Grass Mowing

When a fine quality of cut is required we have a range of equipment and skilled operators to suit the needs of our customers. If it’s a One of job or an annual maintenance contract we are more then happy to accommodate. Often using efficient contractors works out significantly cheaper than running and maintaining your own equipment.

Our current clients include private households, local councils, sports grounds, golf courses and caravan parks.

Line Marking

We offer a full line marking service for all grass sports from existing marking to regular over marking. Continuously updating our line marking services, we deliver an effective service.

Our aim is to give a clean white line on all pitches with fully trained staff, and can also add a growth regulator to give longer lasting markings that will save time and money.

Seeding and Overseeding

Seeding and over-seeding can be performed when grass is growing and the soil is warm enough to allow the seed to germinate. Depending on weather conditions this is typically from late March through to late September, but taking care to avoid drought periods which typically occur during the peak summer months.

With our wide range of machinery and years of experience we are able to accommodate for all customers be it a large lawn, a putting green at a leading golf club or your pony paddock.

We have a vredo disc over seeder for drilling directly in to the grass surface giving very good germination and no surface disturbance so can still be grazed or played on.

For new paddocks that are to be sown we use a tined harrow with broadcast spreader. We also have cultipack seeders for large lawns and fine turf areas. In conjunction with seeding, seedbeds can be created with our stone buriers or power rakes. A variety of specialist grasses and wild flower seeds are available at competitive prices.

The type of seed mix is tailored for the intended use. In conjunction with our agronomist and seed suppliers, advice is available to help you make the right choice.

Spraying

Herbicide spraying is an integral part of grass maintenance. It is important to control the growth of weeds as without management, they will take over your grass sward.

The main weeds encountered in paddocks are thistles, docks, buttercups and nettles. Although not necessarily harmful to horses or other livestock they are unsightly and can diminish the quality of grass in the paddock.

Ragwort is very poisonous to horses. Sprays can kill the weed, but it is vital that the dead plant is removed completely before horses return to the grazing. Not only is ragwort poisonous but must be controlled by law in accordance with the weeds act of 1959.

We are fully trained, qualified and insured to undertake these services as is our spraying equipment. We work in partnership with agronomists to ensure that you receive the best advice and the best service from us in terms of safe and efficient application of herbicides and eradication of weeds. This allows us to offer a safe and cost effective spraying solution.

Fertilizer Application

Fertilizer or lime can be applied to create the optimum PH for healthy strong root and plant growth. The level of application depends on the use of the field or playing surfers.

Horses require good quality grass. It must be nutritionally well balanced and not overly rich in nitrogen. Horse paddocks which are too lush and high in nitrogen can result in colic, grass sickness and laminitis.

The first application is usually applied in early spring and again during the growing season if necessary. Football and rugby fields require special fertilisers that are kind to the finer grasses associated with sports turf soil analysis are taken to aid in applying the correct elements.

We use compact tractors with mounted spreaders which are ideally suited to paddocks and areas where access can be tight.

Our highly manoeuvrable tractors have turf tyres helping to keep compaction and tyre marks to an absolute minimum they also have GPS to guidance making them extremely efficient.

Aerating

Aerating can help alleviate surface compaction by spiking the ground and opening up the soil to allow air, water and nutrients to enter the soil thus improving soil health and drainage. Grassland is an important resource for the horse owner and maintaining high quality, low input and low cost grassland for grazing and/or grass feed is essential.

Excessive soil compaction impedes root growth and therefore limits the amount of soil explored by roots. This, in turn, can decrease the plant’s ability to take up nutrients and water. The adverse effect of soil compaction on water flow and storage may be more serious than the direct effect of soil compaction on root growth.

Aerating each year will provide benefits such as:

Compaction relieved with the introduction of oxygen
Aerated soils recover quicker after mowing
Surface drainage improved – rainwater absorbed more quickly with run-off risk reduced
Less poaching by livestock and horses
Increased root development
Grass leys last longer
Increased microbial action for better utilisation of fertiliser

Harrowing

Grass harrowing is a effective way of maintaining and rejuvenating existing pastures. Removes dead grass and aerates the sward.

This is best carried out in the spring or early summer, but only if ground conditions allow. It needs to be dry enough to carry the weight of the tractor without causing damage to the ground. Tined Harrowing pulls up dead grass, providing space for healthy grass to fill.

Harrowing also breaks up the surface of the ground allowing an increase in available nutrients for plant uptake. This disturbance of the ground surface, promotes tillering (new grass shoots).

This increases sward density, reducing the opportunity for weeds to take hold in the pasture.

Our heavy duty spring tine harrow can be adjusted to provide different tine angles depending on conditions. It is foldable to fit through gateways and wide enough to give high outputs when in the field.

Rolling

Traditionally performed in the spring when the ground has just started to dry up. It has two main benefits.

Firstly, it levels the uneven ground left from grazing livestock over the winter months. It repairs hoof marks, ruts from vehicles and general surface disturbance and is very beneficial both from a soil health and performance perspective as well as cosmetically.

The second key benefit is that it tramples the grass crowns which encourage the plant to tiller out. This spread of growth provides better grass cover and yield during the growing season. More grass will also result in better suppression of invasive weeds.

Rolling often follows harrowing, and will push any stones that have risen to the surface back into the ground.

Rolling should always be done after reseeding to ensure that the seed gains enough contact with the soil to give positive germination. Reseeding can take place when grass is growing and the soil is warm, usually from March through to late September.

Topping

Topping is essential to maintain grass at an optimum grazing height of 2-3 inches during the growing season. It removes the tall, tough grass, which livestock especially horses tend to leave and prevents weeds from going to seed. This in turn, helps to encourage new fresh grass to spread and increases the sward density.

Our flail toppers mulch the grass before spreading which speeds up the breakdown of cuttings allowing new grass to come through faster. The rear roller leaves a smart, tidy and level finish.

Using compact tractors we are able to access fields through narrow gateways for larger fields we have large agricultural tractors and flail toppers.