Land plane for grading lumpy land (not a driveway)

[braccet]

I've used my box blade to the best of my ability, but our land is still pretty bumpy and puddles badly in rain. We have clay soil here that is unworkable when wet, so have to wait for it to dry out, at which point it becomes as hard as concrete. Would a land plane with scarifiers work to help me get an even surface on this land? My tractor is only 25HP (but weighs 4000lb), so I'm thinking I'd put the scarifiers down only about an inch.

I generally only see these used on driveways, so just wondering if anyone's had luck evening out a lumpy pasture.

 

[ruffdog]

A dirt rake leveler type attachment will loosen and level just the surface. There are several brands for loaders and skid steers.

HHLL: Heavy Hitch Land Leveler - Heavy Hitch - Compact Tractor Attachments

Landscape Rake - Rake-N-Ator 78" - Skid-steer Loader Attachment - B-Built MFG

New HD Arena Rake-- 7 ft. for your 3 Point -(FREE 1000 MILE DELIVERY FROM KY) | eBay

 

[deezler]

I think you have a good plan. Does your box blade not have scarifiers/rippers?

I think a 40 HP tractor with a 6-foot PTO rototiller might be better.

Is it thick with grass now? The root clods are going to mess you up, not matter which way you try.

In a perfect world I would rototill it when damp, then top with top soil and make another couple passes.

 

[braccet]

A dirt rake leveler type attachment will loosen and level just the surface. There are several brands for loaders and skid steers.

HHLL: Heavy Hitch Land Leveler - Heavy Hitch - Compact Tractor Attachments

Landscape Rake - Rake-N-Ator 94" - Skid-steer Loader Attachment - B-Built MFG

Interesting, never seen that attachment before.

I'd still be more interested in a land plane if it would work, since I have a gravel drive as well to maintain. Think it would work?

 

[braccet]

I think you have a good plan. Does your box blade not have scarifiers/rippers?

I think a 40 HP tractor with a 6-foot PTO rototiller might be better.

Is it thick with grass now? The root clods are going to mess you up, not matter which way you try.

In a perfect world I would rototill it when damp, then top with top soil and make another couple passes.

Unfortunately I don't have a 40hp tractor, lol. I've thought about tilling (would make it easier to seed) but it seems like as soon as you drove over it with the tractor it would rut it badly. I was hoping with a land plane there would still be a relatively undisturbed base.

 

[gstrom99]

A land plane won't "dig in" enough, I think. ruff's post has a couple good products. I personally, would go with a rototiller - set just low enough at first to see if you can take off the top of the rough parts.

 

[deezler]

Scarifiers/rippers can be adjusted for depth and are designed to pull themselves downward under forward motion. In any looser materials, they will gladly dig themselves down enough to stall your machine right away, if you engage too far. But on dry clay that is "like concrete" they may more likely just bounce around on top.

As gstrom notes, rototiller depth can be controlled. Yes, driving on the disturbed soil afterwards will show tracks (not ruts) but you'll want to re-compact the entire area anyway.

My neighbor likes to turn his 1/2 acre garden to pure dust every fall and spring, using his 40HP new holland and a 6-ft tiller set nice and deep. He does 5+ passes; your shoes sink 3+ inches when you try to walk through it afterwards (he's way overdoing it).

 

[gstrom99]

He does 5+ passes; your shoes sink 3+ inches when you try to walk through it afterwards (he's way overdoing it).

Ahhh, any tractor time is good for the soul. The longer it takes, the better?

 

[swreeder]

I live in an area that has a lot of caliche soil. It dries rock hard in the summer. I have successfully used my land plane with scarcifers to level areas of my property.

It has its place, it is not a fix all, I end up using landplane, box blade and rock rake based on what I am trying to do.

The biggest thing with a land plane the material you are trying to level has to be able to flow up and over the blades. Where I have seen it struggle in areas where I am pulling up large rocks (bigger than a softball) will clog up the flow.

In general it’s been a great tool on my property. Picture below shows the right side of my driveway that I just cleared and smoothed over with the land plane and rock rake.

 

[dlctcg]

Landplane for your stone driveway IMO is the way to go... For your yard, all I can say is I have used ours on a few places we cleared & it worked but by no means was it a lawn worthy finish...

