Implement choice for filling ruts in lawn???

   / Implement choice for filling ruts in lawn??? #1  

jimgerken

Veteran Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2001
Messages
1,638
Location
Minnesota
Tractor
John Deere 3720
Following the concrete delivery, I now have many deep unmowable ruts in my lawn. Some 10" deep. Lawn is very old established turf. I would like to fill and relevel this mess. I have a FEL and will begin filling and backdragging the areas, but are there other good ideas you'd like to suggest? I have a box blade but feel that will cause more damage. Been thinking about a landscape rake but don't know if this is a good excuse. Suggestions welcomed...
 
   / Implement choice for filling ruts in lawn??? #2  
Jim,
For ruts that are 10” deep I think whatever you use is going to destroy the existing turf. If you are willing to do it over a period of time, fill the deepest ruts with new soil and sprig in plugs of existing turf. For the shallower ruts add sand a little at a time and let the turf grow throw. That is what the local landscape guy did next door to me.

MarkV
 
   / Implement choice for filling ruts in lawn??? #3  
Sounds to me like time for your loader and a shovel and rake, unless the ruts are deep enough and things are dry enough that you could have somebody tailgate topsoil over the area.
 
   / Implement choice for filling ruts in lawn??? #4  
I ran my tiller over similar ruts and reduced them considerably. This was in heavy turf, and the grass basically re-started itself.

Chuck
 
   / Implement choice for filling ruts in lawn??? #5  
You might also want to think about a running a set of disks across them, this has worked for me in the past.
 
   / Implement choice for filling ruts in lawn??? #6  
I have the same situation ahead of me though mine isn't in lawn yet, just old field. I tested a section several weeks ago with my box blade. I put the rippers all the way down and made multiple passes through the area. Really tears it up, but the end result was a nicely smoothed area. When I get serious about it all I'll finish it off with my landscape rake.

Even if yours is established lawn, you may have to tear it up this much to completely eliminate deep ruts /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
 
   / Implement choice for filling ruts in lawn??? #7  
If it were my lawn, I would till the deeper ruts. In all likelyhood, the soil there was severley compacted. It wouldn't hurt to aerate it some.
 
   / Implement choice for filling ruts in lawn??? #8  
Usually when you get deep truck ruts as you described. The outside of the rut gets pushed up higher than original elavation. You'll need to cut this down to just below grade. You FEL will work for that. Backdrag some new top soil into the ruts. then I would use something long and heavy to drag over the top it to give you a level plane ( I use a 10' railroad tie on chain, behind the tractor ). Then add seed. roll it and cover with straw.
 
   / Implement choice for filling ruts in lawn??? #9  
I have several areas of similar ruts. I've used pretty much all the same techniques as the others plus this one: I was peeling up the sod with my FEL preparing to till an area for a new garden. So I took the sod and layered it into the ruts (had to cut the width down with a shovel). The grass has taken hold, it looks pretty good and I no longer get a bucking bronco ride when I mow the area.
 
   / Implement choice for filling ruts in lawn??? #10  
I had a similiar problem. I watered the sod ALOT. I then rolled the sod at a 45 degree angle. It pushed some of the sod down and forced some up. I then did a 90 degree pass to the 45 degree pass. It worked pretty well. I put some sand in the areas that didnt fill well. Bob
 
 
 
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