Another "smoothing lawn thread"

[The Fred]

I left my lawn rough. The wife wears a bikini while mowing and I watch :drink:

Nobody mentioned a Rockhound for soil preparation. A friend of mine does this for a living and loves this thing.

Regards, Fred

Rockhound Landscape Rake, Rock Removal And Seed Bed Preparation Tool

 

[Ford850]

I've seen someone drag a large sheet of expanded metal, heavy and stiff, that acted like a large grater (not grader). It sheared down high spots and filled dips and holes. They scattered piles of soli around in bad areas too, speeding up the process. Seems like you could add a frame around the sides like a large box, expanded metal for a bottom, and dump soil or sand in it. Then drag it to shear the bumps and let the soil disperse through the heavy screen as it passes over low spots. Of course that is not as much fun as building rake.

 

[Joe Malovich]

Golf Courses and Sports-Turf are groomed with specialized machines, depending on the desired results either a Verticutter or Scarifier which are similar, the difference being depth of cut. This is like a flail mower that has vertical knives that go down into the thatch/dirt pulling up material. High spots will be dug deeper than low spots leaving the sod intact. It depends on the specific implement used but with some you can leave the evenly distributed tailings in place, Some include collection hoppers, others will clump up the tailings requiring you to collect them up with a lawn sweeper or mower with vac. A flail mower can be equipped with vertical blades and adjusted for adequate depth, multiple random direction passes will smooth out the turf by removing high spots. The collected tailings can be composted and topdressed back onto the lawn at a later time.

Turf Tidy - YouTube

 

[Deere Dude]

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My lawn has many areas that are a bear on the ZTR at speed. I have worked over many areas before , sometimes get lucky and get favorable results. Other times, it seems no better off.

The lawn isn't terrible by no means. I can run the tractor with larger tires on it at near road speed, and the ATV seems as smooth as the paved road. But there are areas here and there, from moles, dogs digging holes, rutting it when too soft with the tractor, etc.

Wondering about method that don't require completely tearing out and re-sending. The methods described above, the grass normally comes back naturally. But this is 6-7 acres. Don't really want to try to reseed everything. Just something to use in the bad areas and see how it works.
t.

I am wondering at why you would want to change much at all, other than finding something to do. Riding a tractor near road speed without getting thrown off is a good lawn, according to my standards.

When my wife couldn't run our X740 JD almost wide open without getting bucked off because of dips or gullies or holes I ordered a couple loads of crappy local dirt and leveled them off as good as I could. Grass grew threw it and in a year it it was good. I still need to go over a few where more settling took place.

I like the Freds bikini idea, but when I run the tractor shirtless fast over bumpy lawn it is disgusting to look at so I let my wife mow.

 

[bcp]

You could hire it done, while you sit and watch.

Bruce

 

[LD1]

I am wondering at why you would want to change much at all, other than finding something to do. Riding a tractor near road speed without getting thrown off is a good lawn, according to my standards.

When my wife couldn't run our X740 JD almost wide open without getting bucked off because of dips or gullies or holes I ordered a couple loads of crappy local dirt and leveled them off as good as I could. Grass grew threw it and in a year it it was good. I still need to go over a few where more settling took place.

I like the Freds bikini idea, but when I run the tractor shirtless fast over bumpy lawn it is disgusting to look at so I let my wife mow.

The tractor has big tires. Bout 5' tall rears and 3' tall front tires. They ride over the bumps with little felt by the operator. But a ZTR that has small front casters, and small back tires by conparison....is a bumpy ride.

 

[Industrial Toys]

The Fred

Protocall on this site requires that you post pics. A video would be better.

The Harley PRO 8 Serrated Roller does 272 RPM at 540, measured via Laser Tach.

I believe the Smooth is the same. I did not measure it, as I had trouble getting readings on these shiny parts. Had to tape them off.

 

[ddbackhoe]

I left my lawn rough. The wife wears a bikini while mowing and I watch :drink:

Nobody mentioned a Rockhound for soil preparation. A friend of mine does this for a living and loves this thing.

Regards, Fred

Rockhound Landscape Rake, Rock Removal And Seed Bed Preparation Tool

Without pictures, you're just another story teller :laughing: Of course, my lawn is getting rather shaggy if she wants to come by...I might even post the pictures for you, I am that kind of guy.

 

[Steave]

If the tine modifications on your tiller show any promise might could use a design simular to the half shells. Incorporate something on the inside of the shell to rest against several tines after installing. At least that way you could leave your tiller intact. Of course that would be only the two shell design and not the actual teeth or something along that line is worth testing.

 

[LD1]

In the middle of making a bunch of T shaped tines now. 1/2" x 2" bar....4" long on the tip of each tee. 32 in total on the 54" tiller.

I thin the single biggest thing that will help is gonna be the gauge wheels, where I can adjust to control depth, rather than roller digging in or coming out ever bump the tractor goes over, continuing to magnify the roughness.