What tool do I need?

[TheMan419]

We own an 18 acre horse farm. As spring is arriving I need to rake up and remove the remnants of all the hay we have been feeding the horses.

We have a New Holland Boomer 24 with a 3 point.

Silly question is a landscape rake what I need? Some stuff I have read says they may be too aggressive and pull up a lot of grass along with raking up the hay?

If not what tool will do this job rather than raking it up by hand?

 

[sea2summit]

How thick is it? I'd probably just pull a drag harrow around or a couple chunks of hog panels to spread it out enough the grass can spring through it and call it good.

 

[TractorGuy]

Look for a pine straw rake.

 

[Redlands Okie]

Pine straw rake sounds good. Landscape rake is stiffer and depending on terrain could be fine. The landscape rake often times works good on driveways and arena use. I would think a drag harrow would clog up and be difficult to “unload “ the raked up hay

 

[TheMan419]

Pine straw rake sounds good. Landscape rake is stiffer and depending on terrain could be fine. The landscape rake often times works good on driveways and arena use. I would think a drag harrow would clog up and be difficult to “unload “ the raked up hay

The stiffness of the landscape rake is what has me questioning it. Will it tear up the grass that is there? Terrain is flat. Northern Indiana where I am is Kansass flat. One thought was to just use a hand rake but I also like buying new implements to do the job easier.

We have a drag harrow for the indoor arena. So I might try that first just because I have one. I agree it will likely clog up with hay and be a pain in the xxx to get the hay off of it.

I had never heard of a pine straw rake so off to research those.

 

[Peter 315]

I have 3 rakes 2 york brand 7 foot landscape rakes and a EA pine straw rake..I use the york rake more I just adjust the wheels to just scrape the surface.. The pine straw works ok for hay but just scraping up manure piles everywhere not so good...

 

[TheMan419]

I have 3 rakes 2 york brand 7 foot landscape rakes and a EA pine straw rake..I use the york rake more I just adjust the wheels to just scrape the surface.. The pine straw works ok for hay but just scraping up manure piles everywhere not so good...

Yes having just looked at them I expect it would not do well on the manure. However I can chain harrow drag the pasture and spread out the manure. That will keep good nitrogen and organic material in the soil. If I rake up all the manure then I have to move it out of the pasture and dispose of it....

Still some thinking to do.

 

[Rebeldad1]

landscape rake with depth wheels. set it just above the grass level and go,

 

[bcp]

If you have a chain harrow or a drag-type spike-tooth harrow, try it. If it works, then buy a boom pole. Drag the harrow with the tractor drawbar, and the mounted boom pole loosely fastened to the harrow, and lift it with the boom pole to empty.

Photo found on the internet

Bruce

 

[hosspuller]

In my area, I would run a disk through the area to chop the leftover hay and till it into the earth. In a few months, the grass will cover any sign of the feeding spot.

 

[Wagtail]

I use a landscape rake (wheel adjusted) for excess hay removal as it's usually mixed with manure that the horses have compacted. I can then chain harrow it to spread it out more, then use my lawn tractor to chop/mulch.

You'll find that a landscape rake will also come in handy for smoothing out lumps and 'side trails' around the area. Handy for debris removal too.

 

[jeff9366]

If you have a chain harrow or a drag-type spike-tooth harrow, try it. If it works, then buy a boom pole. Drag the harrow with the tractor drawbar, and the mounted boom pole loosely fastened to the harrow, and lift it with the boom pole to empty.

Photo found on the internet
View attachment 690703

Bruce

YES

I used a Boom Pole to convert a small mat chain harrow to a lift chain harrow. Here are considerations:

LINK: TSC CountyLine / Tarter BOOM POLE as CHAIN HARROW LIFT


I own a Landscape Rake and a Chain Harrow. The surface-following flexibility of the Chain Harrow makes the Harrow superior for collecting straw.


Why not mow the pasture to chop the straw into fine, disbursed mulch?

No mower?

 

[TheMan419]

YES

I used a Boom Pole to convert a small mat chain harrow to a lift chain harrow. Here are considerations:

LINK: TSC CountyLine / Tarter BOOM POLE as CHAIN HARROW LIFT


I own a Landscape Rake and a Chain Harrow. The surface-following flexibility of the Chain Harrow makes the Harrow superior for collecting straw.


Why not mow the pasture to chop the straw into fine, disbursed mulch?

No mower?

Because I had not thought about that as an option. Have both a zero turn and a rotary mower for the 3 point.