Dirt Driveway / Path

[marxman]

Guys,

This is a two part question about what implements are right for the job.

1) I have a dirt driveway, no gravel just dirt. In one or two areas there are low points where puddles form, these puddles are at max half the width of the road and maybe 4 ft long. I want to level out this driveway but keep it as packed dirt.

Is it enough to run over it with a box scraper a couple of times to level it out, or is something else a better option?


2) Off to the side of the driveway is what used to be an old path. Currently it is just an area of grass. I would like to eventually turn this into a similar thing to the dirt driveway and connect the two. I was planning on turning the rotary cutter over this area to get down the long grass. There are also some small sapplings that would need to go. Once that is cut, what is the best method of removing the grass, exposing the dirt and creating a path.

Can someone point me in the direction of how I would go about turning this into a useable access path. The great thing about his path is that it runs the length of the property so would make an excellent access road.

thanks

 

[Western]

As far as #1. I think you will have to address the drainage, make sure it drains away from the road. I would try to fill the low areas, (after the drainage is dealt with), with some clay containing dirt, or like dirt. If it is just a dirt road, you will likely continue to have maintenance issues over time.

#2 I would just mow it down, remove the saplings and drive on it. The grass will at least keep it some what stable, that is unless aesthetics dictate different.

Photos might help too.

 

[marxman]

I realise that I will have to continue to maintain the driveway... that is after all half the fun of owning the tractor but is the box scraper the correct tool for the job?

Here are two pics of the cart path in it's current state. The first pic is facing the front of the property. The second one is showing the path towards the back of the property and hence the overgrowth is more dense.

 

[Western]

Box blade will do good for you, also the FEL (front end loader), On small areas, I use my FEL 99% of the time since it's always hooked up.

I had a long driveway one time that was natural dirt and rock, (caliche)((sp)), when I did get spots as you describe, I would bring in more of the same, but with as much gravel/rock as I could muster. The drive was 1/4 mile so it would have been expensive to top. Come to think of it I never did use my box blade on it, just the bucket on my bigger 140hp tractor, deeper holes I would fill half-way, compact, overfill and compact again.

I did have it graded twice professionally, A good operator can set most of the drainage and put a ridge in the road to push the water away very quickly and it looks good.

BTW, nice looking place you have, GREEN. From the second photo, I can't see anything an FEL and a shredder can't handle. again, I would leave the vegetation and drive on the short grass if I could.i

 

[GLyford]

Is it enough to run over it with a box scraper a couple of times to level it out, or is something else a better option?

One option would be to make a "king road drag" out of a log or scrap lumber. Instructions on making and using one are pretty easy to find. Run a land plow down each side of your driveway to set your gutters, then use the drag to pull the dirt into the center for the crown. If you need more dirt or need it wider, make another pass with the plow a little further out and drag it again...assumes you have a plow, though. If you have a box blade or back blade you could certainly follow the same principles--keep the center higher so that water runs off to the sides, don't scrape it off perfectly flat.

Can someone point me in the direction of how I would go about turning this into a useable access path. The great thing about his path is that it runs the length of the property so would make an excellent access road.

I also like the idea of just mow it and drive on it. That will tell you where the trouble spots are and what needs work without getting too crazy. You might find it sloped and packed well enough to be just fine as it is.

 

[Haoleguy]

With regards to the green path area if you want it to be a dirt pathway you would typically need to take off the topsoil and work the path up from the subsoil. My concern on the path would be that you will hit many roots from the neighboring trees if you start taking away topsoil. In doing that you will injury the tree and possibly start a path to tree death. In a similar situation I used and air spade to clear around lateral roots and then made clean cuts and allowed to air dry(wound heal) for a couple of days. Good luck.

 

[trailbuilder]

We maintain 45 miles of trails that are grass covered. When we put the trails in we try adress the drainage, but we prefer to maintain them with grass cover that is mowed. Not as muddy as dirt and looks better. We do not own a box blade or see the need for one for our trails/roads.

The roots are a real issue, the forest trees seem much more sensitive than a typical yard tree and nicking the roots or excessive compaction will kill the large trees over a few years.

 

[trailbuilder]

here is a picture of one of the wider roads/trails in the fall

 

[Danno1]

Here are two pics of the cart path in it's current state. The first pic is facing the front of the property. The second one is showing the path towards the back of the property and hence the overgrowth is more dense.

Does this path go down to the river by any chance? :thumbsup:


.

 

[marxman]

Does this path go down to the river by any chance? :thumbsup:


.

Do you mean the Merrimack? It doesn't lead down there, but it does lead to a stream at the back of the property which leads to the local reservoir.