Tag: re-seeding

The top field is now re-seeded!

Well, we eventually got there yesterday and the top field has now been re-seeded.  Just as well, since the weather has turned wet today.  In fact, the wet weather was exactly what we did now that the seed is down.

We re-harrowed the field.  This means raking it over with the tractor.  Unfortunately, even more stones came to the surface, but these were quickly picked up and thrown to the side of the field.  It also pulled up the weeds and wild grass that seemed to be taking hold.  Next job was to used a seed drill on the back of a tractor to bury the seed just under the soil. This prevents the birds getting to it.  We ran the seed drill across the field both horizontally and vertically to make sure that it was all covered.  And just in case anyone is interested, we sowed the seed at 14Kgs per acre.

The last job of the day is then to roll the field flat with a heavy roller.  Apparently, the more the ground is rolled, the faster the seed will germinate.

The end result looks fab and with any luck we should see some grass starting to germinate this time next week.  Fingers crossed.

This is a seed drill used on the back of a tractor to place the grass seed under the surface of the soil.  We made two runs across the field - one horizontally and one vertically.   This makes sure we get the best spread.

This is a seed drill used on the back of a tractor to place the grass seed under the surface of the soil. We made two runs across the field – one horizontally and one vertically. This makes sure we get the best spread.

Once the seed has been drilled into the soil, it is then rolled.  Apparently, the more the soil is rolled the faster the germination.  It will also keep deter the birds slightly.

Once the seed has been drilled into the soil, it is then rolled. Apparently, the more the soil is rolled the faster the germination. It will also keep deter the birds slightly.

Once the field is rolled, the finish is not too bad.  Not bad for a field, not great for a bowling green.  With any luck, the seed should germinate in about a week.

Once the field is rolled, the finish is not too bad. Not bad for a field, not great for a bowling green. With any luck, the seed should germinate in about a week.

Re-seeding the top field

With all the building work now complete, we can turn our attention to re-seeding the top field.  We took up all the top soil and subsoil when installing the ground loops for the ground source heat pump.  Although we kept the top soil and subsoil in separate piles, the field is a bit of a mess.  It is about 1 acre in terms of area.

We asked the local farm if he could help us re-seed it and his advice was to harrow the land first to bring all the large stones to the surface.  Then to walk up and down removing all of the larger stones.  Well, the field was harrowed last week, so we spent quite a bit of time on Sunday removing the stones.  We are using the pickup as a wheel barrow – moving it forward as we pick up the stones.  By the end of Sunday, we have covered about half of the field and filled two pickups full of stone.  We are just piling up the stone at the edge of the field as this will be used when we re-build the dry stone walls.

We picked up the grass seed from the local agricultural supplier in Honley (Keith Drake).  A single sack of seed should apparently be sufficient for an area of this size.

But first the rest of the stones need to be removed.

By the time we had filled up the truck for the second time, we had got about half way through the job of removing the stones.  While Jo is back off down to London on Monday, it is one of my tasks for the week to get this finished off so we can get the seed down.

By the time we had filled up the truck for the second time, we had got about half way through the job of removing the stones. While Jo is back off down to London on Monday, it is one of my tasks for the week to get this finished off so we can get the seed down.

It was hot over the weekend and there isn't much shade in the top field.  Hats and suntan lotion required.

It was hot over the weekend and there isn’t much shade in the top field. Hats and suntan lotion required.

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