for lime but without testing you'll never know.

 

[steveR]

Hi all,

My grassland has never been treated in my lifetime, I’m wanting to give it a lift as I do attempt to take hay from it. How much lime should I give it? It’s around 4 acres and has had the odd sheep on it but mostly 4 pigs who have rotorvated it for me.

can I spread with a spinner in March/April?

Get something like one of these of fleabay. Pro testers will pooh pooh them but they are fine for giving an indication of Ph levels. I have used one in conjunction with a pukka test, and found it was spot on! Just use it after some rainfall so the probe works well.

Fiver well spent for you

Tester

 

[tr250]

Not sure where OP is based but with 4 acres it might be a job for granular lime. Minimum quantity we can do is 20 tonnes.
As others have said, it needs testing first. Might never have been treated as it has no requirement for lime but without testing you'll never know.

That’s why I said ask a neighbour he might let him split a lorry load while he’d got the spreading man next door

 

[Bogweevil]

Hi all,

My grassland has never been treated in my lifetime, I’m wanting to give it a lift as I do attempt to take hay from it. How much lime should I give it? It’s around 4 acres and has had the odd sheep on it but mostly 4 pigs who have rotorvated it for me.

can I spread with a spinner in March/April?

A simple chemical test kit is OK for pH. Avoid meters.

Contractors round here are happy to treat smallish areas, so many pony paddocks.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

What area are you in @Nick14 ?

 

[tr250]

What area are you in @Nick14 ?

Near Leicester not far for the big A

 

[belac]

As above, soil sample first. If you apply lime it doesn't need you will be wasting money or potentially create a world of grief.

What do you mean, a world of grief ?

 

[Nick14]

West Leicester,

access is tight so I only tend to get my little tractors in. I have a PH and moisture probe, was going to test it after it rains this week and see. Got plenty of thistles and buttercups so I assumed the soil was in poor state.

 

[Nick14]

That’s what it looked like before the hay last july

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Is it doing what you want it to do?

If so, why worry about it.

 

[steveR]

View attachment 1021324
That’s what it looked like before the hay last july

Pig walking?

 

[Nick14]

Ha yes I lost the little buggers under it all.

it is but it never has anything put back into it, I suffer with weeds and want to keep it sustainable if I’m taking hay every year. Wanted to spread some poop this year but don’t have a spreader

 

[Cab-over Pete]

I’m afraid that neither spreading lime nor manure will combat weeds, but the lime will make conditions more favourable for the more productive grasses. If indeed it needs any.

 

[Nick14]

It’s part of my whole plan.

aerate, pull out the thistles, spray off any remaining.

just a bit of care as it’s had 20 years of nothing.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

All good then