Drag Harrow - length

[Compadre]

I've been researching drag harrows for a while, and I've just ordered one from Wingfields. From what I've read, they make an excellent product. They also have a special that gives free shipping to the end of the year, so I thought this was a good time to take the leap.

My first job in the spring will be finish leveling new topsoil for a lawn. I'll do the initial smoothing with a landscape rake. The rake should take out most of the minor furrows and dips where hedges and trees once stood. The mat size of my harrow will be about 7' x 5' (W x L). Do you think the length of the harrow will do a good job at final smoothing? The area is only half an acre, so I can make many passes if necessary I'd like to hear from folks with experience smoothing topsoil with either long (8' or greater) or short harrows, and what the advantages are of extra length. Thanks.

 

[greg_g]

Mine is an 8x8 mat comprised of four 4x4 sections. I find that doubling the length (say, from 4' to 8') multiplies the effectiveness by a factor of at least four. Individual sections also permits you to point the following tines in the opposite direction of the leading tines. Coarse cut leading fine cut, or vice versa.

Short version; longer is better, and double width @ double length is even better.

//greg//

 

[hemiguy]

I have a 4'x4' unit from Tractor Supply (TSC) that I use behind my JD455 L&G tractor to smooth out small areas of fresh topsoil before seeding. I find it does an excellent job at this. I also use a landscape rake to do the initial grading. The larger TSC units are just multiple 4x4 ones connected together with S-hooks. I think (not positive) that they can be reconfigured in the field to make longer or wider.

I'm not sure how the Wingfields unit compares to the TSC, but for this work I flip the drag over so the flat side is down. It works great this way to spead the loose topsoil. I can also use it flipped over with the harrow spikes pointing forward or backward to loosen up compacted soil. If I needed to do this a lot I'd use a bigger one behind my loader tractor as you want the extra weight to get it digging in.