Box Scraper Beginners guide to using a box blade

   / Beginners guide to using a box blade #201  
Hi folks.
I am considering a box blade for smoothing my lawn. I have 6 acre property, two tiered, 1/4 is wetland lower tier. Not much I can do there but the rest is very bumpy to ride a mower on. And I have 60'' ZTR that is badly slowed down by bumps. Backbreaking.
Because of the wetland I am looking into buying a 4x4 tractor. That will come with field mower but I am considering a box blade to smooth bumps in lawn. I do not mind dedicating some time to it. What I do mind is to actually buy a tool that will not do the job.
That said, is box blade a good idea or something else is advised? Looking at 27 hp diesel Mitsubishi. I must have field mower 4x4 because of the wetland, but won't hurt to use tractor for another purpose.
Thank you.
 
   / Beginners guide to using a box blade #202  
Hi folks.
I am considering a box blade for smoothing my lawn. I have 6 acre property, two tiered, 1/4 is wetland lower tier. Not much I can do there but the rest is very bumpy to ride a mower on. And I have 60'' ZTR that is badly slowed down by bumps. Backbreaking.
Because of the wetland I am looking into buying a 4x4 tractor. That will come with field mower but I am considering a box blade to smooth bumps in lawn. I do not mind dedicating some time to it. What I do mind is to actually buy a tool that will not do the job.
That said, is box blade a good idea or something else is advised? Looking at 27 hp diesel Mitsubishi. I must have field mower 4x4 because of the wetland, but won't hurt to use tractor for another purpose.
Thank you.

So you want to scrape off all the existing grass, level it and then re-seed?
 
   / Beginners guide to using a box blade #203  
Well, it's hard to explain. I'd rather take the bumps off. Hopefully, same process will fill low spots. Far as I know, it will disturb grass cover in high areas, but I am in farmland and looks are little important to me. And grass grows back faster than expected.
I simply want to reduce bumpiness.
 
   / Beginners guide to using a box blade #204  
Here's the thing. Moles and other critters. I contribute most of bumpiness to what's left of mold mounds. Plus, simply crappy grading done by previous owner.
 
   / Beginners guide to using a box blade #205  
A box blade and good operator can smooth out the bumps. An inexperienced operator will usually make more bumps.

You will get better results if you disc or till the entire field and smooth with a land plane grader scraper or a drag of sorts. Then seed and roll just before your rain season. This would be easy with or without a lot of tractor experience.
 
   / Beginners guide to using a box blade #206  
Just came upon me. Why don't I buy the tractor and field mower, the way I must have. Then, rent a box blade. Try it out. Rent tiller, try it out. See which one works best. Then get one.
 
   / Beginners guide to using a box blade #207  
Just came upon me. Why don't I buy the tractor and field mower, the way I must have. Then, rent a box blade. Try it out. Rent tiller, try it out. See which one works best. Then get one.

Sounds like a smart plan.
 
   / Beginners guide to using a box blade #208  
Just came upon me. Why don't I buy the tractor and field mower, the way I must have. Then, rent a box blade. Try it out. Rent tiller, try it out. See which one works best. Then get one.


Why not rent the tiller for a couple of days till everything and return it. Why buy one for less than 10 acres if you plant grass?
You can till one pass over 4 acres in a day with your tractor, second day till perpendicular to the first day. Return tiller and you are done with it. Use that money to buy seed and fertilizer.

The tools you need to put in a new lawn that is being reworked,
tiller
land plane grader scraper or spiked tooth harrow or a good drag (all of these tools are good for smoothing out the tilled ground)
broadcast spin spreader for seed and fertilizer (amendments) this might be something you should buy for future fertilizer application
spiked tooth harrow to cover seed
water roller or cultipacker to firm up seed for good contact with soil.

The big question is what implements are available for you to rent?
 
   / Beginners guide to using a box blade #209  
I remember reading this thread years ago when I first purchased a box blade- it literally cut years off my learing curve! Glad to see it still going.
 
   / Beginners guide to using a box blade #210  
Need to bump this educational info to the top of the page!
 
 
 
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