Chain Harrow or Disk for Overseeding Grass

   / Chain Harrow or Disk for Overseeding Grass #1  

rwinter

Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2006
Messages
44
Location
Nellysford, VA
Tractor
JD 4720
I put a house in the middle of pasture grass. I want to overseed with fescue this spring and I need a implement, preferably less than $500, to score the soil but not totally destroy the current grass, so the seeds take root. I was thinking of a small disc set up (not at an angle) or perhaps dragging a chain harrow. Any idea which would be better? Any other ideas?
 
   / Chain Harrow or Disk for Overseeding Grass #2  
I am in a similar situation - My yard is in pretty good shape, but I want more fescue in it..

I have tried using an aerator, but unless you make many, many, many passes you cant get the holes close enough for it to be 'thick'.. I considerred seeing if i could rent a walk-behind 'no-till' seeder..

brian
 
   / Chain Harrow or Disk for Overseeding Grass #3  
I think you're both in the same ballpark.

Used all of them for different things. Any of them will get some moderate opening of the surface to allow broadcast seed an avenue.

The cheapest will easily be an old disc or drag harrow followed with a seeding and some moisture.
 
   / Chain Harrow or Disk for Overseeding Grass #4  
The chain harrow can be dragged in either direction. Tips down and forward gives aggressive penetration, tips down and to the rear does less damage. Flip it upside down (tips facing the sky) for light leveling/smoothing. Depending upon the weight, a disc harrow might do too much sod damage

//greg//
 
   / Chain Harrow or Disk for Overseeding Grass #5  
A drag harrow through existing sod is going to pull up a lot of trash, unless you can adjust the depth so it just scratches the surface.

The lower you can mow it before you do anything else, the easier it will be
Personally, I wouldnt worry too much about the existing sod if you want a fescue lawn. You'll get a better stand if you disk it lightly
 
   / Chain Harrow or Disk for Overseeding Grass #6  
See if these folks are in your area: Natural Resources Conservation Service
They are usually associated with area soil conservation districts (whatever they have been renamed to).

We had a guy come by last summer and spend a few hours walking our pastures and giving us an assessment of what we had growing, the condition our pastures were in, and a grazing plan. In addition, our local soil conservation district has a no till drill available for rent. The field specialist can suggest problems and solutions specific to your site and local environment.

I have chain harrow -- hate it. Works great in an arena like environment. In the field it just acts like a dethatcher, with rolls of thatch that pile up and roll out of it. I think the old sectional style tooth harrow would work much better. If you get one, consider buying or building a lift for it. There are many threads here on them to review for folks thoughts.

Having said all that, hiring someone locally to drill the seed will likely save you money and be far more successful. Broadcasting takes ~2x more seed with less guarantee of success, and NOT plowing the field is going to dramatically reduce your success rate (which may be fine) and the existing grass will compete with the fescue.
 
   / Chain Harrow or Disk for Overseeding Grass
  • Thread Starter
#7  
thanks for all your thoughts, I appreciate it
 
   / Chain Harrow or Disk for Overseeding Grass #8  
Check around, some tractor dealers rent over seeder's,$150-$200 a day.

You can do quite a few a acres in a day.

Have fun
 
   / Chain Harrow or Disk for Overseeding Grass #9  
Are you sure you need anything? If you scalp it with a lawn mower and frost seed you should get decent results.
 
   / Chain Harrow or Disk for Overseeding Grass #10  
Do you want pasture grass in your lawn? I am not sure the fescue will totally choke it out. Might be better to spray kill the existing grass in sections and broadcast new seed. I guess it depends on how 'perfect' or 'groomed' you want your lawn to look up close.
 
 
 
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