Cutting meadows

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Cutting meadows
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Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 15 9:55 am Post subject: Cutting meadows

I may have a few acres of meadow to look after. Long term plan is to graze animals and make hay but not for a year or two.

The grass hasn't been fertilised much over the years and it's full of wild flowers, clover, etc and the grass isn't that vigorous - a typical wild flower meadow. No noticeable thistles and very little dock.

However, I may not get round to doing much this year and wonder what, if any, damage would be done if it's not cut at all this year? Would it mat up, would the wild flowers suffer if the grass isn't cut and taken off?

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4627
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 15 10:38 am Post subject:

I think you're best cutting it and removing the clippings if you possibly can, but I also think that one year won't be life-or-death for the vast majority of plants. Was it cut last year?
On the other hand, a year of not being cut will allow even late flowers to set seed (and everything seems to be late this year), you're just gambling that the grass won't be able to swamp everything in that time.
On the other other hand, next year's management may be trickier if the grass this year gets very long before dying and lying flat.

See how (un)helpful I am

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 15 2:26 pm Post subject:
Is having it grazed something you'd like to contract out for this year? It's a bit far for me, but I could put the word out in grazing circles if you wanted someone to take it on for this season FOC.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 15 3:06 pm Post subject:
Grazing it would certainly improve the land, even if it didn't bring an income.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 15 3:17 pm Post subject:

Nick wrote:

Grazing it would certainly improve the land, even if it didn't bring an income.

Yes

and no.

What was pre grazing and what is "improved"

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 15 3:18 pm Post subject:
I throw this in wondering. Improved from what and when?

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 15 3:19 pm Post subject:
Rather than not taking the grass off. If just left, ours used to become matted and suffer. We are quite wet tho, and it would almost rot in the late winter, early spring, with the frosts, and such.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 15 3:21 pm Post subject:
Suffer? It would change. It would not be the same flowery meadow. What would it become?

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 15 3:37 pm Post subject:
Cutting it after the majority of flowers have set & leaving it to rot will probably do no harm but equestrians will pay good money for 'unimproved' herb rich hay. Why not get a horse owner to buy the crop standing & they have the responsibility to get it harvested?

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 15 3:49 pm Post subject:

The land isn't fenced and as it's not been grazed for years we'd not want anything grazing it until we decide what to do.

We had thought about getting someone to cut and bale it, but access isn't great and as it's only a couple of acres I'm not sure many would want to do it. We will ask around but don't have the time to sort much out.

Hence the question, if the grass is left uncut what would happen next year. The grass and wild flowers on the open space in our woodland seem to cope with not being cut for years.

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4627
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 15 5:26 pm Post subject:
Are there any scythe training people near you? Good field for a course?

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 15 5:37 pm Post subject:

Cathryn wrote:

Suffer?

It would change. It would not be the same flowery meadow. What would it become?

Rushes, hair-grass, thistles, eventually woodland, but that's a while off yet.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 15 6:03 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

The land isn't fenced

They'd bring their own fencing.

Treacodactyl wrote:

Hence the question, if the grass is left uncut what would happen next year. The grass and wild flowers on the open space in our woodland seem to cope with not being cut for years.

Most wildflowers are not very competitive and rely upon low fertility to compete with the grasses, which is why they do better in haymeadows with limited grazing. It depends on the overall fertility how much of a difference it'll make but in our ings it needs to be cut or it leaves a carpet that gets stuck in the mower the following year and reduces the quality of the subsequent hay crop.

Slim

Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6612
Location: New England (In the US of A)

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 15 8:53 pm Post subject:
A flail mower would make quick work of it and not leave you with smothering piles

vegplot

Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd

Posted: Wed Jun 10, 15 9:28 pm Post subject:
Hey Slim! Where have you been? How are things?

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