Grass Seeding Preparation

[tarious]

I am in the process of turning 3+ acres of weeds into lawn. I have tilled up the grass to a depth of about 6 inches. I am now looking for something to smooth out the lumps and even the ground before planting the seed and rolling.

The lawn seed dealer also recommended a spring harrow or something to pull to place a light amount of dirt over the seed.

Our soil is somewhat sandy and rocky.

I am not certain what would work best here and I would appreciate any advice. If possible, I would prefer to buy one implement to both level and smooth the dirt.

A salesperson suggested this, would it work well?
Drag Harrow

Thanks,

 

[trlong]

tarious,

6" depth may be too much for this but, to smooth out the "overload" and topsoil I filled in this summer, I used a 4'x8' (or so) piece of heavy chainlink fence, folded in half to 4'x4', weighted down in the back with one 20' chain and connected to my 3ph with another. Cost me all of a couple of bucks at the junkyard for the fence. If it doesn't work for you, you can always go the more expensive route. The chains, if you don't have, you can always find a use for. I had them ($29.99 each at Home Depot...I know H.D. quality but these were actually a bargain and I've used them day in and day out). You may be able to make out the drag fence in the pic.

If it works for you for smoothing, I wouldn't double it and weigh it down with the chains after seeding...just the chainlink.

Good luck,

Tom

 

[JackIL]

Jerry,

The carpet harrow shown in your link to Northern is excellent for your application. First pass use it with the teeth down in the aggressive position to level and smooth. Then seed, followed by another pass with the teeth in the least aggressive position. This will just barely cover the seed and helps germination. Drive slowly on the second pass. I have had very good results in establishing turf with a carpet harrow like this.

JackIL

 

[TBDonnelly]

Here's what I use. My homemade Gizmo-Grader. I've had excellent results leveling dirt & grading the driveway. Works great for leveling the high spots and filling the low spots.

I've found that commercial grade chain link fence works well, without deforming or losing it's shape.

Don

 

[Cottonhawk]

Jerry,
I did a lot of research on lawn and pasture maintenance searching for an ideal attachment. The end result is a "drag harrow". I just bought a drag harrow which can be attached to tractor (three point) and ATV. I have not tried it out yet but it sure looks like it will work out great for what I need.

 

[browns40]

Hi tarious,

I have old hospital beds... kind with spring frames... check local hospitals & nursing homes to see if they have upgraded theirs & have old ones they would like to get rid of... i added an old iron wagon axle the MX-5 "discovered" for me for extra weight... works great!

Got idea from the collective here (thanks!) Was free for me to get all & just use ols rope to attach to truck for road & tractor for fields/stripped ground.

Good Luck!

 

[Soundguy]

I'd try a heavy chain drag harrow.. run it a few times.. agressive side down.

Soundguy

 

[jeffinsgf]

You have had some good suggestions so far on smoothing the lumps, but I would hesitate to use a drag harrow - even with the smooth side down - after seeding. I have always read that you should roll after seeding, and little else. Most grass seeds need light to germinate, and if they are worked too deep into the soil they will not receive the necessary light or enough air. I used a landscape rake for most of my yard preparation. I set it heavy to remove the biggest of the rocks near the surface. Then backed off the pressure and contoured the yard. I then rolled it with a 3 foot diameter water filled roller. I then made one more pass with the rake with very light down pressure, seeded and rolled again. A chain harrow or bed spring might have done a better job of loosening up the soil after the first roll and before the seed, but I don't have one. My landscape rake was my least expensive implement purchase, but I think I have used it more than anything else -- except the FEL.

 

[Soundguy]

Jeff, Re-read the first post.. here is the primary question that was asked.. and answered:

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( am now looking for something to smooth out the lumps and even the ground before planting the seed and rolling )</font>

The drag harrow makes for easy smoothing -before- the seed goes down.

Soundguy

 

[jeffinsgf]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...The lawn seed dealer also recommended a spring harrow or something to pull to place a light amount of dirt over the seed. )</font>

Soundguy, this is the part that made me discuss post-seeding. I hope the seed dealer didn't really suggest using a spring tooth harrow after sowing grass. If he did, he doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

[Soundguy]

A spring tooth harrow is gonna do a good job at getting those seed too deep IMHO.. that's why i didn't make any reccomendations about post seeding.

At most I'd drag a 4x4 behind the seeder or before the roller.

In many areas.. I've had great luck with simple broadcast and roll.. or water in.

I think his dealer has an extra spring tootheed harrow he needs to move! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy

 

[MidGALandscaper]

The harley rake also does and outstanding job. Don't know if you can rent one or not. Try it out. You will be amazed. One of the best investments I have made.

 

[thcri]

What has worked for me the three times I have done this was to prepare the soil, then spread the seed over the top. Then I took a drag and ran over it once or twice which pretty much buried the majority of the seed. Now it was not deep maybe a 1/4" at most. Waited and it was not long and the grass was growing. Then I spread some more fertilizer over the top and the new grass really took off. It was about two weeks before I saw the grass coming up and after the fertilizer it was a week later I had to mow it. Ground was way too soft yet so I had to use a push mower. Lucky frost hit and then I did not have to mow until the next spring.


murph

 

[jeffinsgf]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( The harley rake also does and outstanding job. Don't know if you can rent one or not. Try it out. You will be amazed. One of the best investments I have made. )</font>

Finding one to rent is the problem. I rented the Bobcat version for my Bobcat, but it went out of level when you angled it right or left. If you don't angle it, it doesn't windrow the rocks, it just throws them ahead and eventually walks over the pile when it gets too big. I assumed something was wrong with it and took it back to Bobcat. I couldn't find a true Harley rake for rental in my area. I did use something called a "Preparator", which had a big drum with spikes -- like a Harley only much larger diameter drum. It threw the rocks into a hopper, which you could then dump. It did a good job of separating out the big rocks, but it did not leave as nice a surface as a Harley rake and did not help in contouring like a Harley. After I used the Preparator, I bought my landscape rake. After using it for a while, I should have just started with that in the beginning. If you can find a rental Harley rake for your tractor, that would be a good move. Otherwise, I would spend 350 - 400 on a good landscape rake and get 'er done.

 

[BubbaJr]

I did the same thing to 6 acres of ground. After tilling, I used an old 8' x 2' piece of plywood weighted down with a couple of 5 gallon buckets of rocks. I hooked this rinktum to the drawbar with chains and dragged it all around several times. It did a great job of smoothing out the bumps and filling in the valleys. When I got done smoothing the dirt, I went to my local tractor dealer and rented a Brillion seeder. It had a large hopper in the back and used a large drum that looked a little like a row of small discs that would distribute the seed. I sowed the seed in one direction, then sowed again 90 degrees to the first rows. The grass came up just before the first frost, and then next spring I had a great looking lawn.

If you look around your place I bet you can find something to drag behind the tractor to smooth things out and it won't cost you a dime to make. The seeder that I rented cost me about $100 for a day's work. I would highly recommend using one as it puts the seeds at the proper depth and you don't have to worry about the birds getting what comes to the surface if you were to smooth out the seed after broadcasting it.

Good Luck /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif