Tips For Reseeding
Once the decision to reseed has been made following these steps will help to fulfil the potential of the reseed.
If significant weed problems are expected you should consider establishing the ley without clover and introducing it once a herbicide has been applied.
- Destroy the old sward using a product containing glyphosate. Ensure there is sufficient regrowth for the chemical to be taken up and that an appropriate rate is applied under correct conditions. Whilst this treatment will control actively growing plants it will not kill dormant seed in the soil.
- Take a soil sample at 10 cm (4 inches) to analyse pH, p and k. indices.
- Apply any FYM.
- Plough and press
- Apply seedbed fertiliser as required. Apply lime to achieve 6.5 pH at maximum of 5t/ha ( 2t/acre ), split dress if more required.
- Work down to prepare a fine and firm seedbed.
- Ring roll
- Choose correct grass mixture. It is important that the mix contains the correct species for the purpose required.
- Drill or broadcast the seed onto the rolled seedbed. Ring roll or light harrow to ensure maximum contact between seed and soil. Grass and clovers will not germinate until average daily soil temperatures are above 5ºC. Temperatures need to rise to achieve satisfactory growth.
- Spray with Dursban WG (Chlorpyrifos) if leatherjackets or frit fly are expected. Parapet may be tank mixed with the glyphosate used to burn of the old sward to achieve very cost effective control.
- Graze periodically from 8-12cm (3 -4½ inches) down to 3-6 cm (1-1½ inches). This will help achieve a densely tillered leafy sward. The removal of grass allows light to reach and stimulate grass tiller buds and clover growing points. Sheep or young cattle are less likely to poach the developing sward.
- Weed control in the new ley is usually necessary to ensure good establishment and to avoid a gappy sward.
- If significant weed problems are expected you should consider establishing the ley without clover and introducing it once a herbicide has been applied.
Plants from within one metre of each other one had been rolled the other had been missed.
We have pleasure in offering you our range of high performance grass seed mixtures at competitive prices and delivered to your door next day where required. As one of the major grass seed suppliers in the UK we recognise the importance that quality leys have on your business and hope that the popularity of the Wynnstay range gives you the confidence to try our mixtures on your farm and see the benefits for yourself.
