This year is the first we have had any grass margins. They are not under any scheme - just for us. Got quite a lot of grass weeds in, and windered what the form was? I know if I top them, they will eventually give up the ghost, but also that they will keep making more seed heads, just lower down. Do I go now and keep cutting until they give up, or leave until later once it gets cold again?

Having just done a module on grassland management I hope I can help!

I think the most economic thing for you to do to begin with is find out what you are dealing with, ie perenial or annual. Annual weeds just need a top before they go to seed, and the next year the population should be greatly reduced. The perrenials, you have two methods of attack, you could keep topping them to deplete their reserves, and stop they going to seed. Or you could go for a chemical approach.

The most important message I guess is to top before going to seed, save yourself problems later on and in other areas.  

It will be blackgrass, I am almost certain even without looking at it. No chemical as they are all being cultivated at the end of the season as they have served their use, and will be replaced with wider margins that we can make hay from. I just need a plan for this year as I know whatever I top now will make more seed head just lower down, so I think I will cut close now, and then again just before I disc it all up.

Just fly over it with a topper every time it gets close toheading up. No real point doing it any often than that.

Ta. Will top away on Saturday. On another grassland note, the gamekeeper has just pulled a sad face and said that partridges will be sitting on their nests when I suggested tidying up the verges etc. Will they? Should I really care? How scruffy a farm will I ahve and for how long if I indulge him until they have hatched?

I will give my old man a ring tonight and see what his views are on it. He knows a bit about birds.