Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is paddock maintenance expensive?: No - GreenPaddocks uses the best equipment which enables us to deliver a very efficient and effective service. Please contact us for a discussion about your requirements and a quote.
2. Why do my fields and paddocks look like a battlefield?: Any number of reasons can cause grassland to look poor - over grazing, parasite infestation; acidic soil; lack of maintenance. But the most common explanation is benign neglect - call GreenPaddocks to get your free, no obligation quote to make your grassland attractive, productive and healthy.
3. We are a long way from Taunton - how far can you travel?: From Cornwall to Gloucestershire, from Devon to Dorset and Wiltshire, as well as in our home county of Somerset, GreenPaddocks has calls from customers everywhere - we're only too happy to help.
4. How can I improve my paddocks?: Regular management of your land will reap huge rewards. Routine harrowing and rolling, topping and weed control, combined with periodic testing of the soil for nutrients and acidity (pH) and then fertilizing and liming accordingly will improve your land making it a pleasure to look at, own and use.
5. My fields are overgrazed, weed-infested and look impoverished - typical horse-sick grassland. Can you help?: This is meat and drink to GreenPaddocks! We'll come over, asses the situation, discuss the various options - and give you a quote to sort it out. Nothing could be simpler.
6. How long must I keep stock out after spraying?: Exclusion from land that has been sprayed with weed killer usually lasts from 1 to 2 weeks depending on which herbicide is used. However, if spraying is done to control poisonous weeds such as buttercup and ragwort, stock needs to be kept out until all traces of the weeds have disappeared, which may take longer. Please contact GreenPaddocks for further information
7. I have fields of virtually nothing but weed - do I need to plough them up and start again?: Not necessarily. Even on land infested with ragwort and other poisonous weeds, grass can recover if sprayed with the appropriate herbicide. Subsequent over-seeding with an appropriate grass seed mixture will help reduce weed growth by reducing the amount of bare ground. Over-seeding is also a fraction of the cost of ploughing up and doing a complete re-seed. Please contact GreenPaddocks for further information.
8. What is over-seeding - and is it a good idea?: Over-seeding is a cost effective method of broadcasting extra grass seed onto existing grassland. This may be to cover patches of bare ground, or simply to introduce hardwearing persistent grass species to existing grass swards in areas which may be used for exercise.
9. My paddocks are badly poached - can you help?: Yes - harrowing and rolling are two very effective ways of rectifying poached ground. As with most groundcare work, timing is everything, so call GreenPaddocks to arrange a free visit and quote.
10. I only have ½ an acre of land at most - is that too small for you?: No! Whatever it is you require, whatever the size of your land, please call GreenPaddocks for a free no obligation quotation
11. I only have ponies and they need very little grass - why should I manage it?: A common mistake made by pony owners is thinking that they 'don't need much grass'. Strictly speaking, this is true - ponies can make do with very small amounts of grass - but this doesn't mean that the grass doesn't need managing. Poor quality grass - low in nutrients; acidic; stemmy; over/under grazed; poached and bare of grass etc - not only looks awful but is an open invitation for weed and parasite infestation, as well as being potentially dangerous. A well managed paddock should be healthy, fertile and sound, with a good covering of hard wearing grass.
12. I have horses - what is important for my land?: Freedom from weeds and grass diseases is an essential element of land management for horses. Horses are susceptible to a variety of digestive disorders, be it from weeds, parasites and even open, bare swards where an excess of soil is taken up when feeding, which can lead to colic.
13. What is a typical year in the grassland maintenance diary?: To wake your land up in spring, the year starts with harrowing, and if required, rolling. A full soil analysis and pH test may be undertaken, and possibly lime and/or fertiliser applied, depending on the results. Regular topping - every 6 weeks if possible - continues throughout the spring, summer and autumn, when further harrowing may be needed. In addition to this, weed control in the form of spraying may be necessary, and this is done primarily in spring and autumn - and at any time when the weeds are actively growing.
14. How does horse activity affect my grassland?: The paddock is required for multitude of tasks. It is an area both for play and exercise in addition to providing horses with the major part of their diet. If horses are stabled during the night and let out in the morning, they can be full of energy when let out onto grass, and many begin with charging around. This puts the grass under stress and consequently it needs to be healthy, strong and have a dense base - as well as being able to recover quickly. Regular, routine management and the appropriate grass-seed mixture will all help it cope with the rigors of use.
15. Is it a good idea to overseed well used paddocks?: Yes - by nature horses are patch grazers, taking the leafy, sweet grass and leaving the less palatable stemmy grass with little leaf. This can stress the leafy, better tasting grass up to the point where it cannot recover. Introducing new, young grasses throughout the paddock can improve palatability - and it not only tastes better, but contains far more nutrients too.
16. Do you have grass seed and fertiliser specifically designed for horse and pony owners?: Yes we do. We can provide individually tailored grass seed mixtures, depending on what you need the land for, and where you are. And we can fertilise your paddocks with low nitrogen, slow release fertiliser which puts essential elements and minerals back into the soil, whilst gently encouraging the grass to grow over longer periods.