Harrowing

Paddock and field harrowing

Harrowing drags a set of chain or tined harrows across grassland to level it, pull out dead material and spread droppings and molehills. It’s one of the simplest ways to freshen a paddock after winter or between grazings.

What’s involved

Chain harrows are a mat of linked iron that is pulled behind a tractor or quad. They flatten molehills and poached ground, break up and spread droppings and drag out dead grass, which lets air and light reach the base of the sward.

Tined grass harrows have spring tines that dig in harder. They pull out more moss and thatch and scratch the surface, which also makes a seedbed if you plan to overseed.

Most fields are harrowed in two directions or in overlapping passes so nothing is missed. It looks rough straight afterwards, but the grass usually greens up within a couple of weeks of growing weather.

When to do it

The main harrowing is in early spring, roughly February to April, once the ground is dry enough to carry a tractor without cutting up and before the grass is growing strongly. It levels winter damage and molehills and gets the field ready for the season.

Summer harrowing, after a paddock has been grazed, spreads droppings. Do it in hot, dry weather, when sun and drying help kill worm eggs and larvae. In warm, wet weather, spreading droppings can spread parasites across the whole field, so rest it from grazing afterwards.

What affects the price

Field size and the number of separate paddocks

How much work the surface needs — heavy poaching or lots of molehills take more passes

Chain harrows or heavier tined harrows

Ground conditions and slopes

Access and gateway width

Travel, and whether rolling or topping is done on the same visit

Booked through us: £275, £690. Real jobs and what they came to — every field is different, so treat these as what past work cost, not a price for yours.

Good to know

Harrowing and rolling often go together: harrow first to level and open the sward, then roll to firm it down.

If the ground is too wet, harrows smear mud and pull out grass rather than dead material. Wait until the surface is dry enough to walk on without sinking.

Keep horses off a field harrowed in summer to spread droppings until the weather has had time to dry it out — a few weeks is common.

Harrowing: common questions

When is the best time to harrow a paddock?

Early spring, when the ground has dried enough to take a tractor but before the grass is growing strongly. A second harrow in dry summer weather, after grazing, helps spread and dry out droppings.

How often should you harrow a field?

Once or twice a year suits most paddocks: a thorough spring harrow, plus one after grazing in summer if droppings are building up. Harrowing too often, especially on wet ground, can do more harm than good.

Does harrowing spread worms in horse paddocks?

It can. Spreading droppings in warm, wet weather spreads worm larvae across the field. Harrowing in hot, dry weather and resting the paddock afterwards reduces the risk; picking up droppings is the more reliable way to control worms.

Should you harrow or roll a field first?

Harrow first, then roll. Harrowing levels molehills and pulls out dead material; rolling then firms the surface and presses stones and hoof prints back down.

Often booked alongside

Rolling — Firm the ground, press stones back down after harrowing.

Overseeding — Repair thin or worn paddocks with fresh seed.

Muck sweeping — Mechanical sweep, ideal after winter turn-out.

Scarifying — Thatch and moss raked out so the grass can breathe.