Impliment question

[texasjohn]

Ok... now, you've explained your parameters... you really want a smooth field, care not about the blackberries. thus, my recommendation is:

Till the whole thing, several times, to turn under the blackberry vines, etc.. then, as others have said, once you have gotten it to where the big lumps are out of it and the vines are rotted down, pull a harrow or other device over it in various directions so that it becomes smooth, smooth.. then plant your desired grass... research what kind of grass you want... runner or a bunch grass... if you are seeking to provide protection for your mother, I suggest a runner grass with short runners.. if you were in Texas, buffalo grass would be ideal but I doubt it grows there, not sure. A bunch grass will result in a difficult to walk on surface. Be sure an find a grass that likes water since you seem to indicate that it is a low lying area.

If you can get it, I recommend a disk with wheels that can be hydraulically raised and lowered. This way you can either put the full weight on the disk and till as deep as it will go, or gently put the wheels on the ground and control the depth of tillage and just knock the tops of mounds off... gives you more control of what you can do... I like them better than a 3ph disk, although I have one of them, too.

By the way, I admire, greatly, your mothers fortitude, strength and attitude... she's a significant part of our American diversity.... I, myself, have a problem with the folks who come from elsewhere and actually maintain greater allegiance to "the old country" than America.

 

[Glowplug]

I agree with Eddie. Disk the cr@p out of it. Then drag it in all different directions. Then seed, redrag. I wish I had that good of a reason to buy a disk. It's hard to justify "I just want one!" as a good reason to the wife! You could get a wheel disc as long as you have rear hydraulic remotes to operate the hydraulics for the wheels to lift the disc off the ground. You can go a lot heavier with a wheel pull-type disc than a lift disc. And weight is important in this type of tillage. You're talking about primary tillage using a disc. I really want a lift disc however. Lift discs are a little more maneuverable than a wheel disc but sacrifice weight.

 

[hudr]

I am with Eddie and Chuck... Since your ARE NOT worried about the berries, disc them under. Hit it w/ the disc several times from different angles (like once N to S, then from NW to SW then from E to W). Drag the chain harrow behind the disc on the last one. You may even consider rolling it to pack it a little. If this is several acres, I would want a drag disc. I have never been able to get the results I wanted out of a 3pt disc.
This is what I am using to level some or our hay meadows.