new sown grass - when to let te cattle on?

[tim z]

i have a wooded area of about an acre which i have been trying to grass for three years ,this year the seed from this march has taken.the grass is now about nine inches tall.seeing it's been difficult to get the grass to take i don't want te cattle to kill it. should i let them in or should i wait for the roots to really establish themselves and graze it next year ? tim z

[Martin]

The best way to encourage root growth is to cut it frequently or graze it. Grazing may be a problem as cows can pull the grass out from the roots, sheep are the best option for new grass.

Martin. Medway Valley Dexters.

[Broomcroft]

If you try the cattle, Dexters I presume, with the grass being 9" tall, they should just take the top off. You could watch to see they are indeed doing that or whether they are pulling it up, in which case take them off. If the grass has developed a good root system it should stay in place.

[tim z]

i have got 18 shetland sheep aswell as the dexters ,when i move the cattle to the other area i'm strip grazing ,i can let the sheep in to the wooded area .there are blue bells in flower in there and i have been told that sheep should not be allowed to eat them so i will wait till they die back before letting them in .tim z

[welshdexterboy]

It is probably tall reaching for the light is it Tim in which case there will not be much of a root system. Can you get a tractor in there and mow some of it or roll it as that will increase tillering so you will get better cover and then it just takes time to establish. Did you buy shade tolerant grasses?

[tim z]

hi rob,this is the third or forth type of grass seed i have tried i can't remember it's name or mix ,but i have told the different suppliers each time the terrain and type of land where it was to be sown (cost me a fortune in seed),it has all been sown by hand as this area is one side of a valley ,quite steep and no chance of getting my tractor along it . tim z