Land Plane / Land Leveler to smooth out lawn???

[nch209]

So for those who have a land plane, ever use it to smooth out a lawn? Here's my deal, about 2 acres of bumpy lawn... Well it's, no exactly lawn, more of a rougher area that's been finish mowed for a few years . It's not super bad, but kinda tore up since I've been dragging trees and running tractor across it.

My thought was to spread out some topsoil and pull a box blade to try to fill in the low spots, but now I'm thinking a land leveler (like the befco 72 with scarifiers) may be the ticket. I worry a blade will follow the dips and not get it nice and true, though it would pull more dirt. But a plan would be nice if it sliced off the high spots. As a bonus, I could use it on our long gravel lane that I maintain. Goal one would be to true up the lawn. Luckily I have no rocks, but wonder if it would work for me or not. Any opinions? Worth a go, or skip it and rent a skid loader and a power rake?

It's times like this I miss my cousins farm, over 200 miles away. A 16' Kuhn power harrow would make short work of what I need done!!!!

 

[xring100]

the neighbor was able to rent a 3pt harley rake years ago. I didn't see it in action but it mows much more smoothly than my yard

 

[nch209]

Yea, that's a viable option too. Trying to kill 2 birds with one stone- smooth lawn and driveway... But not sure I'm gonna be able to pull it off.

 

[xring100]

Yea, that's a viable option too. Trying to kill 2 birds with one stone- smooth lawn and driveway... But not sure I'm gonna be able to pull it off.

Yeah gotcha i want a grading scrapper also. I would question how well the GS would do especially if it has weeds or grass growing in it. You'd definitely need one with shanks for ripping up the ground. I know that my 1300 lb gannon box scrapper just skips along on grass unless i rip it up first. I imagine it would clump up whereas the harley rake pulverizes any clumps. Were you planning on killing all the vegetation first?

 

[nch209]

^ I was not planning on killing, and like you mention, harley rake may be better. Was thinking just set the befco land plane at level,and stack it with weight and scatter some loose dirt to hopefully drag in the low spots. With no down pressure, cutting the high spots is wishful thinking. This may not work, but may try anyway as I'll be able to use the Plane on the lane. Hmmmmmm

 

[s219]

In my experience, box blades will just tear out clumps of turf that then get in the way of spreading/smoothing soil. Can't imagine a land plane would be any better. I'd probably want to use something like a landscape rake to spread/level topsoil on existing turf.

 

[jenkinsph]

I suspect you will have a tough time smoothing the lawn unless you add a lot of topsoil. If you till uo the lawn area and then use the landplane to smooth that would work very well. I have had good success using box blades and the lpgs to rework lawn areas and pastures.

Here is a picture of my lawn and a few customer jobs where I used my landplane grader scraper to smooth. In all of these pictures the ground was tilled prior to smoothing.

 

[nch209]

^ thanks for the info, and gorgeous pics!

 

[paulfun9]

I suspect you will have a tough time smoothing the lawn unless you add a lot of topsoil. If you till uo the lawn area and then use the landplane to smooth that would work very well. I have had good success using box blades and the lpgs to rework lawn areas and pastures.

Here is a picture of my lawn and a few customer jobs where I used my landplane grader scraper to smooth. In all of these pictures the ground was tilled prior to smoothing.

Agree 100% on tilling first. If its just a small area to be worked with you can get by with adding some dirt then using the plane.

I got a good deal on a Befco 72" land plane this year and am very pleased with the results on everything I have done with it so far. I will be working more of the back yard this coming summer with it but will defiantely be running my tiller threw the areas that need attention first.

 

[antlers125]

Jenkins, what do you use to till. Also was the lawn in front of the house virgin soil or previous lawn? If previous lawn did you spray anything to kill off the old grass prior to tilling?

I suspect you will have a tough time smoothing the lawn unless you add a lot of topsoil. If you till uo the lawn area and then use the landplane to smooth that would work very well. I have had good success using box blades and the lpgs to rework lawn areas and pastures.

Here is a picture of my lawn and a few customer jobs where I used my landplane grader scraper to smooth. In all of these pictures the ground was tilled prior to smoothing.