Drag harrow of sorts

[Mtsoxfan]

I have a lot of clumps of soil on top of my grass. Created by small animals under the snow. Best way to deal with normally is with a rake, but raking tweaks my back something fierce, and this winter was brutal, so the mound quantity is immense. So, with having a section of chain link fence, I figured I create a type of harrow. The challenge is the topography of grassy area. it is not level, like a rolling hills. Small hills. So the traditional DIY harrows would not work, in my mind, due to unlevel ground.
My thought is to secure the fencing to a front "pulling pole" using some field wire, tying it at every link, rolling fencing around "pulling pole" for added security. Then, just add small weights, (I found someone dumped of some exercise rectangular weights) 1'x1' in a checkerboard pattern, so there is contact with the ground as much as possible. I've seen the 2011 thread on DIY harrows, but they look like they are for pretty flat land.
Any thoughts on this? Advise?

 

[Thomas]

Try fastening log to fence near the front than log half the weight near end of the fence.

 

[airbiscuit]

This is a cheap fix

 

[airbiscuit]

This is cheaper

 

[jyoutz]

Chain link fence harrows work very well in all types of situations. Go for it.

 

[2manyrocks]

I was thinking used tires would make good flexible weights for chain link, but have never tried this.

 

[garry1p]

A few years back i used a railroad tie with chain link fence and it worked pretty good.

I think there was around 8 to ten feet of fence. IIRC I was going to add a landscape timber or concrete blocks to the rear of the fence but decided I didn't need it.

 

[jyoutz]

I was thinking used tires would make good flexible weights for chain link, but have never tried this.

I’ve always had pretty good results with using a pipe on each end to keep the fencing open and flat. Wire the fence links to the pipe.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Thanks, like I said, the topography is very wavy. A straight bar/timber will only scalp the tops of bumps. Tires could work, I just don't want tires hanging around. The straight bars front and rear sounds like good ideas for keeping the surface area of fencing in shape. I picked up the rectangle weights last evening, I'm sure my neighbor/friend will appreciate me picking up someone else's trash from his property. Again, this is just to smooth out the dirt "trails" animals left under the snow. I should have it assembled this morning, after garage warms up, and give it a run this afternoon, before snow comes back tonight...

 

[airbiscuit]

Give us pics and a follow up report

 

[5030]

Discarded bed springs work well and are free.

 

[etpm]

My neighbor and I made a harrow out of some sections of stainless steel conveyor belt. The result was similar to a chain link fence harrow. It works great for smoothing the gravel drives and for smoothing the ground prior to planting grass seed. I think you will be happy with a chain link fence harrow.

 

[5030]

Far as I'm concerned, the cheaper the better and free is best... Lots of dumped bed springs in roadside ditches everywhere.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Give us pics and a follow up report

This is something I will use, once a year, if needed. All stuff laying around, for smoothing out animal dirt piles under snow. Yard is very bumpy, that's why the weight is checker board style. Bonus if it roughs up the grass...

 

[airbiscuit]

Very nice. I use these blocks for weight on my disc. Cheap, and about 37# each.

 

[airbiscuit]

Very nice. I use these blocks for weight on my disc. Cheap, and about 37# each.View attachment 3226088