Pasture Renovation

The following is a basic guide to renovating poached ground.

(click to enlarge)

Poached ground can pull horse's shoes off, is unsightly, can cause strains and mud fever.  Also bare patches of ground leave room for weeds to take root.

It is best to renovate poached ground in a dry spell in spring or autumn, but not in summer as water is required for the seed to germinate.

To renovate ground you will need:

A rake/harrow.

Grass Seed (generally about 35g to 45g per square metre which is about a handful). Grazing mixes for horses are available.

A Rotavator (digging machine, can be hired from plant hire companies) for large areas or a garden fork for small areas.

The process:

Dig over the poached area to a depth of around 6 inches to break up the soil into fairly small pieces.

Rake over the area to make it level, picking out any big stones.

Add fertiliser if necessary.

Gently compact the soil by treading all over the area.

Rake the area again to make the area level and to make the soil into a fine texture.

Compact the area again.

Evenly scatter the seed over the area.

Rake the seed into the soil.

Prevent horses from going onto the area for two to three months to allow the grass to establish.  Electric fencing is useful for this.

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