Wet ground on a gentle slope

Neil L · May 7, 2007

I have an area of yard (100' X 75' ) that stays wet months after the rest of the yard firms up. The area has a gentle slope and should drain as the rest. The soil seems to be the same. I do have drainage from the neighboring land.
We are on 5 acres so there is no master plan for drainage.

Seems as though there was a disscussion about this situation, and ripping or middle busting was suggested. If this is the way? Do you work it as soon as you get enough traction or wait till it is at its driest, Sept/Oct? Also should the rip be up and down or across?

Neil

Farmwithjunk · May 7, 2007

Neil L said:
I have an area of yard (100' X 75' ) that stays wet months after the rest of the yard firms up. The area has a gentle slope and should drain as the rest. The soil seems to be the same. I do have drainage from the neighboring land.
We are on 5 acres so there is no master plan for drainage.

Seems as though there was a disscussion about this situation, and ripping or middle busting was suggested. If this is the way? Do you work it as soon as you get enough traction or wait till it is at its driest, Sept/Oct? Also should the rip be up and down or across?

Neil

Howdy neighbor!

Deep ripping supposedly works best when the ground is reasonably dry. It shatters as opposed to just cutting a slit that'll "heal" itself in short order. I'd suspect it would tend to erode more if you ripped it up and down the run of the hill as opposed to crossways. After the monsoon we had friday, I'd imagine you're mighty soaked right now.

Neil L · May 7, 2007

Farmswith good to hear from you again.

I suspected your suggestions to be the case however I was hoping to attack now, or soon as it is such an irritation. Most of the place looks good and then no mans land with mosquitos. Thaks for the Help.

Neil

scott_vt · May 7, 2007

Farmwithjunk said:
I'd suspect it would tend to erode more if you ripped it up and down the run of the hill as opposed to crossways.

Afternoon Bill,
The little bit I know about plowing, not much, is that most will advise you not to plow or rip up the soil going up and down the hill ! If you did get a major rain the errosion of the field would be terrible and you would be losing alot of valuable topsoil ! Think of each furrow as a rain gutter !

53gravely · May 7, 2007

Any way to build a swale so your neighbor gets to keep his own darn water?

Neil L · May 7, 2007

Gravley,

A great peice of equipment, from Dunbar WV. When I was younger I was able to yank the leather strap long enough to get ours to start!! I got over it, but occasionaly think it would be handy for cutting brush under things. This is a tractor forum and I digres.

A good idea about a diversion ditch, only his property all tilts my way (both directions) and he could care less about my problem (30 years experience). I did not mention I have a pond and I'm not sure but what part of the deal is an adjustment he made due to septic problems. I already have an algea problem again this year. Pond has steep banks under water and grass carp.

Anyone had to deal with this or the county type health departments? Thanks, Neil

Farmwithjunk · May 7, 2007

scott_vt said:
Afternoon Bill,
The little bit I know about plowing, not much, is that most will advise you not to plow or rip up the soil going up and down the hill ! If you did get a major rain the errosion of the field would be terrible and you would be losing alot of valuable topsoil ! Think of each furrow as a rain gutter !

That's an example of the new "Kinder/Gentler" me..... Just SUGGEST what I think is right and let the chips fall where they may instead of being adament about what I know to be correct

Farmwithjunk · May 7, 2007

Neil L said:
Anyone had to deal with this or the county type health departments? Thanks, Neil

Neil, If you REALLY want to go forward with it, I can help you get in contact with Bud Schardien who heads up MSD, or a number of Louisville metro health dept. inspectors, but I'd go at that like I was walking in a mine field. You may just open Pandora's Box with little possibility of getting the lid back on it there. They love to make mountains out of molehills.

JerryG · May 7, 2007

If you have the room (as in own the land to the side of the hill), rip with a single shank going around the slope like a terrace would. That way the soil would drain but it wouldn't wash.