THESE are two pieces of equipment that are essential for good grass management, the first for general treatment and the second often to prevent the spread of broad leafed weeds from challenging the good grass, for the nutrients, in particular areas of the land.

The original type of plate and flicker fertiliser spreader has very much been replaced by the PTO-driven spinner broadcaster. The modern spinners are very accurate and inexpensive to buy, sizes are from 150 litres approx 150 kg (3cwts) ,250 and 500 litre models are also popular for smaller tractors. The 150 litre wheel driven spinners are very suitable for quad bikes, 4x4s, garden tractors, etc.

A good policy for application is not all at once, a little and often will give steady improvement and minimise the effect of errors involving spreading accuracy. When calibrating before spreading look at the handbook, but bear in mind that different materials types will affect the spreading rate. Adjust the spreader for even distribution either side and allow for a degree of overlap. Choosing a suitable forward gear relevant to the PTO speed and setting will give an infinitely variable application rate. With a good spinner it is possible to apply small amounts of fertiliser with great accuracy. Avoid windy days and bear in mind that using an old spinner may be a lot less accurate and can prove to be a very expensive alternative in terms of wasted fertiliser. Fertiliser spinner broadcasters vary in price, but it should be possible to get a good make for around £350 to £400 for tractors or quad bikes.

Spraying particularly for broad leaved weeds will very much put you in control of what grows in your field. Whether doing the whole field or just large patches, it will be very easy to see the results.

A tractor mounted PTO driven sprayer is the only serious piece of equipment for this job; it should have an adequate tank capacity and a three or four metre boom. Many farm sprayers now have an eighteen metre boom, but these are not at all suitable for small meadows and uneven ground. On most sprayers the folding boom comes in three sections and it is possible to turn off a part in order to spray patches or paths.

Some people are apprehensive about using chemical and of course care is always needed, but if you are using a decent sprayer with good sized tank and a PTO driven pump to maintain a reasonable pressure, it is worth remembering that you could be using only a pint or two of chemical for an acre which will be diluted into twenty gallons of water. By using a good volume of water the effective cover and accuracy of the application will also be improved.

The new cost of a decent sprayer will be a little over £1,000. Like the fertiliser spreader an unknown second hand bargain without a hand book could prove very difficult calibrate and expensive in terms of wasted chemical. A new sprayer does not need much maintenance beyond cleaning and draining and its uses can be increased with the addition of a hose reel and hand lance for hand spraying and watering.

n Next time we will look at all the different ways our tractor can cut and handle grass and hay.