Best tool to get grass to grow

   / Best tool to get grass to grow #1  

Rail Dawg

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Nov 8, 2011
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Hi I'm here north of Houston and am trying to get 6 acres of Bermuda grass to spread. There are areas on my land where the soil is too hard for the grass to get in there.

What attachment should I use to get grass to spread into these hard areas? I have a Kubota 3800 and am wondering if I need something to completely till up the soil or do I need to simply aerate the ground?

Any advice is appreciated. The grass is growing well in many areas on the land but there are many large bare spots.

Thanks!
 
   / Best tool to get grass to grow #2  
I would think a core aerator would be handy. It may not be the very best for the initial use, but it is excellent for use twice a year. If it got that hard, it will do it again later, so you may need to do something yearly.
 
   / Best tool to get grass to grow #3  
Basically anything to scratch up the surface...but a chain harrow works good and is inexpensive.Go over the area several times,broadcast the seed,then go over it once more to sort of cover it lightly...then keep moist for a couple of weeks
 
   / Best tool to get grass to grow #4  
Bermuda grass spreads by its vine-like nature. It loves water and will spread wherever it can be found. The slightest bit of shade will discourage it.

My suggestion would be to water the bare spots and try some plugs transplanted from a healthy area to where it is wanted. It will spread from the plugs.
 
   / Best tool to get grass to grow #5  
It's a bad time here in NC to try and get grass started because of the heat but the bermuda just loves it. I agree with hizoot about the best tool. The chain harrow is a pretty versatile tool with several uses. It is a good tool to spread cornstalks, incorporate fertilizer into the ground, break up manure piles to eliminate grass burns, and to aerate a grass or hay field and prepare ground for seeding. We have a video on our website that explains them more and shows us using one. Check it out here.
 
   / Best tool to get grass to grow #6  
the SOIL PH should be between 4.5 and 7. Above 5.5 and under 7.0 is best. Bermuda loves nitrogen. If you are propagating from seed let it establish before you hit it with nitrogen. I would use a tiller to break up the soil, then level and roll. 14 seeds per square inch is optimal for bermuda. mix in you starter fertilizer. water in short frequent intervals in the beginning and gradually increase as the plants begin to germinate. deeper watering as the plants mature. I'm going to assume you have full sun in the area of question as well?
 
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   / Best tool to get grass to grow
  • Thread Starter
#7  
I would use a tiller to break up the soil, then level and roll.


With a tiller does it dig into hard ground pretty well? I don't have any real downforce on my 3-point so does a tiller get right in there?

Thanks.
 
   / Best tool to get grass to grow #8  
Do soil test and lime and fertilize to bring the soil in line. Without this nothing will work. You can get soil test info here

http://soiltesting.tamu.edu/files/soilwebform.pdf

Cost $10.00


If you haved a disk that will help work the top of the soil a little

My small farm is north of Houston. My bermuda is doing pretty good.
 
   / Best tool to get grass to grow #9  
A tiller will bounce and hop around on very hard ground. It will beat up both you and the tractor.

You would be better off using a box blade with the rippers down to try to break up the ground. The BB-05 weighs 400 lbs. and has 5 shanks so you are good to go. Make several passes in different directions.

Even then, it would best be done after a decent rain. Afterwards you might be able to get a tiller into it.

Once again - you are going to need a lot of water to keep Bermuda grass happy. Not sure what your weather has been.
 
   / Best tool to get grass to grow
  • Thread Starter
#10  
You would be better off using a box blade with the rippers down to try to break up the ground. The BB-05 weighs 400 lbs. and has 5 shanks so you are good to go. Make several passes in different directions.


Well this is exactly what I did today and that was exactly what it took to break up the hard packed soil! Thanks so much to you and the others for such good advice.

I was impressed with how well it worked and made me appreciate (yet again) just how much work a tractor can do for us.

Thanks.
 
 
 
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