Raking Grass

[fenneran]

Hello all,

We put an ad in the paper this spring giving away our hay, all someone would have to do is come cut and bale it and they could have it for free. well, one guy came and said he would do it, but never showed up. So, this past weekend I bush-hogged about 10 acres of 6-foot deep grass and weeds. What is left is a bunch of cut grass, some in piles and some in rows, on my field.

What I would like to do is somehow rake as much as I can. If nothing else, I can get it in one place and only kill a portion of the field instead of killing a great deal of it by leaving it where it is. I originally thought about renting a landscape rake from the local rental place, but they discouraged it saying it would do more damage than good.

You guys have any suggestions?

Tractor is Yanmar YMG1800d, so it's pretty small.

Thanks in advance,
Frank

 

[Bob_Skurka]

From the economical point of view, I think the landscape rake from the rental store will do you fine.

I used a 7' rake behind a Kubota B2901 earlier this summer to rake out an industrial field that was full of debris. The rake did SOME damage to the turf, but I was not concerned about that because I was more worried about collecting the sticks, bottles, and other junk that had accumulated. I set the 3pt all the way down to get the maximum weight onto the rake's tines. But even then, it really didn't do much damage, and the tines did NOT dig deep.

Within a couple weeks new grass pretty much filled in the damaged areas and all looks good. I'm sure there might be more correct ways to rake your grass, but it worked for me, it was cheap (I borrowed the rake) and now the field looks good. I would think that you could set the 3pt so the tines just barely contact the turf and then you'd do almost no damage.

What I do think you will find is that you will collect a bunch of grass and then you will have to stop and leave the pile somewhere because once you "fill up" the tines, you will begin "spilling" grass instead of collecting it.

 

[cj7]

Have you thought about just mowingover it again. Giving it another good chop?

 

[Currmudgeon]

I've used a landscape rake to rake grass. It scars the turf a little, but not badly at all. The biggest problem is that it's not really made for raking hay, and spills periodically. Maybe I need to play with the toplink to increase the tine angles, but I needed to do a fair amount of backing and filling to get it all picked up. After picking up a bunch of grass, it would then override and spill the load. I then had to back up to pick it up again. It still worked better than anything else I had as an alternative.

With ten acres of real hay, you'll have a job o' work whatever you do.

 

[BobReeves]

Sounds like some had better luck than I did trying to use a landscape rake. I cut 5 acres this spring as you described and the landscape rake was all but useless in trying to rake it. Had the same problems as Dennis except more so. Anyway I just gave up and let it lay, waited a couple of weeks and cut it again. The clumps didn't quite completely go away with the second cutting but it helped. If the clumps killed any grass I sure cant tell it, wished it had, it needs mowing again.

 

[PineRidge]

I think CJ7 may have a good idea. Hit it again the shredder and let it break down where it lies. It will most likely do less damage to the turf than the landscape rake might.

 

[fenneran]

THanks guys. I could go over most of it again, but I forgot to mention the second problem. My mower was at a slight angle (down to the right if looked at from the back) because the adjustable link would not turn. The rain was coming and I wanted to get as much cut as I could, so I left it alone. The problem was that there was so much grass on the ground, when I came around on the next pass, great clumps would build up on the right side and finally break loose in a big pile. So I got the mower's "rows" of grass and probably 50 of these heaps of grass (probably 3-5 feet round and 2-3 feet high). I just know hitting those suckers will cuase great excitement under the mower deck. But that's probably my only option at this point.

-Frank

 

[RichNJKubota]

When I've had to mow high grass like that I put the 3 pt mower up as high as the 3 pt hitch will go. Then mow it.
After a couple of weeks mow with the 3 pt down lower, etc......
Now that you are in this situation I'd just try and mow it again. See what happens to those clumps.

Rich

 

[gabby]

Hey Fenneran,

I think you will be amazed how much volume you would have if you try to rake it, even if there was a tool that would do it. You would end up with huge piles of wet, rotting matter.

I agree that you should just hog it again to chew it up and scatter it. The grass will come back.

Gabby

p.s. You should fix that leveling box!!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[SteveBenson]

If you could borrow a hay rake from one of you neighbors you could rake it into windrows and let it dry. If you flip the rows over every day it should be dry in about 2-3 days (especially if cut with a brush hog). Once the hay is dry grind up the rows slowly with the brush hog. Then hit it with a big finish mower if you got one.

This is what I do with my hay that gets too much rain. I hate baling mulch so I just put it back into the field /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[adegiulio]

Yeah, isn't this what a hay rake was invented for? I've never used one, but it seems like the perfect solution...

 

[Glenn9643]

As has already been suggested a hay rake would be the best tool to windrow it. After it's windrowed you can push up and move piles pretty well with the loader bucket skimming the ground. I think my toothbar helps here. Have you thought about composting? Sounds like you've really got a good start on materiels if you have any interest!

 

[fenneran]

Hmmmm. Composting 8-10 acres of cut grass. That would generate some heat!

 

[Glenn9643]

Depending on your situation and interests it may be worthwhile. I mow five acres on our place and every few weeks pull a sweeper behind the mower to pick up clippings and probably get 20-30 cubic yards that I add to compost piles. Of course my grass isn't as high as yours was so you'll have much more. A huge pile of clippings will generate heat and should be watered and turned every few days depending on conditions. The heat will kill any seeds in the pile but you need to try to keep it from getting over 160 degrees, as over that it kills the beneficial bacteria. I turn mine with the FEL. After a few days the piles will shrink as they decompose and you can consolidate piles...
It's just a thought, and it's what I would do. I started composting last year and it's generated a lot of great amendments for my garden. Matter of fact I hauled 24 yards of "gin trash" in yesterday and plan to get that much more today for composting.
If there's not enough carbon source in the pile, or if is too wet it'll smell like a manure pile. Trial and error is the best teacher to overcome this.

 

[SteveBenson]

10 acres of hay that tall is a lot of material and it will take a tremondous amount of time to remove it from the field loose, IMHO.

 

[Gatorboy]

Just leave it lay where it is. Give it a a few weeks and mow over it again. Then wait until March or so to cut it again.

When I bought my property, the open areas were 4'-5' high, and I put in the contract that the ower would have it mowed before closing. This was done in September, and it looked horrible. I just left it like that until March, when I cut it for the very first time. By July, the field was looking pretty darn good.

In summary, I don't think any long term damage will be done by leaving the clippings where they lie.

 

[surfacewave]

Fenneran,
I have the same issue except its only 6+ acres. I did what bobreeves stated; <font color="blue"> </font>waited a couple of weeks and cut it again. The clumps didn't quite completely go away with the second cutting.

<font color="black"> </font> The method works pretty well but I would really like to collect the cut grass/weeds for the compost pile.

Gabbys right <font color="blue"> </font> I think you will be amazed how much volume you would have if you try to rake it, even if there was a tool that would do it. You would end up with huge piles of wet, rotting matter.

<font color="black"> </font> In my book that means back gold for the gradens. So currently I am trying to locate an old style sulky dump rake to hook-up to my JD4115 to make piles of wet rotting matter and you will be amazed how fast that huge pile of wet rotting material becomes a small pile of useful material.