What Implement Do I Need?

[MikeyB]

I had some earthwork done around my house and now the ground is hard and compacted. I need to loosen the soil so I can plant some native grass in the hope that the dirt doesn't all float away in the rain and snow to come. I currently have a back blade and a loader but that's it. I am thinking harrow, scarifier, landscape rake?! What are your suggestions, and of course I want to go cheap!

Thanks,
Mike

 

[WH401]

I'd say a box blade would be your best friend in this situation. The scarifier teeth in the box will tear up the soil to loosen it up, and then the blade on the box will smooth it out nicely.

 

[jenkinsph]

I'd say a box blade would be your best friend in this situation. The scarifier teeth in the box will tear up the soil to loosen it up, and then the blade on the box will smooth it out nicely.

I think this would work well and since small boxblades are cheap and you have rear outlet I would opt for the hydraulic top link too. This combination will serve you well for a variety of tasks. There are other tools that will do a better job but at much higher costs.



Steve

 

[Barely Smokin']

Agreed. Boxblade. A rake is tempting, but I may be projecting my desire for one onto your situation ;-)

I don't think the rake will bust through the crust evenly. In other words, you'll get some fresh dirt moving around but there will be areas that will have, say, 1/2" of dirt on top of hard pack. Not too conducive for the little green thingies that you'll want to grow there.

Between a box blade, your rear blade and your FEL, you'll have one heck of a set-up for doing earth work and finishing. Do the rough stuff with the scarifiers on the box blade, get rid of the rocks you dig up, get your final grade right and push with the rear blade or back drag with the FEL to get it glass smooth and ready for seeding.

 

[JeffinNE]

Maybe just rent a pulverizer for a few hours?

 

[kthompson]

Just how compacted is it? Or might be better how deep is it compacted. You may need to loosen it much deeper than you think for the roots if much equipment has been over it. If so a subsoiler is best. Checking with a shovel is easy, just dig down and see if you hit a hard layer. If metal shovel has problem the roots will also.