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10 Tips For Successful Paddock Management
Author : Steve Phillips
Submitted : 2011-04-16 03:35:03 Word Count : 518 Popularity: 8
Tags: paddock maintenance, paddock management
Here are ten top tips for successful paddock management.
1.Paddock Topping - Cutting the grass in your paddock during the summer months will help to prevent weeds from going to seed, and as such it is an essential aspect of paddock maintenance.
2.Harrowing - This removes the dead grass, moss and weeds. Harrowing allows air to circulate throughout the soil to create the best conditions for new grass growth in your paddock. It also ensures excess water is free to drain away.
3.Spraying - If you intend to make hay then it is vital to remove poisonous weeds such as ragwort and buttercup. It is a good idea to use modern pesticides on your grassland as these are both efficient and safe for any animals which may come in to contact with them. Spraying should be carried out during the summer to reduce weed infestation and produce healthy grass.
4.Soil Analysis - Soil analysis involves small samples being taken from across the land and being scientifically analysed. This is an integral part of paddock management as soil fertility influences grass growth. Where there are low levels of nutrients in your soil, the paddock grass may be of poor quality. As such any grazing animals may be adversely affected.
5.Re-seeding and Over-seeding - Re-seeding introduces appropriate grass species, as well as allowing grass to be established on bare patches of land or on whole fields. Over-seeding can repair grass. Expertise and knowledge gained from solid analysis should be used to choose appropriate seeds for your paddock.
6.Fertiliser and Lime Applications - This should be applied little an often during the spring, summer and autumn. Fertiliser and lime applications encourage healthy roots to allow grass to survive during cold winter months and flourish throughout the rest of the year.
7.Hedge Trimming - Autumn is the best time to begin hedge trimming, however it can also be carried out during the winter months.
8.Fencing - It is important to fix any broken fences as soon as possible to make sure the land is safe for your animals.
9.Ditching - Keeping ditches clear is an important part of paddock maintenance as it improves the drainage from the paddock. This will stop the land from being too wet and should extend the period of grass growth thereby increasing the grazing season for your animals. Winter is often the best time of year to clean the ditches in preparation for the next year.
10.Soil Aerating - Paddocks often become compacted by animal hooves or traffic and compacted soil will reduce the rate of grass growth which generally leads to an increase in weeds. Compact soil also reduces the level of light and oxygen which can reach the root of the grass. This also increases the level of oxygen in the soil and helps water to drain from the land. As such it is a fundamental aspect of paddock maintenance which should be carried out annually, normally during the autumn season.
If you follow this advice you will have healthy grass and healthy animals all year round.
Author's Resource Box
Enjoying the fressh air and riding with ponies and horses is great fun. Looking after them requires a sensible programme of paddock maintenance. Steve Phillips find his advice from GreenPaddocks. They are reliable and give a high level of service all year round for anything from hedge laying to paddock topping.
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