Cruddy plow job and now what??

[DiskDoctr]

This may sound odd, especially if you plow and disc differently than I do.

Usually plow one direction, let it sit and dry some, then disc at 90 deg across the plowed section, then again from 90 deg and so on until it is broken up.

In fields that weren't plowed for a while, I would make my first trip the same direction as I plowed. It doesn't disc as quickly, but sure saves the bumps.

I have also gone across at 45 deg to the furrows to reduce the climbing in and out of furrows.

Also, when you plow, you may want to adjust your depth deeper using your draft control and 3ph height. If you don't dig deep enough, the soil won't turn over, or fall back into the furrow.

Not digging deep enough can also leave undug and unturned soil between the furrows.

We now have a boxblade and tiller. Going to try that to turn a lawn for leveling and reseeding instead of plowing and discing. Not sure how that will work, but may be a possibility. Anybody have experience with this method? Suggestions?

Good luck.

-JC

 

[theboman]

You can only plow correctly in one direction, I think....
You don't drive over what you just plowed, keep your tires on the other side.

Disc it up, or till it ... I used my tiller. I had started plowing and did a lousey job...wrong directions, but after getting my bearings it was amazing what a B7500 and a single bottom plow can do.

 

[Laminarman]

Man am I having first time farmer blues. Frustration on top of frustration. Let me briefly outline what I've done and my problems.

As stated earlier I plowed a hardpan, old field, and did a poor job at it. After knocking my molars out trying to disc it down, I now have areas of packed sod, some loose dirt (a lot of stones) and an uneven surface. I've been discing, and discing, and discing but to no avail. I thought I was faced with plowing again to try to break it up, but decided to chain drag it and try to move some of the dead grass away. I did mow it, but now think I should have killed it first with Roundup. I think it's old fescue and man it's like steel. Anyways, the chain drag smooths a little, but the grass balls up under the steel fingers and rolls out the back side in balls between the size of a tennis ball to football, and now my plot looks like the old west with tumbleweeds everywhere! Too much work to hand pick balls of sod and grass over one acre large. Will a landscape rake help? Very frustrated. I feel like broadcasting some sorghum over it all, see if it grows, and plow and disc again next spring after it settles down. By now it's too late to plant anything else.

 

[Egon]

Maybe try the plow again but set deeper now that some of the clods have been broke up.

For a disc to do any good it has to have a lot of weight on it and that requires more tractor to pull if the angle is set properly.

Egon

 

[cowboydoc]

I would find a farmer in your area that has a chisel plow. Run the chisel plow over it and then either have him run a heavy disc or you can try to run your 6' over it.

 

[beenthere]

Don't get too discouraged. You are experiencing what most experience when trying to handle the virgin sod with 'small' equipment. Try CowboyDoc's suggestion, or follow your own of seeding it down, letting it sit until fall (or spring) and plowing again. Picking rock may be one of the next things you may have to do, from the sounds of your description. I wouldn't worry about the dry grass clumps, and think they only look bad at this point. I would be concerned about new grass (and weeds) growing this summer, and the round-up idea later this summer sometime may be a good plan to knock the growth down before plowing this fall.
I'd look for the 'big' equipment to help you out, if there is any chance a neighbor has such. A good way to get to know the neighbors too.

 

[Laminarman]

You guys are all a great help. I failed to mention that I did not weigh my discs down. Wasn't sure if that would help since they are heavy duty Land Prides and weigh around 950 lbs. If that makes a difference I may build some boxes this weekend to hold stones and fill them and give her one more go. I'll keep you posted.

 

[cowboydoc]

With a 6' disc I don't think you could add enough weight to get that disc to cut up the sod and half plowed field.

 

[Laminarman]

Isn't it funny how something feels so heavy until you pull it with 40 horses over hardpan? That disc set seems light now. I can probably get 500 lbs on it as I have two concrete blocks I can set on it (part of an old barn foundation). I would hope that much weight won't hurt the discs themselves.

 

[dixiedrifter]

I'll be dealing with the same thing soon. This fall I'm looking to convert about 8 acres of fescue and broomsedge sod into clean ground for cheyenne bermudagrass. Last part of the field I worked was with a 4WD M9000 Kubota (80 PTO hp)and a 2 bottom plow. The ground hasn't been worked in 20 years and it was so hard it was digging into the turbo!

What I have found from experience when dealing with sod:

1. remove as much of the grass as possible first with haying equipment.

2. spray with roundup and let it set for a couple weeks to kill the roots

3. cut with a disc first, every little bit helps with the chunking and will save a lot of wear and tear on your kidney's

4. plow

5. cut once with a disc, preferably hook on a harrow behind it to help tear up the roots and level things out a bit more.

6. let rain on and sit for a month or so. repeat discing.

7. repeat step 7 as neccessary until ground smooth or kidney's shot

8. buy a tiller and beat it down after kidney's shot.