old field to decent lawn

ALPS · Dec 8, 2004

I've heard of your forum here, so I thought I'd come check it out and see if I could get some advice...

I'd like to turn the overgrown field next to the house into a halfway decent lawn. When I bought this old farmhouse two years ago, the "lawn" was pretty small, and most of the remaining 6 acres was neglected pasture (I'm guessing pasture for farm animals due to old fence posts, etc..). Last summer I bought an Ford tractor and a brush hog and cleared the "east lawn", an area about 200x300. I've kept it cut down, cleared some brush and small trees, but the ground is pretty rough and rutted up in spots -- not suitable for mowing at all.

I've asked around as to the best way to trn this into a lawn and got lots of different answers. I'd like it to be nice, for when the kid gets older and needs a place to play, so it needs to be level and with grass, but then again, I don't need a golf corse either.

Any thoughts or help would be appreciated. Thanks

OK-- maybe a little more info?? One guy said use drags, and that would be enough, while someone else sugguested getting discs off a local farmer. There is still some roots, small stumps and all that weedy sod to deal with, so I'm thinking the plowing/discing may be the way to go. Any help??

beenthere · Dec 8, 2004

Welcome to the forum.
I converted about 5 acres of 'old field' into a pretty good lawn by just mowing it (very little and small brush). But it is on the rough and rolling side of decent lawn, but is great grass.

I planted trees on it and wish (in a small sorta way) that I would have plowed and disked it, then dragged it smooth and seeded it down. But....just mowing it was much easier and quicker to get good grass. I will be happy with it, but it isn't the baseball field or football field quality. I can mow it as fast as the Deere X485 tractor/mower will travel.

I don't think just dragging it would have helped one bit. Work it up (down to the lowest spot of the depressions), level it, and seed it. You should get a super lawn that way if erosion isn't a problem. A heavy roller early in the spring after the frost is out will add to the smoothness of the field too. But old 'lands' from plowing will always be there unless you disk them out.

hobbyfarm · Dec 8, 2004

Where are the P I C T U R E S ?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

theboman · Dec 9, 2004

I ain't no expert and I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night but I have a suggestion, thought on the subject.

If you're gonna do it, do it right so you don't have to reseed it all again and with that size it WILL be a ballfield for those youngn's.

Plow/disc will get the small roots ripped loose (a tiller would be great too). Then drag and drag and drag some more and after that dragging again won't hurt getting it smoothed down, maybe not level but consistent. Walk the field over and pickup rocks, roots sticks etc.

Then get the grass that grows best in your area and get it for medimum to heavy traffic, and besides those kids playing there it may double as a parking lot for yard sales, family gatherings, etc.

You more than likey had all this in your notes but I was feeling like typing! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Best of luck and maybe you can get a new toy for that tractor.

Egon · Dec 9, 2004

The previous fellows have all basically said " If you want a lawn do it right" and given good advice to get there.

Work it up, remove debri and rocks, level it and then level it again, seed and stay off it it till the grass is well rooted.

You'll appreciate the extra work when mowing time comes around. Oh-and mow it high.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BrettW · Dec 9, 2004

I converted 2 acres of brush into a lawn this fall. I took a LOT of work but it is nice now. Basically I cleared it, tilled it, filled in the ruts, stompped it down where it was really loose and seeded it.
Tools were tractor with tiller, box blade( couple of hundred bucks and you can resell it later), land scape rake, which really smoothed things out well. brett w

MarkV · Dec 9, 2004

As you can see there are a number of different ways you can go at it. The best way may be a local contractor with a Harley rake. They are designed for lawn bed prep and loosen the soil, smooth out the bad spots and rake out rocks and roots at the same time. It is an expensive piece of equipment though and what fun is hiring it out if you just got a tractor.

I use a tiller to break up the soil, a landscape rake to clean up the trash and grade, then a drag or harrow for the final smoothing.

If new equipment isn’t in the cards right now and you have local farmers near by, they could make quick work of an area that size with a plow and a disk. A 6x6 attached to a section of chain link fence makes a decent drag for final smoothing. You would have to do some hand clean up of rocks and roots.

If this kind of planting is new to you as it was to me the best advice is get a soil test done through you local county extension service. No matter how you prep the area if the soil isn’t right you will not be happy with the way the grass grows. If lime is needed in your area it is best to work it in when the soil plowed, disked or tilled. They will also give advice on the different types of grass that works well in your area, when to plant, type and how much fertilizer to use and how to maintain the grass after it is established.

