Best leveling implement

[deereman10]

After a field has been plowed, what implement does the best job of leveling the ground and preparing the best seedbed. Disc? Springtooth? etc

 

[hrcarver]

Field cultivator with the rolling baskets

 

[sweettractors]

After a field has been plowed, what implement does the best job of leveling the ground and preparing the best seedbed. Disc? Springtooth? etc

Disc with a heavy drag following behind. Ken Sweet

 

[jenkinsph]

I used a disc harrow for this purpose, and once it is broken up with all the large dirt clods gone there are lots of finishing tools that can be useful. I have found that my landplane with straight blades does an excellent job of smoothing out fields and lawn areas. I assume that what you are asking is really "smoothing" not leveling. Leveling can be a whole new can of worms.

 

[deereman10]

I assume that what you are asking is really "smoothing" not leveling.

Correct

 

[trook]

I have found that a cultipacker does really well for preparing a seed bed once the area has been disked. I haven't used one personally, but I have seen fields that have been prepared with a "do-all" and it looked GREAT.

 

[deereman10]

I was also thinking about a cultipacker. Do you think you could skip this discing and just use a cultipacker?

 

[hrcarver]

Are you starting at primary tillage with a moldboard plow or chisel plow?

From there disk first.

Then you can run a field cultivator for a fluffy bed or a cultipacker for a firm bed. Skipping the disking will not work with either.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I was also thinking about a cultipacker. Do you think you could skip this discing and just use a cultipacker?

No. Plowing turns over soil/turf without much breakup. Disking then chops it well -- a necessary step.
larry

 

[crazyal]

This looks interesting. It's made by grademaster.

 

[ZDB]

After we moldboard plow we use a 14' disc to break up the clods then go over it with the pto tiller to finish the seedbed.
Seed is broad cast spread and lightly disced. This isn't ideal but it works.

i'm looking at a Perfecta II cultivator, a drill, and a cultipacker to improve this process and eliminate the need for the pto tiller for seedbed prep.

Finance manager is being tight with money so equipment comes slowly.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

This looks interesting. It's made by grademaster.

That looks like a land lever with 1 blade pulling a drag harrow...

 

[jenkinsph]

That looks like a land lever with 1 blade pulling a drag harrow...

Sure does and I think it would be a poor mix of tools. Much better to keep these separate. I wouldn't want the harrow back there when grading a driveway. Wouldn't want the grader blade there when covering seed with the harrow either.

 

[deereman10]

What about a digger? I can pick this one up for cheap. Plow then use the digger?

 

[jenkinsph]

I built a landplane/grader 8' and a TPH spike tooth harrow 8' total cost for both was about $1100. I usually will till the ground then use these to get a smooth lawn surface/seed bed. I have found the landplane does a more precise job of smoothing out any waves, mounds and depressions in the lawns with less passes.