Box Blade 8 Acres??

[El Wood]

I have about 8 acres that was farmed for many years and I'm planning on building a house on the property in the spring. Currently, the land is very flat from front to back but wavy ( tire compaction) from side to side from years of farming. The soil is almost all gravel. My plan is to make my property nice and smooth and eventually plant grass.

I know a dozer would be the best tool for this project but I was thinking about buying a box blade and putting it to use. I don't have any experience with a box blade but I'm thinking I could learn as I go and I would be some good seat time. Am I crazy? How long would this probably take me?

[Depmandog]

I would use a chisel plow and loosen up the compacted soil, then disc it several times.

At that point, you could use your box blade to level out the ground. Once you get the ground where you like it, you might need a short tine drag harrow to slick things up / prepare your seed bed.

Without working the ground first, using only a box blade will be extremely tough (assuming it currently has a vegetative cover).

You might check with a local farmer who would have bigger equipment. With the right sized equipment he could get it to a point where you could use the box blade in short order.

Post some pictures.

[TripleR]

I wouldn't want to do it.

[JD 4520]

I would agree with depmandog if you are planning on planting. It needs to be worked up first before its just leveled. There is more than one way to do it and choice of implements but needs to be worked then leveled. Probably not a job for a cat unless the operator is good as finish work. You probably need some kind of a landscape rake for finishing.

[Ed of all trades]

Get a tillage tool that you want anyway. if you want a tiller for your garden use that and then harrow it to smooth it out. Better than a box blade.

[RaydaKub]

That would be a lot a of time with either a tiller or box blade. I'm with depmandog. Get some good farm equipment in there and you'll have it ready in an hour or 2.

[gwdixon]

You would be surprised at what a disc is able to do to smooth out pastures. Go over the pasture several times in both directions.

Since it is gravelly, then go over it with a heavy drag of some sort. Something simple, like box springs with several pallets on top will do wonders. A piece of chain link fencing with weight will do also.

If you have access to a cultipacker through a neighbor or renting then it will put down the perfect finish. I'm guessing that you want it to look somewhat like this:

[JD 4520]

You would be surprised at what a disc is able to do to smooth out pastures. Go over the pasture several times in both directions.

Since it is gravelly, then go over it with a heavy drag of some sort. Something simple, like box springs with several pallets on top will do wonders. A piece of chain link fencing with weight will do also.

If you have access to a cultipacker through a neighbor or renting then it will put down the perfect finish. I'm guessing that you want it to look somewhat like this:

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=289489"/>

Now that is a nice looking field! A box blade would not be able to do that without lots and lots of hours and work.

[El Wood]

Thanks for the comments guys. Doesn't sound like the box blade alone is a good idea. I think I will consult with one of the local farmers as suggested. Also, here are some pics of the property.

[El Wood]

You would be surprised at what a disc is able to do to smooth out pastures. Go over the pasture several times in both directions.

Since it is gravelly, then go over it with a heavy drag of some sort. Something simple, like box springs with several pallets on top will do wonders. A piece of chain link fencing with weight will do also.

If you have access to a cultipacker through a neighbor or renting then it will put down the perfect finish. I'm guessing that you want it to look somewhat like this:

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=289489"/>

That's a nice looking field! That's exactly how I want it to look!