Question for the experts

[milkman13]

Used my B7500 for the first time to mow my 5 acres. This used to be an old field, currently mowing weeds. Mowed it all last year with my dad's Cub Cadet, about wore it out. When I mowed it last year it had the field rows running one direction so if I mowed with them it wasn't bad, if I went across the rows it about beat me to death. I tried to get grass to grow and had a guy use a bean drill machine which had a grass attachment on it to plant some grass seed. I had him go across the current rows thinking that would help with the old rows by flatning them out some. BAD decision now it's terrible going both directions. About shakes the tractor apart made worst by the fact the B7500 mower rides on the ground. So after all that my question is how can I level out the ground before it shakes all the bolts loose??????

 

[wichiwichi]

I would suggest going over it several times with a disc.

 

[RanchMan]

I concur - although I'd also add the use of a landscape rake & a chain harrow after disking. I used this method to smooth over several acres and it worked very well. I was too cheap to buy a "real" chain harrow so I made one out of chain link fence and 4x4x8's. The disk will "activate" inactive seeds in the bed, but you might consider using a broadcaster to re-seed while you're at it (after the disking but before the rake/chain harrow) just to make sure that your grass is nice & thick.

 

[JohnMiller3]

<font color="blue"> I would suggest going over it several times with a disc... </font>

I also concur with all the previous "concurrence's"... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Then, with all that thick beautiful new grass and silky smooth ground... you will have your very own "golf course"... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[theboman]

Agree.. disc and drag and sew grass. Or depending how tall/hard those rows are you may be able to drag them down.
Or, till drag and pack the ground back level and sew grass.

 

[milkman13]

Thanks to all of you I will give this a try. Hey you don't happen to have a picture of that rake ya made do ya???

 

[milkman13]

I told my wife it's going to be my retirement park. She just rolls her eyes.

 

[RanchMan]

I'll try to take a picture and post it next chance I get.

 

[cowboydoc]

Unless you've got one heck of a good big disc you won't get it to go through grass very well. More than likely you will need to plow it first or get someone with a big disc. Or get a rototiller for your tractor and then disc and harrow it.

 

[knucklehead]

You beat me to it, CowDoc. We have a small old cutout disc harrow, which I guess is now called a "notched disc harrow". It cuts well just about everywhere, but sod gives it a hard time even with ridiculous amounts of weight on it.

I'd recommend pricing a large rental tractor with tiller, or even have someone come in if the whole 5 acres is to be done. With a 48" tiller on that B7500, you're going to drive over 10 miles. A lot of pounding on a small tractor, but if you get to buy a tiller, maybe it's worth it!