Another "smoothing lawn thread"

[LD1]

I know lots of members here are in the landscaping biz, so what is the absolute best method to smooth a lawn to perfection.

My lawn has many areas that are a bear on the ZTR at speed. I have worked over many areas before , sometimes get lucky and get favorable results. Other times, it seems no better off.

Some of the methods I have used...
Disc, let clumps dry, beat down with cultipacker
Till shallow, beat with cultipacker
Both of the above but dragging the landscape rake over before packing
Sometimes roll with a 2000# 4' roller
Sometimes a little rear blade work in there

Same issue I always fight....sod/grass clumps.

The lawn isn't terrible by no means. I can run the tractor with larger tires on it at near road speed, and the ATV seems as smooth as the paved road. But there are areas here and there, from moles, dogs digging holes, rutting it when too soft with the tractor, etc.

Wondering about method that don't require completely tearing out and re-sending. The methods described above, the grass normally comes back naturally. But this is 6-7 acres. Don't really want to try to reseed everything. Just something to use in the bad areas and see how it works.

How well does a Harley rake work on dense sod? Most of the videos I see show windrowing all the sod and debris off to the side, then basically starting over with new seed.

Also looking at other tools like a Gill pulverizer...bit I thin the issue will be the same as trying to disc/till and level with a rake.....sod clumps. Same for a box blade.

If it wasn't a yard with a thick sod layer....this would be child's play.

If a Harley rake really is the best tool, I would consider making one. Seems like a fun project.

 

[Piston]

Another "smoothing lawn thread"

I will say that in my opinion, the Harley rake IS the best tool. However, it's not just a miracle tool that will pulverize your sod clumps to perfectly set dirt seed beds like some ads would let you believe. It will do that, but it's going to take a few passes.

I tore up a customers back yard with a decent sod bed on it using my Harley rake, and it took me a good 4 passes with the opening set as small as possible to break up the sod clumps.
However, the end result turned out fantastic.

I haven't used every tool out there, but of all the ones I HAVE used, the Harley rake is far superior for this type of work.

 

[Steave]

I know lots of members here are in the landscaping biz, so what is the absolute best method to smooth a lawn to perfection.


Also looking at other tools like a Gill pulverizer...bit I thin the issue will be the same as trying to disc/till and level with a rake.....sod clumps. Same for a box blade.

I have a Gill pulverizer but have never found a good use for it. It has the roller with the dimples but it won't pull through grass with good results. If you're going to leave the sod and work around it or through it you'd probably want to scratch that off the list. I do use it on the gravel drive to reclaim sunken gravel and it pulls the grass in the middle out (kinda). The grass in the middle don't bother me but that's another subject.

That's about all I can offer but I'm going to tag along on this thread and see what the landscapers say.

 

[LD1]

As to a Harley rake....what would be an ideal width? Is it gonna be like a lawn mower, where smaller=better finish and more uniform but take longer? Of is wider/faster the answer.

If I build one, it will be 3ph and PTO driven. Is 8' asking too much.

And what RPM do those things spin? 1:1.47 gearboxes are readily available and cheap. That would give about 800rpm. Need more? Less?

I got some heavy pipe to use for the rotor, probably a hefty belt drive similar to a flail mower is what I was thinking.

 

[LD1]

I have a Gill pulverizer but have never found a good use for it. It has the roller with the dimples but it won't pull through grass with good results. If you're going to leave the sod and work around it or through it you'd probably want to scratch that off the list. I do use it on the gravel drive to reclaim sunken gravel and it pulls the grass in the middle out (kinda). The grass in the middle don't bother me but that's another subject.

That's about all I can offer but I'm going to tag along on this thread and see what the landscapers say.

Thanks for confirming what I though about the Gill. Looks like it would d a fantastic job on dirt or in a crop less field, or after a plowing and discing. But them tines just don't look like they would do much with sod. Same as any of the toothed type chain or bar harrows.

 

[whis]

if you want it real smooth you will have to get rid of grass and sod clumps

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

As Piston said the Harley is the best tool for the job. You may look into making a large roller in an attempt to smooth out ruff spots. Also the rake will take time to learn how to use it to get the results you're after.
I Harley raked my lawn when I installed it( then sold the rake to piston) and the results were excellent but 7 years of frost and there are area's that aren't as nice as I left them. I suspect yearly rolling after raking will yield lasting results.

Matt

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have an eight foot harley rake. The good one, with the two rollers and S type scarifiers. Great machine, but you would basically need to start again.

