Getting rid of a bumpy 4 acre yard

[Gator6x4]

Maybe get some screened topsoil, and spread/top dress the worst areas, then a piece of chainlink fence as a drag harrow to smooth but not destroy the grass? I'd say it's worth the cost of a 6' section of chain link to test if it'll mess the lawn up.

I agree. Screened top soil for 4 acres though might be a pricey undertaking.

I priced Kentucky 31 grass seed the other day and was shocked to hear $125.00 plus tax per 50 pound bag.

They say 50 pounds of grass seed will cover 10,000 feet. An acre contains 43,560 square feet. So that would indicate 4 and 1 third bags of grass seeds per acre or roughly 2 hundred pounds per acre. So using 2 hundred pounds per acre would cost 500 dollars per acre in grass seeds or 2,000 dollars for grass seed. Then the fertilizer and lime. Dirt is also not cheap per load. Sounds like a expensive project.

 

[ehcrain]

Did a similar project last summer, mine was a field that used to be pasture. Sprayed a few times to kill what was there, disc and till multiple times in different directions, drag with a 4x8 frame behind the tractor and then let nature take its course. Maybe I was lucky due to the high seed count from cutting infrequently through the years but the grass came back fast enough to out compete the clover seeds that I spread. Hard part now is keeping it somewhat flat and smooth.

 

[Cataclysm]

There is no cheap and easy way to do what you are wanting to do, especially in a timely fashion. It takes a lot of power to smooth out that much area. Once you realize that there are some good suggestions in this thread.

I make a living doing this and other type dirt work. A skid steer or tractor with a power rake is one of the few realistic ways to get it smooth. Not inexpensive but it will be as inexpensive as any other way and will actually work.

Depending on what type grass you have it may come back on its own. As mentioned, Bermuda grass will come right back after even aggressive power raking.

Another realistic way is to run a chisel over it then a disc followed by a harrow.

Short of that hauling in topsoil and dragging it out will eventually get it level.

It is a big task. Maybe there is a neighbor nearby with equipment that's willing to help. Best of luck to you.

 

[Egon]

Cultivation and then smoothing is about all that can be reasonably done to smooth a rough lawn. Dirt can be spread but it takes a lot to be able to work it properly smooth.
Consider reducing the size of lawn by converting some of it to native grass/flower cover and not mow it.

 

[bigtiller]

As most everyone has said, work with what you have.
The volume of one inch covering one acre is 3630 cubic feet, or 135 cubic yards
That's a lot of trucks.

 

[JasperFrank]

135 cubic yards. For one acre X 1 inch.

Soil Calculator - Estimate Topsoil

Calculate how much soil you need for a landscaping project. Find how many bags, cubic feet, or yards of soil or dirt will fill the area.

www.inchcalculator.com

 

[m7040]

I have a large area that was used to grow alfalfa and is uneven slowing down the mower enough to stand the bucking. My solution was to add a self contained air suspension seat to the mower that allowed a much higher mowing speed. See attached pic

 

[bigtiller]

135 cubic yards. For one acre X 1 inch.

Soil Calculator - Estimate Topsoil

Calculate how much soil you need for a landscaping project. Find how many bags, cubic feet, or yards of soil or dirt will fill the area.

www.inchcalculator.com

Oops, my bad. Thanks for catching that.

 

[oneal hicks]

Kill the grass and till the hound out of it then if needed use a section hire with a heave drag behind the hire.

 

[bigtiller]

Kill the grass and till the hound out of it then if needed use a section hire with a heave drag behind the hire.

What?