The Meadow Makers' Network Forum

Hello all last year we cut once in June with horses and cutter. Our meadow withstood the subsequent drought well I think. This year though we are thinking of cutting twice so its easier for the horses but would this increase susceptibility to drought? What do you do to protect from drought? Many thanks Jane

Hi Jane

Long grass generally creates a barrier between sun and moist soil so protects to an extent from drought. Whilst many of the grazed grasslands around South Devon were brown last year, our uncut meadows were still pretty green by comparison, even in August. My meadows were cut very late, into September, after a flush of rain, and the hay is still feeding our cows overwinter; though appreciate this late a cut won't be nutritious enough for horses (and much harder for them to cut by then). Are you cutting in June to make it easier for the horses? Just thinking that regularly cutting that early could mean many of your wildflowers won't get a chance to set seed, plus you may miss out on some of the later flowering species.

Donna