With the high percentage of legumes, ensure your soil pH is above 6.0. Make sure your small seeds are sown into warm soils (8-10°c). Do not sow too deep, 1cm max.
Ideally broadcast and roll into a nice firm well consolidated seedbed. If direct drilling into a burnt off or existing sward, check discs are not running deeper than 1cm. Consider a cover crop of arable silage or wholecrop for spring sowings to aid in establishment. Autumn sowings may be beneficial if historical broad leaf weed burdens are high. Perennial weeds (docks, thistles, bromes) need to be controlled pre-sowing. Care has to be taken to protect young seedlings post-sowing with a light graze after 6-8 weeks to aid tillering and control weeds.
The key to managing herbal leys is REST AND RECOVERY with rotational grazing. If you set stock or let sheep selectively graze the crowns and young growth, the herbs/red clover will not persist.
If you run conventional perennial ryegrass and clover swards on an 18-21 day rotation, be prepared to plan for 28-40 day rotations depending on seasonal growth.
Leave higher post grazing residuals (6cm) and don’t worry if the herbs put up a flower head as this will aid persistency.
Look at utilising smaller paddock sizes or larger groups and more frequent movements to lengthen your rotation.
If topping to tidy up weeds and stems, do not cut too low.
Lay off nitrogen fertiliser and let the red clover do its work.
Graze down by the end of October and rest over winter.
