The Right Timing.

[Pan mixer]

I have had some success with the OP problem using an old dutch harrow frame minus the teeth and bucket-fulls (loader bucket) of dry topsoil. It works fine in a small area, I have done round tanks and so on but mainly where someone has dug a pipe in across a bit of PP

 

[robs1]

In arable farming we use a very simple test to see if ground is warm enough to drill, it's called the BBT, basically you sit with a bare bum on the ground for ten minutes, if you can last the full ten its warm enough, for grassland rolling it's similar, it's the WBBT, if you sit down for ten minutes in the same way and your bum is dry when you get up then roll.

 

[puppet]

I roll poached fields every year otherwise my false teeth would rattle out driving the quad. It is just for closing up the hoofprints to reduce weeds getting a hold. The grass grows back better.
Couple of dry windy days then try it. If soil sticks to the roller then wait another day.

 

[Ukjay]

I don’t know if you have your own tractor and roll then, but, especially here, the difference between leaving quite bad marks with the tractor, then the roll having no effect at all is less than two weeks. Then add in wet patches , but best to go before they are dry enough and go around them

Yes, we have our own tractor, was going to buy a roller - but neighbour has kindly offered the use of theirs.

 

[Ukjay]

Just let the grass grow longer then you won’t see the hoof prints.

Lifes too short!

Yeh, then the grief shortly follows from the boss, so I would rather take the chance on the rolling

 

[czechmate]

Yeh, then the grief shortly follows from the boss, so I would rather take the chance on the rolling

And you can enjoy making nice stripes

 

[Ukjay]

Welcome to Monmouthshire clay .

It did suprise me just how hard the ground was at that depth, as the little digger made seriously hard work of it. I have roughly 150 m to dig for the new treatment plant, so that is gonna be fun.

 

[czechmate]

In arable farming we use a very simple test to see if ground is warm enough to drill, it's called the BBT, basically you sit with a bare bum on the ground for ten minutes, if you can last the full ten its warm enough, for grassland rolling it's similar, it's the WBBT, if you sit down for ten minutes in the same way and your bum is dry when you get up then roll.

Ha ha, I’m just thinking @Ukjay wont have to roll if he says to the wife she has to sit on the ground with a bare bum first.
Btw, I think that timing would be too late

 

[Ukjay]

In arable farming we use a very simple test to see if ground is warm enough to drill, it's called the BBT, basically you sit with a bare bum on the ground for ten minutes, if you can last the full ten its warm enough, for grassland rolling it's similar, it's the WBBT, if you sit down for ten minutes in the same way and your bum is dry when you get up then roll.

Sound like that akin to sending someone off to get a glass hammer, a long weight, tartan paint etc...

 

[Ukjay]

Test soil ph bit of harrowing seeding and rolling surprising what can be achieved.
Sward lifting maybe helpful to remove compaction and aid drainage.

By seeding, are you referring to the use of a drill of some kind?

 

[Ukjay]

Ha ha, I’m just thinking @Ukjay wont have to roll if he says to the wife she has to sit on the ground with a bare bum first.
Btw, I think that timing would be too late

Yeh, could also tell the daughter to do it - as the land is for her use. Would deffo get a double **** Off

 

[Derrick Hughes]

By seeding, are you referring to the use of a drill of some kind?

Seeding . The act of applying seed . A drill is just anther way of preparing the ground really with a seeder attached, a lot of ground at this time of year would be ok with a tine harrow and a number of ways if getting the seed on . Main thing being to role it after

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I don't need to lump anything, as our old paddocks prior to moving here were not like this. People neglecting land and allowing animals on when the weather is seriously not right is the cause imho.

We managed well in our old place, and the sheep and harrows kept the paddocks in check, but we are trying to manage a situation whereby the previous owner let too many horses out through the winter, which has caused the damage... Ignorant management of the land to save on bedding...

I think you need this type of harrow to level the fields out, then possibly roll after, but definitely one or two passes with one of these first

JARMET-SPRAYERS.UK

www.jarmet-sprayers.uk

 

[Kevtherev]

By seeding, are you referring to the use of a drill of some kind?

Either einbock grass Harrow or a good set of chain harrows then spin some seed on with a broadcaster.
Then roll.

 

[Ukjay]

Either einbock grass Harrow or a good set of chain harrows then spin some seed on with a broadcaster.
Then roll.

Got a good set of chain harrows, so thats covered. Will look into a broadcaster for the seed - would something like a Stock FanJet be suitable, as I could mount that on the back of the buggy?

 

[puppet]

The Stocks Fanjet is £1000. How big is the paddock?

 

[Ukjay]

The Stocks Fanjet is £1000. How big is the paddock?

About 7 - 8 acres, but not sure what other options are available?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

A fiddle would do that. But you be surprised how much you can do with a bucket under you arm. I prefer that to a fiddle

 

[wanton dwarf]

I don't need to lump anything, as our old paddocks prior to moving here were not like this. People neglecting land and allowing animals on when the weather is seriously not right is the cause imho.

We managed well in our old place, and the sheep and harrows kept the paddocks in check, but we are trying to manage a situation whereby the previous owner let too many horses out through the winter, which has caused the damage... Ignorant management of the land to save on bedding...

If the land is that bad it might be best to consider alternative operations. (Nuke from orbit ?)

If the field is big enough contract potatoes .. that's going to reset the ground, remove most of the compaction IF the potatoes are harvested in relatively good conditions.

That gives you a good soil profle to work with and some spending money for the costs of not having grass fields. Either rent or buy provisions as required from the money. You might want to check out drainage at this time too.

Alternatively you could just do the cultivation operations yourself and plant grass. But that leaves you out of pocket and with potentially little grass this year.

You could risk something like a deep shakerator with a set of cambridge rolls behind.

 

[neilo]

Got a good set of chain harrows, so thats covered. Will look into a broadcaster for the seed - would something like a Stock FanJet be suitable, as I could mount that on the back of the buggy?

Steve Coventry sells a little electric broadcaster for £100. Small and light but would be just the job for that...

https://www.stevecoventryfarmmachinery.com/new-machinery-page-2.html