Subsoiler

gphil12873 · May 12, 2014

I have a small three acre pasture that is divided into two sections. It on a slow rolling hill and i think it suffers from run off where it dotn soak into the ground. What Im thinking of doing is useing one of these and rip it every few feet apart where the front tire will pack back the ripped area. I will go cross ways of the slope so I wont create a wash area. You think this would be a good idea. I do...just see if anyone has had this thinking before.

Thanks

jeff9366 · May 12, 2014

Subsoilers should barely leave surface of the grass disturbed. Pulling a light duty single shank subsoiler, like "Countyline" from TSC, does not require too much power but may not be strong enough if you have tough or stoney soil.

LINK:

CountyLine® Subsoiler - Tractor Supply Co.

More than one shank requires more power.

I have been considering a Field Cultivator, sort of a sub-soiler, for some time, but have not ordered one yet.

LINK:

Tractor Ripper, Field Cultivator, Tillage Tool

The "Cadillac" in the category of pasture renovators is the Hay King:

LINK:

K&M Mfg. Product 3

gphil12873 · May 12, 2014

Yea I dont think a cultivator would work in my case. Its sorta hard gounds...Looks like the grass is stuggling to grow. I want somethign that will leave what grass is there most undisturbed. I want more a less to make places or rips if yo uwill for the water to go down into the soil so it wont go down the hill. Plus something that will soften up the grown so grass will grow better.
That last one you postes the link to...whew...that would be a man of a tractor to pull that. I will have the one shank model...lol

/pine · May 12, 2014

See if you can rent or borrow an aerator attachment

gphil12873 · May 12, 2014

If I had one of those I would do my whole yard...I like those....a bit pricy...That will be on my wish list

Ed of all trades · May 12, 2014

I have used my potato plow with a narrow tooth on it to subsoil my gardens, was able to go 12 to 14 in deep and I only have 18 pto hp. Depending on the tractor you might have to make 2 passes to get the depth you want. Jeff, the field cultivator is designed to get rid of grass and weeds in fields that have been worked in the past, and work at a shallow depth. It won't do what you think it will. I had one for many years.

RG1 · May 12, 2014

Ed of all trades said:
I have used my potato plow with a narrow tooth on it to subsoil my gardens, was able to go 12 to 14 in deep and I only have 18 pto hp. Depending on the tractor you might have to make 2 passes to get the depth you want. Jeff, the field cultivator is designed to get rid of grass and weeds in fields that have been worked in the past, and work at a shallow depth. It won't do what you think it will. I had one for many years.

The field cultivator that jeff9366 is referring to is designed to be a ripper and work at much deeper depth (8-12" or so) than a regular field cultivator does (4-7" or so).

OP-

For what you are wanting to do, a subsoiler is the right tool. I have the TSC County Line SS. It works fine for smaller tractors. Most of the horror stories you read here and elsewhere on the net come from guys with larger tractors who ignore the data tag right on the SS that says "For tractors up to 35 HP". I can pull mine to full depth with just y little 4115 in both old gardens and never before worked ground. The unworked ground has been easier to so since the tires get better traction.