A new lawn

[Sackett2]

I forgot to take a before picture, but the lawn was uneven and had lots of weeds.
Started with the King Kutter 6' tiller, after I got it broke up I let my autistic Step son do a few laps.
Next I put him on the lawn tractor and used the mower deck to level the high ridges and start packing the dirt, while I used the tractor and the box-blade. I would catch the sod and drag it out to the garden. I moved him up to a simple drag while I started with the 3 point roller. (I love this tool!)
I rolled it then spread the seed, and took the light tractor drag across it again and tumble the seed just under the top of the dirt.
one day later the first good rain hit and we have a winter lawn ready to grow.
Curtis had a blast and was so dirty it was funny (I was too)
Thanks to all of you for the advise over the past year, you all helped a lot with this
I'll post a picture this spring when its green again, and the wife isn't so pissed.

 

[mjncad]

I like your lawn roller. Did you make it or buy it? How many gallons of water will it hold?

 

[jdmar]

That looks like glass! You'll have a great result...and good memories with your son! Do add the pics when the "whiskers" start to sprout.
Peter

 

[jcaron2]

Why's the wife upset? Looks like a job well done.

 

[Thomas]

Nice..nice smooth job,like the rear scraper setup also.

 

[spruce Deere]

Nice work sackett2! I have an old hot water heater tank thats begging to become a 3pt roll just like yours for the same reason, new lawns and equine pastures. I have old packers and a pulverizer, but don't give the finished look like a nice, flat roll. My youngest likes to get seat time on the 790 on occasions too... Nifty rear scraper by the way.

 

[Sackett2]

Wife upset: She is a little short sighted, doesn't see the big picture. All she was concerned about was the mud that would be the front yard all winter..
Roller: Got it from Betst for around 400. (Keith is just up the road from me so I don't have to worry about shipping)It's bigger than a normal 55 gal drum, we guess about 700-900 lbs. You can sure feel it on the rear of the tractor, the nice thing is the 3 point so you can lift and carry it around- great rear ballast too

 

[kthompson]

1) I did not see any picture of your son, was he taking the pictures or Dad after the credit?
2) Does look good and no idea there but would think winter rye or such would prevent mud being tracked into house. Along with door mats, removing boots, but seriously winter rye here would cover it very well if you get it out now.
3) Have never seen a scrape blade like your's. Very interesting.

 

[Sackett2]

Curtis is in the second picture, literally "A redheaded step-child"

There is no reason that anyone needs to go in the front yard this winter, but the wife isn't seeing this... she'll get over this when the new soft grass is ready for the grand daughters this next summer

 

[jimmyj]

Great job!

I also suggest the rye for quick growth but if no one has to go in the yard, I guess it's moot.

What type of scraper blad is that with the scarifiers / rippers?

 

[Scooby074]

Looks good.

I like the offset blade. When i put my last lawn in, i made up a drag made from a 6x6 and some chainlink. It worked well to level and incorporate the seeds, but it looks like you got it nice and flat with your blade. Well done!

 

[Sackett2]

Didn't mean to mislead anyone, the offset blade wasn't used in the work on the lawn. It was also bought from Keith at Betst also. Love the offset, difficult to move to the scarifiers / rippers mode. a fair value; a boxblade is much handier.
For flattening the yard a lawn mower with a improvised drag and the box blade and roller set up.

Side note, have had some decent rain and some warming weather coming this week- So far a great start for the lawn

 

[sixdogs]

Wife upset: She is a little short sighted, doesn't see the big picture. All she was concerned about was the mud that would be the front yard all winter..

Use extra seed plus get some water and fertilizer on it and it will green up quick and thick before winter.

I've done a lot of lawns for myself and others over the years and I usually spell out the wife's name in seed discretely in the lawn. Maybe 5 or 10 ft by 20 to 30 ft, depending on things. They love it and whatever inconvenience I have caused is quickly forgiven.
Sometimes, for the right family and if using my six foot Brillion seeder, I double seed a large cross into the back yard lawn and don't say anything. Had 100% praise with that.

 

[Sackett2]

not worthy of a picture yet, but have a 'hint' of green starting to show!!!

 

[LarryD]

I did a little pasture work as well this fall. After spreading around over 10 buckets of composted manure, I tried to wait for at least three lows to stack up out in the Pacific so I wouldn't have to set out sprinklers.

I missed the perfect 7-10 day window by about 3 days but everything is looking OK.

I used a landscape rake to distribute the compost but it really drags a lot of material along with it and that wouldn't do well to cover the seed. So I replaced the top link with a short piece of chain and with the tines curled back, it creates a far less rigid implement and really works better than the fence drag I have. Covered the seed well but still allowed me to lift the implement when needed.

 

[NSBound]

not worthy of a picture yet, but have a 'hint' of green starting to show!!!

I was the same as you, Sackett2 - but have patience! I spread my seed on September 23rd and was getting anxious, but finally that first bit of green fuzz appeared! It's now been 18 days and it's been raining almost every day, with very little sun and warmth to get good growth, but this is what I have now. I'm sure spring will see it take right off. (I didn't seed the far end - that's where the veggie garden will go. It will happen!

 

[Eric_Phillips]

Can I hire you guys out to redo my lawn? I have tried three times to get mine smooth. It was three different areas so I haven't been just redoing the same place over and over. Anyway mine are very bumpy. It doesn't help that I only get about 1-2 days to strip, prep and seed. I just planted about an acre two weekends ago. Prior to that is was bone dry. Now we have been getting good rain but now is 20 degrees colder than normal so no germination yet. Highs this week are in the 40s-50s with lows in the 30s.

 

[Sackett2]

a follow up picture of some "green" this was a month ago, and its looking real nice now. Think I'll have a great lawn for the Grandkids Easter eggs this year

 

[NSBound]

Time to get the lawn mower out!

 

[spruce Deere]

looks real good Was there any rye or something in the seed mix for quick green up? Gunna look real nice next spring