What size Lawn Roller for food plot?

[bfisherman11]

I want to roll my food plot to firm up the seed bed before planting. I used my tractor to plow and disc a new spot last weekend. A cultipacker is pretty expensive plus worried my tractor would just chew up the loose soil too much.

Tractor Supply has a 24"x48" steel roller that weighs 920# with water. They also have a poly one 18"x48" that weighs 550# with water. Wish they were 5' wide but not.

I'm leaning towards the lighter poly one because my land is hilly and I will be using my UTV to roll my plot.I don't want the roller to be too heavy for the UTV to pull through the loose soil and up hill.What do you think? I have never pulled a roller before. Not sure how hard it is to pull.

 

[prichard]

I was looking at that one yesterday online. I don't like the reviews. I'll pass. Let us know what you decide, I need one as well but no immediate need so I'll keep looking.

 

[airbiscuit]

Just drive the UTV round and round and round.

 

[fried1765]

I want to roll my food plot to firm up the seed bed before planting. I used my tractor to plow and disc a new spot last weekend. A cultipacker is pretty expensive plus worried my tractor would just chew up the loose soil too much.

Tractor Supply has a 24"x48" steel roller that weighs 920# with water. They also have a poly one 18"x48" that weighs 550# with water. Wish they were 5' wide but not.

I'm leaning towards the lighter poly one because my land is hilly and I will be using my UTV to roll my plot.I don't want the roller to be too heavy for the UTV to pull through the loose soil and up hill.What do you think? I have never pulled a roller before. Not sure how hard it is to pull.

View attachment 505286

I have a 24" x48" steel roller that I have had for 50 years, and it was old when I got it.
Simple, and heavy as he11 !!!!
It works great!

 

[leonz]

You should not pack the ground down before you seed as it will not let the seeds enter the soil.

tilling cover crops works well by first broadcast spreading the seed then using the tiller on its
highest setting to mix the seed with the soil after that you could use a roller with 20 or so gallons
of water in it or one bag of dry play sand to create ground contact for germination.

 

[jeff9366]

Size your roller to "fill in" between rear tires.

 

[bfisherman11]

Jeff, How about the dia/weight aspect of the roller? I have a UTV and it is hilly. My Polaris has a 31hp motor. It is the 300 so although it makes 31hp it is at higher RPM. Not really the point but just thought I would toss that in.

 

[jeff9366]

My Kubota RTV500 has 15.8 horsepower + HST transmission. Though heavy, rollers are not pulling anything THROUGH soil. It does not take much power to pull a roller over ground nor up moderate slopes. The roller pictured is neither easy nor hard to roll manually for me, age 69-1/2 years, over small portions of my flat lawn.

I would Disc your food plot land again, WITH THE DISC PANS ADJUSTED LESS AGGRESSIVELY.
MORE: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ing-three-point-hitch-mounted.html?highlight=

For small food plot seed, such as Clover, which needs light to germinate, therefore should be pressed into ground rather than covered, any reasonably heavy poly roller will suffice, such as 18" X 48". It is pointless to size a food plot roller to cover tire width. The two weights do not "add".

I have used my poly roller from TSC eight years on my lawn. You have to empty water before a hard freeze or it will split.

I would roll only once, after seeding.

If you want a heavier tool, which will also flatten clods, and help control erosion before seed germinates, buy a Cultipacker.

(( I also own/operate an ETA 60" Cultipacker, which is everyday ballast on tractor Three Point Hitch. When I roll in my small food plots I use the indestructible Cultipacker. ))

 

[boggen]

harbor freight, grainger, homedepot, menards, tractor supply, lowes, farm and fleet, farmking, and other agriculture supply stores and tractor dealers should sell lawn rollers.

looking at initial picture, looks like you have a good amount of "ruts" per say that is all rough throughout the picture, get a drag harrow or chain link fence and/or beam and drag it all smooth. if not your lawn will end up bumpy, and biting your tongue when it all grows in and you begin mowing.

let it dry out some, and just run the tractor.
if dirt = wet, it compacts much more (not wanted at the surface).
dirt = dry = less compaction.
just let it dry up some and use your tractor on it.

highly suggest putting straw down to deal with erosoin. you will end up getting a couple spots that erodes away. just wait till new grass seed started taking root, and deal with erosion later on this year. and filling in the spots.

 

[fried1765]

harbor freight, grainger, homedepot, menards, tractor supply, lowes, farm and fleet, farmking, and other agriculture supply stores and tractor dealers should sell lawn rollers.

looking at initial picture, looks like you have a good amount of "ruts" per say that is all rough throughout the picture, get a drag harrow or chain link fence and/or beam and drag it all smooth. if not your lawn will end up bumpy, and biting your tongue when it all grows in and you begin mowing.

let it dry out some, and just run the tractor.
if dirt = wet, it compacts much more (not wanted at the surface).
dirt = dry = less compaction.
just let it dry up some and use your tractor on it.

highly suggest putting straw down to deal with erosoin. you will end up getting a couple spots that erodes away. just wait till new grass seed started taking root, and deal with erosion later on this year. and filling in the spots.

Start grass in the Fall.
Cool nights.
Very few weeds!
It works MUCH better!