Solar Park Long Term Grazing Mixture
Ref: MIXSPLT
This mix is a dual purpose ley, which provides a tough green cover around the panels and a high quality grazing ley for sheep. It includes a larger amount of perennial ryegrass to aid establishment and produce a bulky sward that will benefit livestock. It will need to be over-seeded after year 5 to renew the quality of the ryegrasses and reduce invasive species which are lower quality. This ensures the sward remains nutritious and beneficial as a livestock grazing ley. This mix has a higher sowing rate to compensate for the livestock grazing pressure on the sward.
Contents per Acre | % | kg | |
certified TWYMAX tet. perennial ryegrass | 19.2 | 2.500 | |
certified ABERBANN perennial ryegrass | 42.3 | 5.500 | |
certified Gima chewings/red fescue | 15.4 | 2.000 | |
certified MAXIMA creeping red fescue | 15.4 | 2.000 | |
certified ABERHERALD white clover | 6.2 | 0.800 | |
certified ABERACE wild white clover | 1.5 | 0.200 |
Creeping Red Fescue
Often known as Strong Red Fescue, this common grass, as its name implies, has creeping rhizomes . It has a more vigorous creeping habit than some similar species which can help to create a dense, hardwearing turf or sward. These shallow creeping roots help it to remain green even in drier soils.
Creeping Red Fescue Species Guide Buy Creeping Red Fescue Straight
Medium Leaved White Clover
White clover is one of the most common legumes in the UK. This species can be recognised by its creeping growth habit. Its creeping stolons help to fill in gaps in the sward, putting down roots at each node. White clover varieties can be categorised into small, medium and large leaf sizes. Generally the smaller the leaf size, the more persistent and prostrate the plant will be, the small leaf type will tolerate closer grazing from sheep and tends to sit lower at the base of the sward, the small and medium leaf varieties are used for grazing mixtures. Using mixtures of white clover varieties helps to ensure that at least one can tolerate and contribute to what ever management regime is being imposed at a given time. The medium leaf varieties are very adaptable, generally they can be used for both grazing and cutting mixtures. They combine a good tolerance to cattle or sheep grazing and can contribute to cutting yields, while still being more persistent than the large leaf varieties. There are also variations, which can be classed as small to medium in terms of leaf size. Common medium leaf varieties are aberherald & aberdai, while the variety aberpearl is classed as small to medium leaf in terms of size.
Medium Leaved White Clover Species Guide Buy Medium Leaved White Clover Straight
Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial ryegrass is the most commonly grown productive grass in the UK, used particularly for livestock grazing and forage. It has been the subject of plant breeding for over 60 years, ensuring there are a wide range of perennial ryegrass varieties available commercially.
Perennial Ryegrass Species Guide Buy Perennial Ryegrass Straight
Red Fescue / Chewings Fescue
Also known as chewings fescue, this is a fine leaved, tufted grass. It is distinguished from creeping red fescue by its absence of creeping rhizomes. It remains dark green throughout most of the season.
Red Fescue / Chewings Fescue Species Guide Buy Red Fescue / Chewings Fescue Straight
Wild White Clover (small leaved)
White clover is one of the most common legumes in the UK. This species can be recognised by its creeping growth habit. Its creeping stolons help to fill in gaps in the sward, putting down roots at each node. White clover varieties can be categorised into small, medium and large leaf sizes. Generally the smaller the leaf size, the more persistent and prostrate the plant will be, the small leaf type will tolerate closer grazing from sheep and tends to sit lower at the base of the sward, the small and medium leaf varieties are used for grazing mixtures. Using mixtures of white clover varieties helps to ensure that at least one can tolerate and contribute to what ever management regime is being imposed at a given time. The small leaf varieties are the lowest growing and the most prostrate. Due to the low growing point on the plant , they have a good tolerance to cattle and especially sheep grazing. The small leaf varieties are the most persistent perennial clovers. Small leaf varieties are sometimes call 'wild white clover', one of the best known was the Aberystwyth S 184 variety, another was Kent wild white clover, a more modern version of this variety type is called aberace.
Wild White Clover (small leaved) Species Guide Buy Wild White Clover (small leaved) Straight