leveling bumpy field

[greenjchorn]

I have purchased 33 acres of gopher heaven. I have about 10 acres that I want to hay. What would be a good implement to level out the mounds? I have a plan to reduce the gophers, but I think I will still need to level it a bit every year. I would like something that I can use without totally tearing out the grasses. I have access to a neighbor' small full size tractor.

 

[LGinIA]

Landscape rake with side wheels should work ok for this project.

 

[Gavman]

If the dirt is still pretty loose I would take a pretty good size(20') piece of hog panel and throw a ramp or some other type of object that weighs a good bit on it and drag it around over all of the mole hills. This is the cheap way to do it, but it has worked for me.

 

[john_bud]

Sorry to show my ignorance, but what the heck is a Hog Panel??

thanks,
jb

 

[JerryG]

Hog panel

 

[Gavman]

After looking at the hog panel link I see that I was calling the utility panel hog panel. But either way I think any of those panels would work. Another good thing about pulling the panel behind your tractor is that it doesn't require figuring out how to use a box blade or landscape rake, you just pull it around until every thing is good and level.

 

[Egon]

You are looking for good hay and no gophers?

Suggest a rethink involving full cultivation and replanting with grasses desirable to your area. The cultivation will get rid of the gophers and also help smooth out the field.

If you have a pasture full of gophers chances are the grasses growing are not the most desirable.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[thcri]

I think your best bet is to get rid of the gophers first by trapping or something like that. Leveling the mounds will only make them move on to anohter spot and dig up.

murph

 

[greenjchorn]

I have advice from the local 80 something gopher trapper that I am going to act on as soon as ground thaws. My property is bordered on two sides by state park so I don't think I will ever be totally free of them. Still considering plowing under and replanting though - I think I could do better on the grass species currently making up the field. Thanks for the advice so far.

 

[john_bud]

Thanks for the link! NOW, I know what a hog panel is. That would level it out after tilling or disc-ing.

On gophers, I saw a way cool gizmo that gets rid of gophers, with a bang. It injects propane into the gopher holes and then lights it off, exploding the the mound system and killing the varmants. Sorry, I can't find the paperwork. I'll check on google and see what I can see.

jb