Is a lawn roller worth it?

snmhanson · Jun 16, 2004

I am thinking of getting a lawn roller but not sure if I really need one or not. I'm in the process of planting grass right now and got all the dirt really quite smooth with my box blade and landscape rake. I am going to till in some amendments next and then install a sprinkler system. After that I will use my box blade and rake again to level everything out and then probably hydroseed. My main uses for a roller would be to compact soil before seeding, pushing the small rocks that I miss picking up into the ground and running it across my lawn occasionally after the grass comes in to flatten any bumps that pop up over time. Do any of you that have a lawn roller have any advice for me? Is it something I will use or will I buy it and never take it out? Are there many uses that I did not mention for it? I figure since I will be mowing with my Kubota B7800 (~2500 lbs) I will develop some small ruts and bumps over time due to the weight of the tractor. I am looking at an 48" wide Agri-Fab roller from Northern, either 18" or 24" in diameter. The 18" is plastic and weighs 550 lbs when full and has rounded edges while the 24" is steel and weighs 990 lbs when full but has square edges. Thanks.

Matt

robertm · Jun 16, 2004

Well, I have a 48" wide X 24" Diameter Agri-Fab and will give you my perspective:

Don't waste your money on the plastic roller. They flex too much, wear on the edges, and in my opinion don't give you the results of a steel roller. Next, get the 48" roller (steel) that is 24" in diameter. It weighs about 1050# when full. My biggest complaint is the edges of the roller making arcs in the sealer on my driveway if I crank too tight of a turn. The roller does not tear up the yard with it's edges as the outer one inch of the roller face is beveled in toward the shaft of the roller enough to eliminate cutting. If you cut real sharp turns, your tractor will do more damage.
Seeing that you are starting from virgin soil and working up, it will be alot easier to keep your yard smooth if you start with a good smooth base. Frost (if it is in your area) will always push up rocks and bumps. I found that rolling after spring is useless, unless you do it after a great soaking rain. I am also thinking that I will keep the roller behind my tractor (B7510) for the first mows of the season - probably April through June. I did not roll immediately this spring because I thought it was useless. Well, when I finally did over Memorial Day, I rolled both directions, and boy did I notice a difference. I will say that I alternate mowing directions (perpendicular to the last mow) each time to help rutting, and never notice any ruts forming. The worst is the earthworm mounds! I even stripe my lawn (like a ball field - see my post in the Attachment section) so I always mow over the same stripe every other time I mow to "ingrain" the stripes in the lawn. You'd think that would imprint ruts in my yard - but it doesn't. Cross mowing and rolling really helps. If I didn't want my yard striped each time I mow, I'd probably keep the roller behind the Kubota all the time. I am certain that when it gets hot out for weeks on end and the soil dries out, a roller won't do squat then.

Be sure to drain your roller each fall. I sometimes put a pint of windshield washer solvent in it if I am concerned about the little water left in it freezing. I have thoughts about filling mine with grout ou concrete some day, but that will take it to about 1,880#! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Soundguy · Jun 16, 2004

I picked up a metal 48" roller. Works ok on real fluffy ground.. but don't expect any real compaction other than flattening out an ant mound or mole hole.. etc. Your tractor ag tire probably does a better job of that. The weight to distribution ratio even on a large drum is probably lower than a CUT tractor tire.. based on the contact area.

I have one.. and other than convenience i don't use it for compaction.. rather I drive my old 1950 JD-B trike around.. it is over 4k#, and has the real narrow ag tires on it.. makes a great dent even in clay.

I chain style drag harrow will level pretty good though.. your lawn.. your call.

Soundguy

OrangeGuy · Jun 16, 2004

I couldn't agree more with RobertM. I have the same roller and just completed rolling about 3 acres (works best after a good soaking rain). I roll my lawn at least once per year. It works great.

OrangeGuy

FERRARI · Jun 19, 2004

If you are interested in growing thick grass, you also need a coreing aerator to un compact the soil....It really makes a difference for thick roots....It did not believe this and for years I did not do this...but once you try it you will be amazed at the out come......it punches out hundreds of little things about 1/2 inch round and 3 to 4 inches long all over your lawn....looks like dog mess!....But over the next few week these disintegrate and filter back into the holes around the area....but first the holes fill with tiny white roots from the grass...grass loves it......And if you do this before you fertilize you can cut you feed rate in HALF...that is right.....in half...because of the better absorption you get....
I would rent the roller.....I don't think you will use it that many times.....and buy a coreing aerator....don't get the spike kind..they just compact the soil more....GOOD LUCK !

SPIKER · Jun 19, 2004

I've got a 24" x 48" roller too, I use it behind my garden tractor (20 hp murry.) It HELPS with the Mole hills but that is about it unless it is VERY wet then my murry won't [ull it as it looses traction with ag type tires on it. though I also know i WILL get ag/r4 type tires on my next mower... as for using one behind something like the BX series I'm sure you won't have the traction problem but you probalby will also rut more than the rider will.... I know a hard turn will shove the rear end around quite a bit on my rider. also down hill turns are a blast! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I nearly lost it going dowhill and the roller pushed much faster than I was wanting to go and the bottem end was a tail wip and a half! lol... biggest thing is the roller is 100% dead weight behind rider, I'm thinking of addind a few blocks on the toung to add soem weight to rear of tractor as my rear end only has about 160 lbs. (and my woman won't use the roller but she has enough rear end weight to help the traction prob! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

(hope she don't see this! LOL> /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Mark M