Field to Yard Prep

[BrettW]

Hello, I'm going to make a fairly flat field into a big yard. It is weeds, grass and small brush for now. Question is, what is the best way to do this. Kill everything, rake it, till it, rake it smooth? or would I be better with a box blade. There are some ruts to deal with and more after the house is built. thanks for all the help. brett w

[Anonymous Poster]

I might get a couple scoops of dirt and place in the low spots. Then I would take the Landscape Rake to it. That is how I am redoing my yard.

[BrettW]

Is the rake strong enough to pull everything else out, and then smooth the whole area for seeding? thanks again, bw

[RobS]

Brett, I'm going through the same thing now. It depends on what implements you have available. I don't have a tiller but do have a box blade and rake. I've been ripping up the soil with my box blade/rippers all the way down. Also use the box to do any contour adjustments which is a lot easier to say than actually do. Once I've got everything chewed up and contoured the way I want it I start in with the rake.

I think a tiller would be the cat's meow but again, I don't have one (yet). There is some hand work in removing rocks, sticks and clumps. Soil moisture content will play a large factor in your success and/or frustration so be a bit patient.

I haven't taken any steps to kill off existing vegetation. I may regret it but I'll deal with that after the fact [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[BB_TX]

What is a "rut" as you are using the term. Is it something like a tire track? Or more like a wash several inches deep and a foot or more wide? Small ruts akin to tire tracks would probably disappear under a tiller. Larger ruts will likely require adding and/or moving some dirt to level them out. Depending on the size of the brush and their roots, the tiller may have a problem cutting thru those. I think I would try pulling them up rather than cutting them down.

[Anonymous Poster]

I am getting ready to do this and I found a TR3 rake at our local rental shop. $65 a day and the video I watched showed it being used on a hay field and it did a great job. This is the way I am going to go.

ChrisW

[BrettW]

Rob, I've got a tiller but that is it for now. I know I'll need (and want) another unit but I dont forsee using it very often. I do think I could use a rake to maintain the gravel driveway. So you think till it then rake it and that might do it? Maybe rent a box blade or rear blade? thanks, bw

[RobS]

Brett, as BB said it will depend on your ruts. We've got a bunch from the construction traffic on the house. Some very deep from mixers but I think a tiller would do just fine. It sounds like you could benefit from a rake as it does a nice job on the gravel drive too. You can probably do without the box blade altogether unless you've got to rearrange a lot of dirt.

Whatever you do, post your results both good and bad. We can all learn from the experiences of others [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[JJT]

I've done a fair amount of field reclaimation with a tiller and a landscape rake doing the bulk of the work. I try to brush hog the year before, then use the box scraper to rip the sod, remove any large rocks and breakup any roots. Then I'll till 2 - 3 times over the course of a week or 2, picking stones in between passes. Then finish it off with the landscape rake and plant grass. My fields are fairly stone free, you may need to rake the stones out between passes with the tiller.

[s1120]

How long do you have, and what kind of lawn do you want when its done. I am doing the same thing with land I got 2 1/2 years ago. What I did was mow it. The kiy is to keep it mowed, like you would mow a lawn. Mow at the highest setting on your mower.[3 1/3-4 1/2" works well]. After the first year of keeping it mowed, and grasses have almost taken over from the weeds. I had a few holes, and ruts, and I just filled them in, and spred some seed. I have not used any fert, or weed killer, and most of it looks real good. When the house is done, I plan to fert it a bit, and fill some more ruts, but it looks real nice.