Harrows - used to spread manure over a paddock.

Besides the basic tools required for animal health and feeding, and maintaining your fences there are other important applications at a lifestyle block that need special tools and machinery. Below are some helpful tips for lifestylers.

Conditioning paddocks

This process has various requirements and there are special tools and equipments to manage those. For instance, on small blocks it is often necessary to harrow and/or top (cut) paddocks to keep them in good condition free of dung piles and rank grass. Weeds, such as thistles, ragwort and docks will need dealing with from spring to autumn.

Harrows: These are used to spread manure over a paddock to return it to grazing condition evenly. There are various different designs, but they are basically a linked, uneven metal device pulled behind a vehicle. They last forever so tend to be bought second hand, though agricultural engineers will make a set for you if you are unable to locate a set.

Topper: If the grazing regime you have leaves you with rank, untidy paddocks at some times of the year, then cutting the longer grass will improve the paddock markedly. A grass cutter requires a tractor with hydraulic lift and drive shaft. If you have a tractor, you will probably be able to hire or borrow a topper from a farmer in the area, failing which a local contractor will do the job for you. On a small block it is probably uneconomic to purchase on unless you drop on one cheaply and are mechanically minded.

Sprayers and de-weeders: Weeds will need spot or area spraying. If the area is not too large, a backpack sprayer will do the job. You can buy small boom sprayers for the back of 4 wheel farm bikes if you are a keen sprayer, or larger ones for tractors.

There will also be contractors available locally. For individual weeks such as Ragwort, a ‘wand’ filled with herbicide is a cheap piece of equipment. It can often be as easy to completely remove the weed though with a small spade.

Top Dressing paddocks

You will need specialist equipment for applying fertiliser and lime on your block. Besides, you will also want to minimise handling of the substances as they can cause irritation.

Before you start to consider any of the options listed below, check out with your local carrier and spreader the cost for doing the job, it may well be cost and time effective, especially when taking into account cost of bagging and delivery of the fertiliser etc. Here are some of the items available to do the job yourself:

Hand spinner: This is an old fashioned device, hand held with a handle to turn to ‘spin’ the substance out of the ground.

With an even technique and steady walk a fine application can be achieved.

They are very useful for hand sowing seed evenly. Not sure if they are still made, so may be difficult getting hold of one.

Spinner - towed: These are holder, which are towed and the revolution of the wheels spins the fertiliser out onto the paddock. These are suitable to be towed by a 4 wheel bike etc.

Spinner - power driven: This type is driven by the drive shaft of a tractor. These start at 500kg capacity upwards.

Shelter trimming

If you are farming stock, ideally you will have plenty of trees and hedges for shelter. If so, there will always be some maintenance to do. If you have specific shelter belt species and hedges you will need them trimmed regularly by a contractor; it is unlikely that you would invest in a trimmer yourself. However you will have to deal with trimming overhanging branches and fallen trees etc.

Chain saw: A petrol driven machine of a size you can cope with. They come in various sized chains, choose one to suit the size of timber you are likely to be cutting and the weight that you can handle comfortably.

Large bow saw: You will be able to do a lot of small jobs with one of these.

Moving various things

Undoubtedly you will need to move things like a fallen branch or hedge clippings into a pile for burning, a new water trough into location, a sick calf into the barn.

Snig chain: This is a length of heavy chain with a large hook towed behind a vehicle. You can drag all sorts of things too heavy to lift with one of these and you should be able to come across one at a reasonable cost second hand.

Flat bed trailer: Only a small one is usually required on a lifestyle block, towed behind a vehicle.

Water system repairs

Fortunately modern water systems are very easy to maintain and repair as they are made out of alkathene, which is easy to cut and join.

If you are in an area that does not get many frosts, there is no need to lag the pipe to protect it from freezing and bursting.

Because of this, you will need very little in the way of tools for your water system. Here are a couple of essentials:

Sharp knife: You will need something for cutting pipe.