Desert grassland - clearing rocks and maintaining dirt drive

[Sticklizard]

I have 10 acres of high desert grassland. The lot has a lot of steep hills which does make brush mowing a challenge. Fortunately I only need to do this once per year after the grass has gone to seed. This is primarily for fire abatement.

The ground seems to sprout rocks, some of which are 4-6" or more which is rough on the mower when I'm too low in a spot. I'm also concerned with throwing rocks towards the house. So I'm thinking of using some kind of rake to gather the rocks into piles so I can then move them with the FEL. I don't want to tear up the native grasses in the process though.

I also have quite a long, curvy dirt driveway going over some of the hills. When we get our heavy rains, it can get quite rutty and needs maintenance. I've been thinking of a land plane for this but have no experience with these or with the similar box graders.

My tractor is a New Holland 40hp CUT.

Any advice for me on the rock and/or driveway maintenance equipment/techniques?

Thanks!

 

[scootr]

I lived in the high desert for 20 yrs. Half of that time I had MF 30 for road maintenance. You can't mow rocky acreage without first removing the rocks. That is a tall order. I know, I just did that to 5 acres next door so I could keep it cut for an absent neighbor. The alternative is to create fire breaks.

 

[Sticklizard]

Does the chain flail not throw rocks like a blade? I don't recognize the item you're dragging behind in the picture.

 

[deserteagle71]

Good luck! I've been living on the same place here in Nevada for the past 30 years. Every year I'm pulling more mower-destroying rocks out of the ground. It is a never-ending process.

 

[Sticklizard]

What attachment(s) are you using to pull and/or rake the rocks?

 

[Cycledude]

Get a decent dump trailer and to pull with your tractor and hire some help to pick the rocks.

 

[IndyIan]

Heavy box blade to crown your driveway so it doesn't wash out, and you also could use it to find the high rocks by just skimming the ground with it. If I find a big rock I just hook it out with one of the scarifiers leaving most of the grass undamaged.