Lawn equipment

[sov.worker]

Hello everyone. I have a question about choosing equipment for creating a lawn. There are two options: a cultivator or a power rake. If I use a cultivator, I can grind everything and get a quick result with medium leveling. However, the downside is that the depth of the soil is 4-6 inches, which is too much. This layer is difficult to compact. The second option is the power rake. As I understand it, it works on a 2-inch depth, but it takes more time. The final compacting is done with a roller. There is also the possibility of additional leveling with a loader (I'm currently making a leveler for it). Which option would be better? The equipment is shown in the photo below

 

[bmaverick]

Hello everyone. I have a question about choosing equipment for creating a lawn. There are two options: a cultivator or a power rake. If I use a cultivator, I can grind everything and get a quick result with medium leveling. However, the downside is that the depth of the soil is 4-6 inches, which is too much. This layer is difficult to compact. The second option is the power rake. As I understand it, it works on a 2-inch depth, but it takes more time. The final compacting is done with a roller. There is also the possibility of additional leveling with a loader (I'm currently making a leveler for it). Which option would be better? The equipment is shown in the photo below

Your cultivator looks very much like a rotary tiller.

What if you pulled a drum roller behind the rotary tiller too?

A rotary tiller has depth skids. Set it to 2 or 3 inches deep. Then use the ground packer with aerator behind it.

one example,

3-Pt Tiller With Packer Roller, Valentini w/The BEST Features!

93' 3-Pt Rotary Tiller With Packer Roller, 65HP-100HP Tractors, Valentini H2300: Best Quality, Best Features & Excellent/Efficient 1-Pass Results!

www.valentini-groupusa.com

 

[bmaverick]

Many sod companies use this type of machine. Gives excellent results.

If you already have a rotary tiller, then simply add the packer on the back end.

 

[bmaverick]

If your machine is smaller and able to get onto smaller lots to do this work, then an item like the Deere Frontier RT30 will work nicely. And this unit can run with a diesel 25Hp and up machine.

 

[sov.worker]

Hi. After half a year, I want to bring up this issue again. The choice of equipment that I can buy in my region is very limited. Currently, I have a rotary-tiller (photo 1) with a roller and a power rake for my tractor (photo 2). However, there is a problem. I need to sow seeds and cover them with soil. Currently, I use a Solo seed drill and a rake. After that, I use a roller (photo 3). Now, I have the opportunity to purchase a new seed drill (photo 4). I am also offered such a device (photo 5). Which one is better to choose? There are two types of rollers available for compaction (photos 3 and 5). I can only ask for advice here, as this equipment is not widely available in our country.

 

[RandyT]

To me it looks like both 4 and 5 have there drawbacks. 4 looks like it firms the soil prior to planting so could cause issues with either seed coverage or may need to be refirmed after planting. 5 looks like a single pass soil preparer with seeder but not real good at soil firming after planting. Almost like you need the roller off of 4 to put on 5.

But given the options that you have, I think I would prefer 5 over 4.

As far as roller I think the Solo roller would be a better option for soil firming over the other roller which is designed more for hard surfaces. Meaning the dual drum roller would sink into soft soil and get stuck.

 

[sov.worker]

To me it looks like both 4 and 5 have there drawbacks. 4 looks like it firms the soil prior to planting so could cause issues with either seed coverage or may need to be refirmed after planting. 5 looks like a single pass soil preparer with seeder but not real good at soil firming after planting. Almost like you need the roller off of 4 to put on 5.

But given the options that you have, I think I would prefer 5 over 4.

As far as roller I think the Solo roller would be a better option for soil firming over the other roller which is designed more for hard surfaces. Meaning the dual drum roller would sink into soft soil and get stuck.

