Best tools to level sifted topsoil for nice yard

[TractorDale]

I've been working on my back yard - about 1 acre, sloping away from the house. So far have been spreading clean fill in an attempt to get it flat, will be having topsoil delivered soon. What would be the easiest way to get the dirt fairly flat (with grade for drainage). Box blade? Rear blade? Harrow? Garden rake and a few cases of Yuengling?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Dale
tc29

 

[greenedeere]

Sounds like your list is backwards, I like a disc followed by a blade turned backwards to press down lightly,packing down and moving some of the high spots.IMO.A rake helps to keep it fluffy if desired or needed,a light rain won't wash it away as bad as semi packed.

 

[BarryinMN]

Your entire list is appropriate... even a rr tie dragged behind. I use a 12' wide oval shaped 'c' channel scrap steel dragged behind a gator, wider = smoother faster. Be patient drive in figure 8's till your'e done

 

[Toolguy]

A rear blade that is angled about 30* to 45* works pretty good for leveling dirt. The angle moves dirt from high spots into low spots and will not follow the contour of the land as much and make it worse like a non-angled blade will do. First, move the dirt from the high spots to the low spots the best that you can by raising and lowering the 3PTH. Second, once the ground is as level as you can get it, start making passes back and forth with the angled blade. Third, Fourth, Fifth,.... go over it again and again at right angles each time until it is level enough to suit you. Another thing that helps a lot is skid shoes. They help keep the blade from moving down into every little low spot. The rear blade is cheap and if you already own one you are all set. I have leveled some pretty uneven ground that way. It takes time but the results will come.

Pics are a before and after look at my backyard project that I leveled with a RB.

 

[Egon]

Toolguys description of the back blade will work well. The skid shoes or gauge wheels really help.

The trick is to keep moving a windrow of dirt back and forth. Rota tilling prior and during the blading will also help.

 

[TractorDale]

Thanks for the advice gentlemen- will invest in a rear blade with skid shoes.

Dale

 

[dqdave1]

I use a landscape rake for leveling; You need the guage wheels to keep it level; (acts like a roadgrader) You said to level it. Without wheels you will not get it level; blades etc. will follow movement of tractor. I finish lawns with a harley power rake. This is a final pass that levels very well.

 

[Timber]

I am actually surprised, I would think the Box Blade would be a natural for this application. I know it would be the tool I would choose.

 

[Egon]

Box blades have their place but for leveling large areas they have limitations. They cannot roll a windrow of dirt back and forth which is required for good leveling.

 

[JerryG]

I am actually surprised, I would think the Box Blade would be a natural for this application. I know it would be the tool I would choose.

If you position the box blade just above the ground about two inches, it does indeed work well for leveling. Make circles or preferably figures 8s and you will have the area level in a while. The more level that it gets the closer you can position it to the ground. I much prefer my box to a straight rear blade for leveling.

 

[TractorDale]

I had another idea-assuming I get a rear blade (prob something like a woods 84"). Stretch a level, very thin cable along the strip to be flatened which would be one limb of an battery electric circuit. The cable would register between two wide electric contacts mounted on the rake separated by an inch or so, each closing a circuit to a different light bulb temporalily mounted on the dash. A lit bulb would indicate the need to either raise or lower the rake a bit. Slow going probably but theoretically each pass would be the final for that strip (total 10-12 strips of 7' wide each.

Will simply try the rake with a wheel/skid shoes first. I guess irrigation plumbing should go in after the area is finished.



Dale

 

[dqdave1]

You are correct; finish grade area; then install irragation lines and any other needed electric lines ( low voltage ).

One note; As you said in first post; you are leveling screened topsoil. The rake works the best for this. If you were leveling existing ground or unscreened dirt a box blade or rear blade works well. I always finish with a rake.
It takes practice to adjust the rake properly; but you will get the feel of how you are doing.

 

[kwolfe]

Finally something I have experience in first hand. I bought a 5ft rear blade to regrade and level about 1/2 acre behind my house. I did not like the way it worked. Having gauge wheels would have helped a lot. I then purchased a 4ft box blade. What a difference it made in my case. I have a lot of clay that need to be worked a bit before I could effectively spread it. The rippers of on the BB did the trick. Then I lowered it about level and started driving in circles and figures 8s. With a little patience, it did the trick. The other bonus to the BB was it was heavier than my blade. This made the implement more efffective for knocking off high spots.

 

[Bob_Hoehn]

I agree with Toolguy. I flipped my 5 ft rear blade around backwards, set it an angle and took off. It did a nice job.