Grading/Finishing/Planting Lawn

[cbattles]

I have a few things on the to-do list, and I'm looking for some pointers on how to best get them done and I'm hoping to get my immediate projects done with the attachments that I have.

I'm a new owner of a Case 380 Loader/Landscaper tractor with a 50 HP (40 PTO HP) diesel. It came with an old 2 bottom plow and a nice 72" finish mower. I also just bought a 72" box blade.

My current house is on a small piece of property. I recently cleared some overgrown (lots of bushes/small trees) area to merge with the existing lawn. My soil is pretty heavy clay, and in the area that I just cleared, I'll have lots of roots to contend with.

I'll need to break things up, move some dirt around to grade it a little better, and then work on leveling and smoothing everything back out.

I'm thinking that the best thing to do would just be to use the scarifiers on the box blade to tear up the whole area -- maybe in few passes, criss-crossing, to loose up the ground as much as possible. Then, use the loader to move the dirt around as much as needed to get a decent rough grade.

Should I plan on back dragging with the loader to firm things up a bit before I use the box blade for a final grade?

Should I come up with some sort of drag (chain link, etc.) to help break things up and smooth them out?

Any pointers are appreciated. :drink:

 

[ITHINKICAN]

In reading your question I think it would be helpful to the reader to know a few more things of value. You say you had heavy roots and intend to 'move things around' and then 'work on leveling them back out' - Do you intend to remove the roots during that process? Do you have any good soil that you can add to the clay or do you hope to grow grass in/on the heavy clay? What region of the Country are you in? Is there any water or irrigation available to grow the grass - in this region we don't plant anything until September/October because it is too hot and too dry during the summer months - I'd bet different regions have different growing seasons... Pictures would be a plus too.

Good luck!!

 

[cbattles]

In reading your question I think it would be helpful to the reader to know a few more things of value. You say you had heavy roots and intend to 'move things around' and then 'work on leveling them back out' - Do you intend to remove the roots during that process? Do you have any good soil that you can add to the clay or do you hope to grow grass in/on the heavy clay? What region of the Country are you in? Is there any water or irrigation available to grow the grass - in this region we don't plant anything until September/October because it is too hot and too dry during the summer months - I'd bet different regions have different growing seasons... Pictures would be a plus too.

Good luck!!

Thanks for the questions...

I'm in northeast ohio, and the soil is actually pretty rich, and it's never overly dry. I won't have an issue growing grass -- the issue is that everything is either clumpy and gummy or it's hard -- which presents more of a leveling issue than anything else.

The moving things around comment was just to get a rough grade. It's hard to explain but there are quite a few high and low areas that weren't there naturally due to a recent septic installation -- and it's causing water to back up in some areas where it never did before.

Once I have a rough grade though, I'm anticipating having to work with a bunch of clumps that are in various stages of drying out. Just wondering what the best game plan is to really get everything dressed back out - level and smooth.

 

[fowllife]

Depending on how much cut and fill you have to do, your box blade with the teeth may be the easiest. When you get it loose its very easy to drag the dirt to where you want it and get a really good finish. As you are finding out though the soil doesn't usually want to cooperate in this area. The main thing is that you need to be patient and not try to work the soil when it's too wet. The clay will ball up and get really hard and be a pain to break up. If it's too lumpy and you can't get it to break up when it dries you may need to hit it with a disk or drag to break it up some.

You can also plow the areas first. that will break everything up down 6-10" depending on your plow. This may give you some big sod balls to deal with though if there is much plant growth in the area.

When you get it how you want it just drag it, seed it, and your done.