Aerate? will it hep my pasture?

[ksluy]

I was listening to farm radio today and they where talking about aerating your pasture and field. They said frost would help aerate your ground but you still need to aerate. Does anyone aerate? Did it make a difference? And if you do what do you use? Thanks

 

[sweettractors]

When we aerate, we see significant improvement in forage growth the entire growing season. Chain harrows or any tool that will disturb the root mat and get some moderate soil penetration do a good job on our farm in Kentucky.

 

[gilbertmsg]

Probably the best thing you can do for your pasture to promote new growth. I aerate in the spring and fall in our pastures.

Eddie

 

[wngsprd]

I core-aerated our pasture in early spring/late winter and replanted a pasture mix and had great success.

 

[ksluy]

Do rent a aerator? I looked at buying one and it sells for $6,500 That was new i have not been able to find a used one.

 

[MitchellB]

Wouldn't a subsoiler do a good job of aerating?

 

[MacLawn]

Hmmm, I know absolutely nothing about pastures except they're beautiful, but wouldn't a sub soiler be a bit too much disturbance? I have a subsoiler, and when I use it on my garden, man, that thing does some digging. I've seen in the Mississippi Delta country where they use a thingamajig that actually cuts way down deep, I think about 10' every 10' or so, and proved that it makes a big difference in the cotton crop. Bust up way down allowing moisture to penetrate better. I reckon for a pasture do y'all use those plug pulling thingmabobs that actually pulls a bit o' soil up leaving a hole?

 

[sweettractors]

We use these to aerate also. Less expensive and the 3 point is easy to move around. We have 6 ft and this larger one listed below. Ken Sweet
Used 15 ft Aerator and Renovator with Cat 2 3 Point Hitch We Can SHIP Cheap | eBay

 

[s219]

A straight core aerator can alleviate soil compaction without making too much of a mess. If the soil is not compacted or clay-like, there isn't as much benefit.

 

[Dale_Alan]

I have a 4 gang disc with the notched blades. If I adjusted each of the gangs to straight and let it cut 2-3" deep, would that be sufficient to aerate the pasture. Adjusted straight it would not be throwing any soil around, just cutting the top layer.
Good idea or not?
Dale

 

[Dale_Alan]

I have a 4 gang disc with the notched blades. If I adjusted each of the gangs to straight and let it cut 2-3" deep, would that be sufficient to aerate the pasture. Adjusted straight it would not be throwing any soil around, just cutting the top layer.
Good idea or not?
Dale

 

[ksluy]

Spoke with my local feed store and he says not many farmers aerate around here because we just don't have the clay that needs to be broken up. He said I would be better off spending my money on fertilizer.

 

[jeff9366]

I have a 4 gang disc with the notched blades. If I adjusted each of the gangs to straight and let it cut 2-3" deep, would that be sufficient to aerate the pasture. Adjusted straight it would not be throwing any soil around, just cutting the top layer.
Good idea or not?
Dale

I tried that with my Disc Harrow with 16 X 18" notched pans, 9" spacing between pans, about 37 pounds harrow weight on each pan. Pans would not penetrate, pans just rolled along the surface of the ground.

Someday I will repeat this experiment, with the Top Link shortened until the rear gang is slightly off the ground, so total harrow weight is concentrated on just the front gang, yielding somewhere around 74 pounds harrow weight on each pan.

Maybe then-----

 

[NoTrespassing]

I bought a fairly expensive 6ft 3point Woods core aerator years ago. We have heavy clay soil with no rocks. My intention was to use it in my pastures and yard. The problem I have with it is that the soil has to be somewhat moist in order for it to penetrate well. When that is the case my L series Kubota with loaded construction tires damages the yard. I've tried adding more weight to point that I broke the 3 point hitch one time. I think it does help the yard but it's tricky to get a good core without damaging the yard.
Turf tires would be the best bet for my situation but I'm not willing to buy an extra set of rims and tires.

Kevin

 

[jeff9366]

Does anyone aerate? And if you do, what do you use?

I keep pondering purchase of a FIELD CULTIVATOR, primarily for pulling subsurface grape vines and wild climbing rose corms to the surface.

However, if I buy a FIELD CULTIVATOR I will try it for aerating pasture. Parabolic shaped rippers require less force than blunt shapes to pull through soil than blunt shapes.

LINK: Fred Cain Tractor 7 Shank 3 Point Field Cultivator, Ripper, Tillage Tool, Jitterbug, Field plow, Bermuda grass plow

 

[oldballs]

I use a Leinbach "Spiker/Aerator", bought from Everything Attachment. Mine is the five foot model that uses a water fill(drainable) for weight. Some think that the plug type aerators are the only way to go, but mine does the job just fine behind the B2620. Except for draining the water in the winter, it is free from replacement parts and maintenance woes. Using it for seeding and fertilizing as needed, my results are obvious on my three acres.
Cheers,
Mike

 

[trouthog]

Here's the link with a video
THis is a great looking product

Everything Attachments Tractor 3 point hitch Core Plugger, Lawn Aerator