Filling in holes

Richard · Dec 17, 2002

the fields that are around the house, at one time.. had some large stumps either dug out, or they've rotted away.

Today, there are a number of Godzilla sized "divits" in these fields. Some several feet in diamater and (not having measured, maybe up to 18" deep)

The fields themseves are hilly and not "lawn" type landscape. Just wondering, is it better to simply to motor across farm and bucket by bucket, bring some dirt over to fill these, or maybe toss boxblade on tractor with scarifiers down and dig up a larger area to help blend in the hole?

Finding one of these holes on the tractor (no seatbelt), or in Brutus (with seatbelt, but also with cab overhead...OUCH) results in a moment of shear pucker as they are grassed over and quite the surprise. Trust me that banging your head on a cab is no fun lol.. (not the top of cab, but the rear window that slids up and takes away headroom)

I'm fed up with these holes and am ready to fight back.

Seems to me, if I just dump dirt.. it will settle AND require numerous trips to somewhere to acquire said fill dirt. If I just boxblade them, I can "massage a larger area, but use dirt that is already there.

Any thoughts?

Richard

Anonymous Poster · Dec 17, 2002

disking the area up also helps fill the holes in. The holes will be filled as the dirt settles. Just let the dirt setup before you drive over it.

BB_TX · Dec 17, 2002

Filling will be the best approach if you want the fields to remain relatively level. Box blading will smooth out the dips, but they will still be there, just larger but more gradual. If you have access to dirt (or want to buy some), partially fill the hole, drive back and forth over it to pack it down, repeat until the hole is filled slightly higher than the surrounding area. It will continue to pack a little. After a year or so, then go back with the box and level it all out to the surrounding area.

MikePA · Dec 17, 2002

I vote for filling the divits as well. Are the divits in locations that a dump truck could back up to them and dump the dirt right in the hole? Then all you'd have to do is smooth things out, which could be done with a FEL. Driving over the new fill dirt with the tractor will compact things. Rain will also cause things to settle. My guess is you'd be looking at quite a bit of tractor time (which may be good /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif) to use a box blade.

ebeacham · Dec 17, 2002

Disk,disk, and then disk again. Then use a blade or a landscape rake to even it out. Helps if the ground is dry.

BXmark · Dec 19, 2002

They aren't sinkholes are they? Where I grew up the neighbors had 2 holes about 6 feet in diameter. They'd throw in all kinds of trash, brush, even an old washing machine and within a few months it would be gone-- sucked into the ground.

Gary_in_Indiana · Dec 19, 2002

I'd sure want to stay on the good side of any neighbor who had that kind of disposal at their... well... disposal.

Richard · Dec 19, 2002

not sinkholes.. I've been told a number of times about the dozer stories when they knocked a bunch of trees over and dug up stumps.

Far as I know... just Godzilla Divits /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Anonymous Poster · Dec 19, 2002

Richard

As trees were removed to create these holes, you can assume that very little dirt was removed in this process. so i would just try and scrape back the surounding earh the best way you can and then cultivate the area after to finish it of

normde2001 · Dec 27, 2002

I would use a combination of the two, especially if you have any high spots that can be knocked down with the box blade. In my area, I can get a truckload, (9 yards), of fill dirt for about $70, which goes a long way for filling low spots.