Gateways, water troughs, feeding areas and favourite standing spots can take a hammering from horses. Before long, what started as a slightly thin area can become a bare patch which turns dusty when it’s dry, muddy when it’s wet and gradually becomes bigger as the surrounding grass is damaged.
The temptation can be to think that paddock repair requires tractors, specialist machinery and a contractor. But if you’re dealing with relatively small areas, repairing them can actually be a straightforward DIY job.
Fence off the damaged area
If possible, start by temporarily fencing the patch so that horses can’t continually walk across the newly seeded ground. Electric fencing can make this relatively simple. You don’t necessarily need to take an entire paddock out of use – just create enough space around the damaged area to allow the new grass to establish without being grazed or trampled.
Prepare the ground
For a small patch of just a few square metres, you don’t need agricultural machinery. Use a garden rake to break up the surface, remove dead material and create enough loose soil for the seed to make good contact with the ground. If you’re repairing a larger area, a harrow can do the same job. The important point is seed-to-soil contact. Make sure the seed doesn’t disappear beneath a thick covering of soil. Once it has been spread, rake or roll the area so the seed is pressed firmly against the soil.
Add A Suitable Paddock Seed Mix
Find a suitable paddock or meadow mix grass seed, one that can be mixed by hand in a bucket and is easy to use, something designed for your horse that is also straightforward for you to use when you’re repairing individual patches.
That root development matters in a horse paddock. The aim isn’t simply to create green shoots on the surface, but to establish grass with a strong root system that is better equipped to withstand grazing and hoof traffic in the future.
Let nature do some of the work
Moisture and warmth are important for germination, so timing your repairs to coincide with suitable growing weather makes the job considerably easier.
It’s not essential, but if you can keep horses fenced off the sown area while the seedlings establish their roots. If you’re overseeding into existing grass rather than repairing completely bare ground, don’t allow the older grass to become too long and overshadow the new seedlings. It can be topped/mowen to around two to three inches while the new grass develops.
Once the seed has germinated and is around an inch (2.5cm) tall, we recommend applying a natural fertiliser designed for paddocks to provide further support as the grass establishes. A seaweed fertiliser can be applied whilst the horses are in the field, it is safe for horses, and there is no wait period.
Don’t ignore the small patches
One of the easiest ways to improve a horse paddock is to tackle damaged areas before they become much bigger problems. You don’t have to reseed an entire acre simply because the gateway is bare. Fence off the problem area, rake it, mix in your seed, and sow, giving the new grass a chance to establish.
It’s a simple job that can be tackled one patch at a time – and could make a considerable difference to the quality and resilience of your paddock.
This article was written by Edwards Seaweed Fertiliser, UK. Edwards’ Seaweed Fertiliser UK is a supplier of natural seaweed products for commercial and domestic application. Using seaweed harvested sustainably from UK waters, their chemical-free products are made from a unique blend to enhance plant and soil health. For more information, visit ukseaweedfertiliser.co.uk, or contact them on 01584 711635 or email sales@ukseaweedfertiliser.co.uk.
