With spring finally around the corner, and temperatures on the rise, reseeding is forefront in our minds and next on the calendar. When considering a sow out of a new grass reseed, there are many factors to think about. Soil health, type of soil and the purpose of the field (i.e. grazing only, cutting only, or a long-term mixed purpose ley) and how long you want the grass to be down for.
The key to any successful reseed is the soil. Ensuring your soils nutrient levels are optimal will give the seed the best chances and produce better yields within the crop’s lifetime. Up to date soil analysis should be used to make any decisions to get soil to the optimum e.g. pH should be between 6.3-6.5. Acting upon the information from samples before the reseed is carried out is key and our seed specialists will be happy to go over liming and nutrient requirements.
Grasses will thrive when sown into soils with temperatures between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius. Spring reseeding gives a larger window of opportunity to sow within this temperature range than the back-end. Soil temperature can be easily measured at home with thermometers or look out for our weekly soil temperature updates on social media throughout the upcoming season.
There are many ways to prepare the seed bed, with not one option being the best. For each soil type consider the cultivation method. For example, ploughing is still one of the best methods of cultivation when soil is heavily compacted and needs to be broken up and aerated. Ploughing is also the preferred option for many as it fits in with the arable rotation or after a brassica break crop. Whereas min-till may be considered when soil is in good condition and fertility is at its peak. This is because min till turns over the soil at a shallower depth and preserves the topmost layer of fertile soil. We recommend using any method that works for the individual situation with the objective being fine, crumbly textured soil ready to be seeded. Once the ground has been sown it is essential to heavy roll to consolidate the seed bed and give the best chance of germination and establishment.
