digging a ditch

[xzcVAbc5]

As far as the box blade idea goes:

EverythingAttachments has a Youtube video of how to use a box blade. In the video he explains how to cut a trench by adjusting the linkage (as other people in this thread mentioned). In the video they use a tractor probably twice as heavy and twice as much HP as yours. I would think ripping the soil with a moldboard plow and then using a box blade or regular rear blade would be the best, however, I've never had to do what you're asking. I'll edit this post with a link to the video when I get home, but you might search for something like what you're trying to do on Youtube so you can see what tractor and implement they use.

 

[joshuabardwell]

I have tried to cut a trench with a box blade, as shown in the EA video, and got awful results. The three-point linkage didn't give enough adjustment to make a very steep-walled trench, and the box blade didn't have enough weight to really cut in and get any depth. What I would have ended up with was a very shallow ditch that I would have had to make a lot of passes across to get the job done. IMO, a rear blade / grader blade would have done a much better job, because it would have put all its weight on the cutting point (vs. riding on the side-wall of the box blade). If I ever do get a grader blade, I hope to get one with built in tilt, so that I can adjust it to more like a 45 degree angle, versus the relatively shallow angle that my three-point gives.

 

[CliffordK]

I see V-Trenchers on Craigslist periodically, usually not too expensive. Your small Yanmar may have troubles with them though.

I was talking to a local farmer that had a high speed spinning disk (perpendicular to the ditch) for ditching. The advantage is that it would fling the dirt further away from your ditch than something like a V trencher would typically do. Anyway, one could probably fabricate one up relatively easily, and it might be easier on a small tractor than a V trencher. I never saw it in action, and no photos, sorry.

 

[shdybrady]

I appreciate the suggestions. I have a creek that runs about 10 feet from the pasture. From what I have read it seems like it maybe more feasible to dig a few ditches to the creek instead of a 200-250' trench. Seems like a better option giving my tractor size

 

[/pine]

Do a Google search with a query something like "create a swale with a boxblade"...I think you will find some useful information...

Good Luck...

 

[284 International]

Is the purpose of the ditch to control the creek when it runs full, or to move water from the pasture to the creek?

 

[shdybrady]

Its to empty water out of the pasture. When it rains it builds up and then sits forever. Its combination of being compacted, low amount of vegetation and high water table

 

[dirt ditch]

I have a 21 hp 2wd yanmar. I am wanting to dig about a 3 foot wide shallow ditch in my horse pasture. Would my box blade be my best choice to do this?

Just my :2cents:

Find a used dirt scoop on CL, an auction or borrow one. Cut the bottom of the ditch first. If the sides need sloping straddle the edge with one set of tractor tires down in the ditch. After the ditch is finished use your box blade to level out what you took out of the ditch.

tractorbynet.com forums / Dirt-scoop-next-best-thing

tractorbynet.com forums / Using-my-dirt-scoop

tractorbynet.com forums / Dirt Scoop Pictures

 

[JimRB]

I have little ponds in my pasture right now in the low spots. In a dry year those ponds will be dry. The low spots work their way downhill to a heavy rain washed out mini canyon. Very mini canyon as it is actually a wash that is 6 feet or less deep that works its way to a creek. Fence keeps the horses off the washed out area.

High ground water might be three feet lower next time we get a drought. This may be the wettest summer 30 days I have seen in a long time.

I dug out my barn area using a box blade with scarifiers and a MF23X tractor. I forget what size the tractor was but the friend had bought it to do hay with. I do not know how much hay they made as that is a lot of time. Anyways digging out 3 feet of dirt on one end of the barn just took a bit of time. I think it was a good weekend of work. Note that the Massey might have weighed more than your tractor and weight does work.

Depending on where you live in Georgia you may have lots of rock or little rock. Heck you might have all soil in one place and huge rocks a hundred feet away.

 

[Ed of all trades]

The best tool for the job, with your tractor is a plow. Just keep plowing back and forth and once you get it close then use the box blade. A plow is cheep, and will do 2 jobs. Break up the soil and move it out to the side all at the same time.