Expert: Richard Clark - 9/3/2008

Question
I have a 15 acre established coastal hay field. Soil is 1
1/2 feet of sand over red clay.  I have been told that I
should run a disk over it to cut up the hay and encourage
spreading.  I have also considered running over it with my
harrow that I use for my arena to help with some of the
dead thatch.

Does this make sense?

Answer
If it is alfalfa hay you can set the disk to run straight and this will cut the crown in half. I have found out that what I cut I dig out half of the smaller plants. You are cutting the old plant in half (sometimes) and killing the newer plants. Draggng a harrow will break up the dead thatch to help it decompose and kill off some of the small weeds.
If your hay field is thin you might be better off tearing it out and replanting to new hay.
Richard