I would look at renting a Harley Rake or Power Rake for the yard... (still would get a land plane for the driveway )

 

[scootr]

I have used the LP with good results on our clay soil. The key to any dirt work is to ensure the moisture content is right. Too wet is a MESS and too dry is like working concrete. If you rip up dry dirt it won't work well or stay where you put it. Watch the dirt start to dry and hit it when you drive on it without sinking in and the LP can still cut the surface. Then once the area is leveled out wheel roll it to compact.
I have gone in too early and completely sunk my LP and balled up lots of clay and weeds on the ground and in the attachment. I ended up adding weight to the LP so it would cut better. I can adjust the weight by adding or draining water from the barrell

 

[braccet]

I have used the LP with good results on our clay soil. The key to any dirt work is to ensure the moisture content is right. Too wet is a MESS and too dry is like working concrete. If you rip up dry dirt it won't work well or stay where you put it. Watch the dirt start to dry and hit it when you drive on it without sinking in and the LP can still cut the surface. Then once the area is leveled out wheel roll it to compact.
I have gone in too early and completely sunk my LP and balled up lots of clay and weeds on the ground and in the attachment. I ended up adding weight to the LP so it would cut better. I can adjust the weight by adding or draining water from the barrell

Thanks, good advice on trying to target the right moisture. Do you not use scarifiers on yours?

 

[scootr]

Thanks, good advice on trying to target the right moisture. Do you not use scarifiers on yours?

No Scarifiers. If you catch it right you will not them and they won't be pulling up rocks and chunks of earth. I only use scarifiers when I have a deep cut to make which it sounds like you do not. It may take a few sessions after a few rains to get it where you want it. Then seasonal maintenance to remove weeds etc. like we do on our firebreaks should be painless.

 

[Sportsman762]

A harley rake was designed for just what the Braccet wants to do. It will level / remove clumps and prep the soil for seeding. Renting one would be my first choice. If not then I would use a tiller and turn it into a powder then water and roll it back smooth.

 

[braccet]

A harley rake was designed for just what the Braccet wants to do. It will level / remove clumps and prep the soil for seeding. Renting one would be my first choice. If not then I would use a tiller and turn it into a powder then water and roll it back smooth.

That does look like a cool attachment. Where are you guys renting attachments?

I generally see this as a skid steer attachment. Lots of guys renting out skid steers in my area, i guess i can ask if they could rent an attachment as well

 

[Tomtint]

FWIW, I have a LPGS and it's a great tool for making things flat.. problem is that water sits on flat surfaces and then that water creates potholes. I'd use your box blade and first create pitch so the water has a pre determined direction to roll off. Then if you wanted to use a LPGS you could, but you need to be careful that you don't take out that pitch.

 

[deezler]

Ahhh, any tractor time is good for the soul. The longer it takes, the better?

Haha yeah he spends all day on his ol' blue machine just crawling in 1st gear and tilling away. I just meant he overdoes it for the soil condition, not great for the plants to grow in. The soil compacts over the season and then the roots cant breathe. Just gets waterlogged to hell. hence why a lot of gardeners are more on the "no-till" side of the equation these days.

 

[ironman1952]

I am not a professional but i have done some leveling with a cat with 6 way blade. How much land are you talking about that you are trying to level out?
You can rent a cat with a 6 way blade much cheaper than you can purchase almost any attachment or just hire someone. It would be a 1 time deal.

 

[oosik]

I have a Land Pride LPGS - 770 pounds. I've pulled it across virgin meadows - scarifiers up. It sort of hops along - digging into the dirt - a little here - a little there. Uprooting tufts of meadow grass - here and there. A true waste of time and fuel.

Scarifiers - full down. Now it makes a REAL bloody mess of the meadow. Great clumps/wads of meadow grass are left behind.

Looks like a practice field for the Army Light Infantry.

So....... I till the field with my single bottom moldboard plow. Let it dry until just the right time. Now the LPGS has real dirt to deal with. It does a great job. Scarifiers set about an inch to an inch and a half below the side boards.

The field ends up with most of the sod under the dirt and quite smooth. Drag it with the LPGS again in the late fall. It's even smoother. All the sod has had a chance to decompose.

Depending upon what you want to grow - plant it now or wait until the coming spring.

 

[ruffdog]

Haha yeah he spends all day on his ol' blue machine just crawling in 1st gear and tilling away. I just meant he overdoes it for the soil condition, not great for the plants to grow in. The soil compacts over the season and then the roots cant breathe. Just gets waterlogged to hell. hence why a lot of gardeners are more on the "no-till" side of the equation these days.

I too have turned soil to powder with a tiller and found out it ruins soil structure. I till MUCH less now.