Best Implement for Re-Doing Lawn

buckeye · Feb 26, 2003

We build a new house last year and timed everything such that we really don't have a great lawn started around the house. Basically we finished in the summer, and the rain around here was so sparse that we only got a sparse crop of grass, most of that rye which will never come back.

So, as I look out at the "lawn" this winter, I need to come up with the best way of preparing the soil and starting over in the spring. I was wondering what would be the best implement to perform this.

I want to break up the ground, fill in spots that have settled, level it out with drainage away from the house and then replant. I know I can use my loader to fill in the low spots, but I was wondering what would be the best to break it up and level it out. From searching this archive of discussions, I am leaning towards a box blade as It seems like it would allow me to break up the gound and also level it out.

I also have access to my father-in-laws discs if I wanted to break up the ground thay way. The problem with discs is you need some speed to get them to really work. I get real nervous when I mix speed, my TC-40, some trailing discs and near proximity to my house!

Another idea I had was perhaps to get a tiller for the TC-40, till up the ground and use my read blade to spread it out. Defintely the higher cost option, but a fairly handy excuse to use with "management" in order to get a tiller!

Any ideas you all would have would be appreciated. If there has been another thread similar to this, just point me that way!

CTyler · Feb 26, 2003

The boxblade should work for grading. There was another thread along this line and a harrow was the best thing to use for pasture renovation/rejuvination. The harrow would do some minor leveling, like small holes etc.. Don't think it would work for any kind of grading though.

yooperdave · Feb 26, 2003

I like to use a GILL. It connects to the 3 point hitch on your tractor.

It consists of a stout horizontal I beam with tines in the front, and roller(s) in the back. You may be able to rent a GILL from your local rental store. They are made for just this purpose.

Yooper Dave

BB_TX · Feb 26, 2003

I am surprised you have not gotten a lot of opinions on this one. Here is a web page show a lot of Woods brand turf equipment. Each is pretty specialized in it's usage. I think a tiller is a pretty pricey option unless you intend to maintain a fairly large garden in the future. What you want to do is probably a one time event. I would consider looking for a rental place to rent a specialized piece of equipment to do the job right. I have never used a pulverizer or turf renovator, but they appear to be just what you need. One of these or a tiller followed by a landscape rake would probably do a good job.

Anonymous Poster · Feb 26, 2003

A tiller is a great way to go if you can get one, but even with that you may find that it leaves some large clumps of sod that have to be broken up before you can finish grade (at least if your turf is anything like the bahia we have here in Florida). I have found a landscape rake doesn't work very well at breaking them, but I plan on trying a chain harrow in the future. If it works well, I hope to be able to skip the tiller step and just rip the topsoil with my box blade or bucket teeth. Good luck, and congrats on the Buckeyes. They had a fabulous season. As a Youngstown native, I can tell you they have a hell of a coach.

beenthere · Feb 26, 2003

If you can rent a power rake (like Harley), that is what I would use to do everything you want to do, with the fewest passes over the lawn. Especially if there will be any debris (rocks, sticks, roots, building supplies, etc.) that will turn up.

buckeye · Feb 28, 2003

Thanks for everyone's input! I'll be going to a rental store this weekend and see what they have to offer.

JATO_RaT · Mar 16, 2003

A Harley T6 landscape rake would be the best tool for redoing lawns or adding a completely new lawn or adding to an exisiting lawn or just raking debris out or simply leveling and reshaping an area or breaking up clods or sculpturing/contouring an area, or, or, or, its one very slick attatchment. Rat...