Ploughing Prior to Reseeding
When Reseeding ploughing is beneficial where the surface is uneven or if there is trash on the surface to bury. The field is then normally harrowed and levelled. Any large stones on the surface should be then removed. Lime is then applied to bring the field to the correct pH level. A little extra lime over what the soil tests recommend should be spread, as the dying old sward is acidic. The field should be harrowed or levelled prior to spreading fertilizer to ensure that the contact between fertilizer granules and lime particles is minimised.
The seed can then be set using a seed-box, fertilizer spinner or air seeder. A suitable seed mix using seeds from the Dept of Agricultures recommended list should be used, and incorporating clover should be considered.
The field is then usually rolled to ensure good soil seed contact.
After the new seeds have emerged, if there are a lot of weeds also present, then is the best time to spray them of while they are emerging. However, many herbicides are harmful to clover so this should be accessed.
Steps involved
(i) The field is sprayed with round-up and is cut for silage or grazed 10 days later.
(ii) If desired Farmyard Manure is spread on the field prior to ploughing.
(iii) Ploughing is done to a depth of approximately 8 inches.
(iv) The field is then rolled to ensure all sods and trash are fully buried.
(v) A Land Leveller is used to make a level seed bed.
(vi) A Zig-Zag Harrow is used to create a fine seed bed by breaking lumps of soil.
(vii) Stones are picked
(viii) Lime is applied as necessary.
(ix) A harrow or Land Leveller is used to mix the lime up with the soil
(x) Fertiliser is applied as necessary.
(xi) The grass seed is spread using a Seed Box or Fertiliser Spreader and the seeds are lightly covered using a Chain Harrow.
(xii) The field is then rolled.
(xiii) Seeds are observed to ensure that frit-fly and slugs are not affecting the new seeds.
(xiiii) If weeds are a problem they can be sprayed after the grass seed begins to grow.
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