Converting Field to Yard/Smoothing Out

[JC2398]

Not sure if relevant for this forum; please remove if so...

I’m working on converting a field to a yard for a house site. It was formally just an unmanaged green field, but I’ve gotten the big stuff knocked down with a bush hog. I seeded it with Kentucky 31 and it’s taking pretty well. I’ve started cut it with a zero turn mower this summer, but the field is really rough. I didn’t notice it so much when on the tractor, but I can only go about half speed on the mower. I’ve actually vibrated some bolts loose.

The soil is mostly clay so it’s pretty hard when dry. It‘s also on a medium slope so it’s got some “mini-ruts” from where rain water has run off.

Any ideas for improving this? Only idea I have is to bring in some soil and kind of back-blade it over the rough areas to slowly smooth things out...


Thanks for any help...

 

[CalG]

This is a very frequent topic on this forum. Please do a search, read the hundreds of comments on options. And then ask some good questions that pertain to your situation.

 

[CausticUrbanCoast]

Middle of summer, clay soil, small ripples -> land plane is probably the best option since your trying to smooth something akin to concrete. Keep running and knocking the tops down. Not likely to be pretty again until rain returns.

 

[JC2398]

Will do...sorry-usually just browse...forgot about searching

 

[pjbci]

I took two acres of badly rutted crop land and turned it into smooth mowing yard this spring. I disked every week or two until all vegatation had rotted then pulled a drag harrow over it.

 

[CalG]

Not a problem to be sorry about. It's just a very frequent topic ...

 

[jaxs]

IMO,your idea of " bring in some soil and kind of back-blade it over the rough areas to slowly smooth things out..." is exel;ent. Searching this site will turn up more bad advice than it will good useable advice. _Primarly hog wash about using a fel or rake rather than land plane or box blade to distribute soil.
If you know footprint location of home I suggest keeping it free of plant growth and removing clippings when mowed to prevent organic build up in soil. Do the opposite with area that is to be landscaped for lawn and yard. As you proposed,import good quility topsoil and compost. Hold off on mowing before the following. Semi-smooth with compost to fill "mini ruts" then top with a THIN layer of topsoil and broadcast seed that will germinate right-a-way. K31 top growth will be push down and partly covered but enough will spring back to let plants recover. The idea is preserving established Kentucky 31 to control erosion and more mini-ruts while improving soil tilth. Later on when it's time to install permanent grass and plants your new sod and plants will thank you for improving soil. As you proposed do it in stages to better control erosion.

 

[JC2398]

Thanks all for the help- good info!

 

[jeff9366]

LINK to T-B-N ARCHIVE:
convert pasture field to yard site:tractorbynet.com


Amending soil with gypsum may ameliorate clay.


If you add your LOCATION to your T-B-N PROFILE, so your LOCATION shows with every post you author, you will receive replies better tailored to your conditions.

 

[Root Cause]

Thank you Jaxs for replying here. I was lurking and you are correct, sometimes it is hard to know the right buzz words to locate all those previous posts and harder to separate the good info from the bad. In other forums, I have grown tired of the same questions over and over but a link can be a help too. Your post was most helpful so thank you from all those who lurk or follow in the near future.

If you know footprint location of home I suggest keeping it free of plant growth and removing clippings when mowed to prevent organic build up in soil. Do the opposite with area that is to be landscaped for lawn and yard. As you proposed,import good quility topsoil and compost. Hold off on mowing before the following. Semi-smooth with compost to fill "mini ruts" then top with a THIN layer of topsoil and broadcast seed that will germinate right-a-way. K31 top growth will be push down and partly covered but enough will spring back to let plants recover. The idea is preserving established Kentucky 31 to control erosion and more mini-ruts while improving soil tilth. Later on when it's time to install permanent grass and plants your new sod and plants will thank you for improving soil. As you proposed do it in stages to better control erosion.