Of course the down side is that once you get it going you have to mow it.

MarkV

have_blue · Dec 9, 2004

Depends on your patience and wallet.

If money is no object and you are impatient, fill the holes with topsoil, plow the entire field to a fine powder, rake it, drag it smooth, and seed it. Done!

If the existing grass is the right kind, you can just fill the holes with topsoil, drag or box blade them smooth, and spot seed. Keep it mown low to kill weeds and rough grass, and this will reveal further low spots you need to take care of. This way is cheap, it but takes longer.

The results will ultimately be the same.

Dutch445 · Dec 9, 2004

The Harley Rake is a great tool! If you can find a place to rent one, rent the tractor and harley rake and in a weekend (probably a day) you can have it ready for seed! The harley rake will grade, level, and pulverize the soil so it's soft and ready for planting.

When I did about 2 acres 15 years ago, I had loads of dirt from the county and state dpw crews brought in. They would clean ditches, and dump it for free. It contained an occasional bottle, can, stick, toy, and was a little sandy from winterime, but, with the right fertilizer, lime, and care, it turned into a beautiful lawn. Even had it to a point where I had one of those lawn spray services come 3 times a year with thier little tractor and sprayer, helped with insects and fertilized without spending hours walking back and forth with a spreader.
I did use drags as the final step, to bring up any rocks or roots, then picked and picked by hand what was on top.

Soundguy · Dec 10, 2004

As long as there is -SOME- grass on it, and you have more time than mone to invest.. just mow the heck out of it... mom, mow, mow.

It will eventually be lawn-ish with not much other intervention.

Soundguy

ALPS · Dec 12, 2004

Thanks for all the great advice, at least now I've got a place to start next spring. And it looks like I've got a lot of work to do. I plan on living here for quite a while, and if I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it right and have something to show off and be proud of.

One more question I have: is it necessary to plow before disking? One person (not here) said I could disk the ground and that would do it, but we have heavy clay soil and when it's dry it's like concrete. I doubt this area of the former farm was ever plowed before, if that helps.

And yes, I'll try to get some pictures up, too.

KiotiJohn · Dec 13, 2004

( One more question I have: is it necessary to plow before disking? One person (not here) said I could disk the ground and that would do it, but we have heavy clay soil and when it's dry it's like concrete. I doubt this area of the former farm was ever plowed before, if that helps. )
I think you'd find it easier to plough first, but it's not an absolute.
If you have enough weight on the disks, and run them over a few times in different directions, you may be able to tear it up enough to satisfy your needs. If the clay is hard and packed, you may find it better to plough first, or save a lot of work and use a good strong tiller. John

Egon · Dec 13, 2004

If you have enough horsepower and a very heavy disc it will work. Otherwise plough first. You will end up with a much better job.

For planting think about keeping the area black for at least a month or so to give all the seeds that are in the ground a chance to sprout and be worked under. Every time you work it it will also help smooth and level.

Instant viable lawn is a myth - even when turf is used!

I've got nothing against a disc , it's just that they require more HP-Traction than most of us have.

Egon

Gatorboy · Dec 13, 2004

You'd be surprised how well it could look if you just mow it more often.

Here are two BEFORE/AFTER pictures of when I bought my property and how it looked about 1 year later:

Photo 1 | Photo 2

And here is another set for good measure:

Before | After

have_blue · Dec 13, 2004

( ( You'd be surprised how well it could look if you just mow it more often.

Here are two BEFORE/AFTER pictures of when I bought my property and how it looked about 1 year later: ))

Bah! You Photo Shop'd those pics! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

All seriousness aside, I agree mowing is the best way to kill weeds and rough grasses. Just mowing and filling puddles will usually make a nice looking field. I also did the same thing you did, turned out good.

ALPS · Dec 13, 2004

Egon--

If you have enough horsepower and a very heavy disc it will work

I've got nothing against a disc , it's just that they require more HP-Traction than most of us have.

***************
What would you say is "enough" HP??

ALPS · Dec 13, 2004

Dave--

Yeah, I agree that mowing can do a lot. I used that method on the west side of the house, bush hogging, rut filling, seeding and mowing. Turned out nice enough, too.

However, in that area, like in your pics, it was all just high weeds. The spot in question now has patches of scrub and brush. Sure I could run the bush hog over it first first, but what about all those small stumps?? And there is considerable rutting, too. That would take lots of fill, and I've got no FEL to help.