It would certainly destroy your sod and windrow the debris. But depending on the area, you can only windrow it so far effectively. Then you need some way to pick up the windrow.

I have maybe a half acre lawn area, I too would like to smooth out. I would disk it first (not that own a disk) and then pull a drag around. Then use the Harley. A Preperator that goes on a SS also works well and has the bonus of collecting the debris as you go.

So, it's probably a job that is best dealt with all out, no holds barred. Grass seed is expensive too and needs constant water. Not a project I would want to devote myself to right now.

 

[Industrial Toys]

View attachment 473148

This is a job I did with the Harley. That's actually a small part of it! A bit much actually. You don't know when to stop. With the Harley, your first pass always seems the best and everything else seems like diminishing returns for the work your doing.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Here are more pics of a job at my place. Before and after. I think final pic is seeded and rolled. Borrowed SS.

 

[LD1]

Any close up pics of your 8' rake? Do you know what rpm the rotor runs at?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I think Harley (or the buying company) stopped making this rake because it was too expensive to make. The Tines are very usefull in stirring up material for the rollers.

I would guess the RPM to be about 100 RPM but I could find out.

 

[LD1]

Wow that seems really slow for roller rpm.

With two rollers stacked like that, did it actually pull much up through them? We're they counter rotating where they would actually suck stuff in, or do both rollers turn the same direction?

 

[Snobdds]

I'll tell you how golf courses keep their greens flat is with aeration. They aerate twice a year with a machine that picked up the plugs. Then they top dress it with sand, a little dirt and grass seed. Then they pull a heavy duty piece of outdoor carpet to make sure all the holes are filled.

I'm sure a slicer aerator would work for your task. Just get a load of sand, put some bags of top soil in and a pound of grass seed. Then spread and drag. You'll have a flat lawn after a few yearly treatments.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Maybe, I'm thinking of speed at idle, when I'm cleaning the thing. The bottom serrated roller is going against the direction of travel and now that I think about it, I am not sure what direction the smooth roller goes in. I think it's the same as the other. Watching fine material come out between the rollers seems like magic!

The one thing I have always wanted to do is modify the machine so I can angle it from side to side. But I am unsure as to the proper approach on this. It's tricky.

Just found my file. Yes the rollers go the same way. No indication of speed but I have to mount this rake in the next few days and I could measure the speed.

 

[LD1]

Probably just easier to pick it up and spin the input shaft and count the number of turns the roller makes. Rather than try to guess if it's 500 rpm or 5000 rpm

 

[4570Man]

The easiest way to smooth a yard is buy a Ferris mower.

 

[LD1]

The easiest way to smooth a yard is buy a Ferris mower.

Was waiting on someone to say that.

I haven't done much reading up on them, but how well do they actually work.

I am sure it's a smooth ride, like my 4-wheeler would be. But cut quality? How does the deck act when I hit the bumps at 9mph that, on my scag, bounces the deck on the chains and almost throws me off the seat?

 

[ddbackhoe]

I'll tell you how golf courses keep their greens flat is with aeration. They aerate twice a year with a machine that picked up the plugs. Then they top dress it with sand, a little dirt and grass seed. Then they pull a heavy duty piece of outdoor carpet to make sure all the holes are filled.

I'm sure a slicer aerator would work for your task. Just get a load of sand, put some bags of top soil in and a pound of grass seed. Then spread and drag. You'll have a flat lawn after a few yearly treatments.

I'll second the vote for a top dresser. Wonderful tool that often goes unlooked especially when you don't want to tear out and redo. A top dresser can deliver almost any kind of material; sand, topsoil, manure, fertilizer, etc. in a fine, even layer. By building up rather than tearing down, you can create a better, healthier lawn. Grass needs regular replenishment of nutrients and aeration to thrive and be weed free.

From what was described, filling and leveling is the way to go. Ferris makes nice stuff, IMO...just bought one so I am biased. A better option is to hire it out, then you won't know how bumpy it is.

 

[LD1]

If a top dresser adds fill in an even manner, won't I still be left with a rough lawn if I don't do something to smooth first?

Not at all concerned about a healthy weed free lawn. I hate yard work and mowing. I just hate dirt and mud more so that's the only thing keeping me from round uping the whole thing.

I'm only trying to make the dreaded task of mowing less unbearable and smooth things out.

I enjoy the fact that my unhealthy lawn only needs mowed once a week instead of 2-3 times like those that treat their lawns