getting soil ready for grass

[coffeeman]

Hi all

Have disked a few acres of land for lawn grass. My idea is to get RR ties and drag disked soil to smooth out soil. Next is scatter seed in fall. if late in season will not need straw and grass should be ready in spring. Also I was thinking section of chain linkfence might work better than RR ties to smoth soil. Am Ion the right track here. Other ideas welcome.

Cheers....Coffeeman

 

[beenthere]

Welcome to the forum.
You seem to be on the right track.
You will be able to tell how the RR ties smooth things out, and if it is satisfactory to you, then the seed can be put down. I would keep in mind that the seed wants to just have a thin layer of dirt to none, over it. Getting it smoth as you want will be the trick. That will depend on the amount of disking that you do.
Not clear what you are starting with, or how big the disk is.
Wish you well.

 

[MarkV]

Coffeeman, you sound like you are on the right track. My one suggestion would be to have a soil sample done at your county extension office before you seed. If the soil needs lime or other amendments this would be the time to do it. Our extension service also gives great advice on the type of starter fertilizer to use and outlines a fertilizer schedule for when the grass comes up.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

MarkV

 

[Wall]

Disk in fertilizer then spread seed. Next disk lightly with a cult-packer pulled behind the disk. Good seed to soil contact is very important. I have planted grass for years trying to improve our pastures. I have tried many different methods using my disk with mixed results until I added the culti-packer. It has made a real difference.

 

[jimhoodag]

I have used everything from a weighted pallet, to heavy wire fencing panels, to a lightpole behind my disk. The best thing I have found for seed bed preparation is an implement called a "do-all". It has chopping blades that roll on the front, drag spikes mounted on angle iron on chains in the middle, and a wide drag-board mounted on the back. A cultipacker rolled over the seed does give a perfect finish.

I have been contemplating building an all-in-one seed-bed planting implement. I think I'll start with a culvert or pipe I can fill with water. I'll attach heavy angle iron to the frame with chains. I'll attach a drag board to the back mounted with angle iron. If I could only get somebody to tell me how to put it together.

I have seen several posts which indicate that people are now using landscape rakes for seed bed preparation. I have never used one, so I don't know how well it breaks up the dirt clods.

 

[Farwell]

Coffeeman,
I use a set of old fashioned bed springs. It is amazing on how good they work and the price is right as well. You may have to hit the garage sales to find a set, but it will be worth the effort. If you can't find a set, a frame made from old bed frame angle bolted or welded together will work too. You may have to add a little weight to get the ground surface as smooth as you want but it will work. Eddie Walker uses a log wrapped in chain link fencing and that looks like it would work great as well. Look through the threads for this past week, Eddie posted a photo of his log and link leveler.
Farwell