Grassland management

Topping

Topping pastures is the easiest way to remove weeds before they seed and it will also tidy up those ungrazed areas of long grass that horses tend to leave.

Applying fertiliser after topping is always a good idea.

Topping by cutting or mowing will help give a durable grass sward - this in itself is a most effective barrier to weeds.

Always a good idea before topping to take time to walk around your pasture and dig out and burn all ragwort you find, along with any other poisonous weeds, if you need help to recognise which
will thicken the sward and supress weed growth.

Weed control

Keeping out unwanted weeds is not so hard. Spray with a selective herbicide using a paddock maintenance contractor or your own knapsack spray. Always take professional advice. Some weeds can be annual so when they have been cut or grazed they will not return provided that they are cut or grazed before they head to seed.

If possible keep your pastures with a thick sward when well grazed or patchy weeds will invade more easily. Use Suregrow at the start and end of the season to maintain a thick sward.

If you have a greener view a useful tool is a pasture knife which with
a regular walk around your pasture will give good control of nettles
and thistles. (better suited to smaller areas).

Ragwort is best dug out and burned do not leave any roots.

Harrowing

Harrowing is only needed if you have an older sward containing only one grass variety or on thick deep swards. Harrowing will pull out dead grass and aerate the remaining sward.

Rolling

This is for appearances, stone dispersal and water damage repair. Rolling should take place immediately after rainfall. Ground conditions should be such that tractor wheels should just leave a mark which will then be removed by the roller.