Grass seed or Turf

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CandyFloss

CandyFloss

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I want to make a small bit of lawn where the piggies run is. I am thinking of either sowing grass seed or buying turf.

If I sow grass seed it may be some time before the pigs can use it and when they do I wonder if they will pull the grass out by the roots if its not established itself well enough. Anyone have any ideas if this would happen?

So I then thought maybe I should buy turf instead. If I do does anyone know how long I should leave it before its safe for the piggies ? i.e. in case fertiliser etc has been used on it.

Any ideas / other options would be most welcome

Thanks for reading

x
 
Hi,
I have some turf in with my herd of squeakies, I kept them off it for a month after laying it, for two reasons, in case of any fertiliser or chemical used on it and the other to get it more established.
My pigs were so excited when I let them on it, even my older pigs were popcorning and wheeking :)
Have to say though they've completely mown it down- I have 7 piggies in a 15ft by 6ft run, the grass only covers about 6ft of it but they decimate it. I make sure they have plenty of veggies and collected grass everyday in an effort to give the grass a chance but they still nibble it short. Have started 'resting' the grass by fencing it off every few weeks but they still devour every blade within minutes.
The other problem is keeping it watered, the few days of summer we've had has dried the grass up terribly so I've been watering twice a day which then means the piggy run is damp for a while.
So a few things to consider but totally worth it just to see their little faces though :(|)
 
Thanks for your reply. I had thought maybe a month too to be safe. I think I will go for the turf - I think sowing the seed would probably take longer. I just hope we still have some summer in a months time :))

If not it'll be next summer. Mine are indoor piggys so would just be out on it on nice days for a while .... hopefully this might give the grass a chance .... we'll see rolleyes

Thanks again

x
 
We Sowed seeds at the start of summer - the pigs did get on it but it's dead now lasted about 6 - 8 weeks fortunately the none sowed grass is still alive :)). I'd go for Turf.
 
Turf is much better! You will need to be very good with watering it, though...as it won't lay down a proper root system for a while. I watered mine atleast once a day for 2 months, and even then there are parts around the edge that haven't taken! rolleyes
 
Thanks for the warning ...... I will try to make sure I keep it well watered.... I'm not the best at remembering things like that though .... and am amazed I have kept my hanging basket watered and alive for the past couple of months this year :))

x
 
CandyFloss said:
Thanks for the warning ...... I will try to make sure I keep it well watered.... I'm not the best at remembering things like that though .... and am amazed I have kept my hanging basket watered and alive for the past couple of months this year :))

x
Click to expand...

We do have a lot of rain :))..
 
My girls are on turf that I planted in plastic trays. I don't have a garden. I have another problem with mine in the sense that the grass trays are in a shady damp area outside my front door, and have grown mushrooms (Small grey/brown ones) Are mushrooms ok for piggies or will they poison them?

-Carma
 
Elfie said:
Hi,
I have some turf in with my herd of squeakies, I kept them off it for a month after laying it, for two reasons, in case of any fertiliser or chemical used on it and the other to get it more established.
My pigs were so excited when I let them on it, even my older pigs were popcorning and wheeking :)
Have to say though they've completely mown it down- I have 7 piggies in a 15ft by 6ft run, the grass only covers about 6ft of it but they decimate it. I make sure they have plenty of veggies and collected grass everyday in an effort to give the grass a chance but they still nibble it short. Have started 'resting' the grass by fencing it off every few weeks but they still devour every blade within minutes.
The other problem is keeping it watered, the few days of summer we've had has dried the grass up terribly so I've been watering twice a day which then means the piggy run is damp for a while.
So a few things to consider but totally worth it just to see their little faces though :(|)
Click to expand...

Thank you, I have some turf and I was wondering the same thing!
 
Have been to b&q and am now the proud owner of some turf :) Not laid it yet (tomorrows job) but unrolled it in the garden and gave it a drink (looked very dry)

Glad I went today and didnt leave it till tomorrow as the huge pile that was there this morning was down to about the last 15 or 20 rolls..... phew

x
 
New turf does have the mushrooms in it - it's the manure they use under it that seems to cause them - it would seem a lot of turf is grown on spent mushroom compost.

I have pulled them gently by the stalk on a morning and over a period of a couple of months, they got less and less and I haven't seen any for 2 months now. Second year grass I haven't seen any.

The adult piggles won't eat them, when well fed, but I have pulled any I've seen up before they get the chance ;)
 
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