Then the question is: do I need to compact the soil before planting? In the method that was recommended to me, the soil is compacted, the seeds are sown, covered, and compacted again. Is this necessary? Or is it sufficient to level the soil, sow the seeds, and compact them? Additionally, my father is currently completing the repair of a Terex PT80, and option 4 is a good fit for it (we have found a place to purchase a power rake for it). Is there any point in focusing on option 4, or will option 5 meet my needs? (Average processing area of 0.14-0.24 acres. If we launch Terrex, we will be able to process up to 0.74 acres)

 

[Carl_NH]

Till, level, seed, rake in seed, compact but not with a heavy roller - just enough to bed the seed. Then cover with straw or some material to keep it moist.

Don't compact before seeding, other than the spiked roller setup.

 

[dodge man]

The idea is to have the soil loose when seeding and then compact it a little. A cultipacker is ideal for the last bit of rolling. I’ve only seeded small areas before and had better luck rolling after seeding but I only have a smooth yard roller.

 

[RandyT]

Then the question is: do I need to compact the soil before planting? In the method that was recommended to me, the soil is compacted, the seeds are sown, covered, and compacted again. Is this necessary? Or is it sufficient to level the soil, sow the seeds, and compact them? Additionally, my father is currently completing the repair of a Terex PT80, and option 4 is a good fit for it (we have found a place to purchase a power rake for it). Is there any point in focusing on option 4, or will option 5 meet my needs? (Average processing area of 0.14-0.24 acres. If we launch Terrex, we will be able to process up to 0.74 acres)

The answer will depend on how the seeds are deposited. Are they just sprinkled on the ground and then covered. If so then don't compact before seeding. If the seeds are deposited by seed tube into the ground then OK to compact before seeding which will give the seeds a uniform depth before compacting after.

I think option 5 will make the operation more of a one pass operation. Basically option 5 will combine option 1 and option 4. Were with option 4 will require the use of option 1, and may also have to go back and smooth between tracks.

 

[sov.worker]

The answer will depend on how the seeds are deposited. Are they just sprinkled on the ground and then covered. If so then don't compact before seeding. If the seeds are deposited by seed tube into the ground then OK to compact before seeding which will give the seeds a uniform depth before compacting after.

I think option 5 will make the operation more of a one pass operation. Basically option 5 will combine option 1 and option 4. Were with option 4 will require the use of option 1, and may also have to go back and smooth between tracks.

I am critical of option 5 for the following reasons: 1) Very often the areas on which I work are not flat and with bumps (example in the photo) and require additional work of the loader. 2) The large dimensions of the equipment make it difficult to transport between objects. 3) I am confused by the need to buy equipment almost similar to what I already have (the cost of options 4 and 5 is approximately 6000 dollars). Please look at my logic, I give the dimensions in acres: The average size of the plots we have 0.24 acres. 0.12-0.14 acres are allocated for gardens and lawns. It may not be necessary to use a tractor-mounted seed drill. I use my hands (Solo seed drill) and a hand rake. Then I use a roller to compact the soil. For lawns larger than 0.24 acres, I can use my rotary tiller and power rake (on an tractor LS or Terex skid steer) for planning. I think that option 4 is the best choice for sowing seeds on such an area. Rolling it after sowing is not a problem for me. Is there any point in option 5 on a large area (the site requires leveling work) if the goal is to save time? Or am I just making excuses to buy option 4? Please criticize.
It looks like the photos above are out of sync (Option 5 is a seed drill with a rotor) (Option 4 is a seed drill on a skid steer/tractor)

 

[RandyT]

I am just looking at it as with option 4 you will need to use the rotary tiller to break up the soil. The power rake to level, and then seed/pack, or from what I saw in a demo video of that style of seeder on a skidsteer, the tracks/tires leave compaction grooves which looked to be 2 to 2-1/2 inches deep that maybe hard to level even using the roller, so in the long run could require extra work.

With option 5 you could have the option of just using the tiller portion without seeding and then power rake if leveling is needed, before going back over with option 5 to seed and press, and may not need the roller. And you may not need to keep the tiller with option 5.

I am just looking at combining equipment that will do more than one thing at once instead of needing possibly 3 pieces of equipment