Spring seeding?

[Lynne Kenderdine]

Has anyone had a go at spring seeding into an existing sward?

With seed supplied by the Back from the Brink Grey Long Eared Bat Project, and enthusiastic meadow maker adjoining DWT Andrews Wood Nature Reserve, we gave it a go.

This 4 acre field was re-seeded from arable with a basic meadow mix last May. It survived drought to establish well and now we've been able to add to the seedbank. The Jacob sheep flock have taken the sward down nice and tight so plenty of bare ground. The sheep will graze for a short period to tread the seed in.

We haven't done spring seeding before in the Avon Valley so this is a new venture for us. Does anyone have any experiences of spring seeding successes/failures to share?

Another first was the chance to use a hand-held seed broadcaster......useful but I preferred broadcasting by hand....

[kim G]

no we haven't tried this Lynn. As our sward isnt grazed I am guessing that we would need to harrow first?

[Lynne Kenderdine]

Hello Kim, You need to create areas of bare ground to give chance of maximum establishment. Obviously in the spring plants have to cope with competition from growing grasses. Harrowing is effective as it creates a tilth. Are you thinking of seeding?