Removing roots and prepping for planting lawn -- Proper implement suggestions please?

[the_sandman_454]

A couple of friends of mine just built a house on about a 2 acre chunk of their property we cleared (was heavily wooded, etc)... Now in the areas they want to plant grass for a lawn, there are still a ton of roots (mostly not big, mainly just the long stringy sort of roots) that I think we'd prefer to remove prior to planting the grass. Is there an implement that will help with that?

Also, what would you guys recommend to do in order to prep the area prior to planting grass tractor/implement wise? It looks like I'll be getting a JD3520 to work with, if that's relevant. We'll probably test and amend the soil prior to planting), just wondering how best to work it up and prep it to remove the roots, and to have the best chance of success with grass. I also intend to do some of the same work at my place under similar conditions.

 

[kennyd]

Re: Removing roots and prepping for planting lawn -- Proper implement suggestions please?

Check with the local rental yards and see about renting a Bobcat with a "Harley Rake" or a "RockHound Rake". Dollar for dollar these will be the best thing to the clean out the debris and smooth the soil for planting seed.

 

[jbrumberg]

Re: Removing roots and prepping for planting lawn -- Proper implement suggestions please?

Test your soil first! Your anticipated/awaited JD3520 is a good tractor for this kind of work. I would weight your rear tires. Heavier is better for ground engaging attachments and tasks. You tend to use the attachments you have. For my lawn which is currently getting snowed on (again ) and is a big mess (sad story ), I used my tiller (run shallow) and then let the rain and time compact it somewhat last year. I then used my landscape rake to remove the rocks. I reseeded and then very,very lightly ran the rake over the reseeded area. I have finally "convinced" "She Who Must Be Obeyed" into agreeing that I really do need a boxblade (My elbows and knees are still raw from all the kowtowing and grovelling; pouting and whining does not work .). I think a box blade used initially would pull up the roots remove surface "unwanteds" and level the lawn area prior to my method, but I am talking out of my **** pore (regarding the BB; you can be the judge of the rest of my response) as I have not gotten a BB yet. Other readers who have BB's can correct my opinions on the use of BB's. Jay

 

[JJT]

Re: Removing roots and prepping for planting lawn -- Proper implement suggestions please?

Rip up the yard with a box scrapper, pulling the larger rocks and roots to the surface.

York rake the yard or get some kids to pick rocks and roots for a couple of hours.

Make a few passes with a tiller to grind up what's left. If you have clay soil or sand add some organic matter and till that in.

Another pass with the rake, some rock/root picking and it's ready for seeding.

 

[ToadHill]

Re: Removing roots and prepping for planting lawn -- Proper implement suggestions please?

No advice on what implement to use but, make sure to use a good amount of fertilizer high in nitrogen the first couple of years. Cornell U studies have shown that 3-4 lbs. of nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. is the normal amount of N for a lawn per year, but the rotting of wood roots uses up a lot of the available N.

 

[jbrumberg]

Re: Removing roots and prepping for planting lawn -- Proper implement suggestions please?

JJT and ToadHill are right.

Rip up the yard with a box scrapper, pulling the larger rocks and roots to the surface.

If you have clay soil or sand add some organic matter and till that in.

I did not add organic material and/or organic fertilizer to my reseeded lawn- major mistake , the same could not be said about my garden. Jay

 

[SCRich]

Re: Removing roots and prepping for planting lawn -- Proper implement suggestions please?

More guy's more!
This is exactly what I too was looking for. I just logged in and was going to post the same question. A sticky for beginers may be good explaining what each implement is good for and some basic information. It would make a great "buyer's guide" for those of us buying our first tractor since we usually can get a good deal with a package.

What does a tiller do that a disker can not ?

I thought I would need to grapple,rake,disk, rake, till, box blade, seed, then lightly rake. Sounds like sandman and I have the same type of soil to work with. In my case 100% clay and the AG has 3 different samples as of Friday.

 

[jbrumberg]

Re: Removing roots and prepping for planting lawn -- Proper implement suggestions please?

Rich and other Newbee's:

Check out the "Implement Use" thread in the Book Discussion Forum.

For additional information on tractor attachments and something you can download try Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Publications #'s 2906 and 2917 through LSU AgCenter . Welcome to the LSUAgCenter. Of particular interest try to find the publication titled "Implements for Compact Tractors, Selection, Use, Maintenance, and Safety".

Jay

 

[tcarter1]

Re: Removing roots and prepping for planting lawn -- Proper implement suggestions please?

I think a root rake followed by a pulverizer is the way to go. A pulverizer really levels and smooths out a yard area.

 

[Rich P]

Re: Removing roots and prepping for planting lawn -- Proper implement suggestions please?

Harley Rake.
-Rich