Buying today, which one?

[36Tango]

I have a couple of residential properties that were flooded last year with our record flooding (just outside the 500 year floodplain and still had 5 1/2 feet on the main floor). Tore the houses to the studs and totally rebuilt. Now I am tackling the yards. I took the opportunity to take out 4 huge trees and root systems. I have graded the entire lawn with a 60" box blade with the sacrificers down, but now I need to get it alot better to be able to seed. Should I buy a gill style soil pulverizer or a landscape rake? These yards are average sized city lots. I go back and forth, but it seems like the gill would do a better job. I have a Kubota B2400.
thanks

 

[pitt_md]

I had real good luck with my landscape rake on some new construction I did last year. I would think if you have topsoil that you went over with the BB it will be a piece of cake.

 

[dangerdoc]

I have a couple of residential properties that were flooded last year with our record flooding (just outside the 500 year floodplain and still had 5 1/2 feet on the main floor). Tore the houses to the studs and totally rebuilt. Now I am tackling the yards. I took the opportunity to take out 4 huge trees and root systems. I have graded the entire lawn with a 60" box blade with the sacrificers down, but now I need to get it alot better to be able to seed. Should I buy a gill style soil pulverizer or a landscape rake? These yards are average sized city lots. I go back and forth, but it seems like the gill would do a better job. I have a Kubota B2400.
thanks

I've never used a pulverizer, I have used a landscape rake and with a little hand work to finish up is does OK.

Have you considered a roller? I haven't tried one but I would like to. You should get a nice smooth yard and if you put out your seed first, better seed-soil contact. I would think it would be less likely to erode before the seed germinates also.

 

[schmism]

the local septic tank guy uses a soil pulverizer after tearing up large expanses of yards for new drain fields.

based on the finished results after the mess he left just after the install, its the only way to go.






a few weeks later after it dried out he came back... what he left was smooth as silk flat dirt area.

 

[teg]

I have both and if you have the yard close to being finished with your BB... then a rake is all you'll need. Besides it's cheaper and a nice compliment to the box blade. The pulverizer is best when you still have lots of rough spots to finish up with. I see pulverizers sell used for a couple hundred so I picked up a 5' for $240 a while back... just last week a 6' went for $200

 

[Builder]

If you can swing the extra cost, get a harley rake. I got tired of your rakes and just bought a landpride 90" power rake. Should be here in a few days.

 

[ninefinger]

Like teg, I have both and both have their strong points. Mostly depends on the condition of the land you are starting with. If it is close to done a rake is all you need, for me wheels on the rake is essential to getting my best results. There are those here that have had enough seat time that they do not need wheels but not the case for me.

 

[36Tango]

I ran out of time last night to get to the farm store so I did not buy one (I settled on buying a rake). I worked the yards till late with the box blade and it did a great job (without the sacrificers). One thing that I did not think of is that I have a B2400 whicj is approx 48" wide. Should a guy get the 6 footer or the 7 footer so that when it is angled, it still catches the tracks? Any thoughts?

 

[ChuckinNH]

I have the same size tractor, and I don't think the rake I buy will be over 6'. That will be plenty wide to cover my tracks.

 

[teg]

If it's too wide, you'll have problems with it hitting the ground when you try and spin it around... Like my homemade 7'



.