Need to till new yard?

BrettW · Aug 20, 2004

Guys, I just posted this in the Lawn section, but I'd appreciate your imput as well,

Hi,
I've been busting my tail this August cutting, scraping, boxing, raking about 2 acres of field getting it ready for grass/lawn here in SC. Now, question is do I need to till? The dirt is looking very smooth and ready to go. I know tilling would maybe help the grass get good roots going, but my tractor would also begin to leave ruts sinking into the dirt. No turf tires yet.
So, what would you do? Till 3 inches or so and rake it again?
or just let it alone. thanks, Brett w

plaindave · Aug 20, 2004

I just finished the lawn in my yard two weeks ago. Rented a harley rake for $100 a day at the rental house. It was worth every penny. I did a good job moving the dirt and leveling it, but the harley really did a great job of getting rid of a lot of the stones and the gage wheels helped level everything out. Don't know how long it would have taken me to get rid of them by tilling and hand raking. And it prepped the seed bed great.

For what it's worth, I had somebody come in and hydro seed for me. They told me they would have done the final prep work for $300. Can't tell my wife that because the tractor was supposed to save me money on the land clearing/lawn work. So far it's $15000 for the tractor and attachments and I've saved $200 that I know about. Could be a long time till I get a payback.

DiskDoctr · Aug 21, 2004

Brett,

I just did my lawn this past week. Here's what we did, knowing we were expecting a few days of rain.

1. Leveled ground
2. Used landscape rake to remove stones, picked stones, picked stones, picked stones (we have a lot of stones /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)
3. Tilled ground again (did this in tearup and level phase, too)
4. Spread seed in tilled soil and covered with hay (couldn't get straw in time to beat rain)
5. Use a roller on a small wheelhorse garden tractor over the hay to press seed into ground and to flatten out the surface. The surface is very soft after tilling.
6. Water hay and seed.

Note- water AFTER you roll it, else everything will stick to your roller.

So far my grass seed hasn't washed away, and the soil is staying put. Of course, since it was yesterday, I don't have any grass yet.. wish me luck /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I plan to spread some time release nitrogen as soon as the rain stops. This stuff doesn't seem to burn like some do ?

-JC

Egon · Aug 21, 2004

On new grass root development is important. Think I'd use a very low nitogen product with much higher second and third numbers on the fertilizer.

Brown Thumb, that's me!!!

Egon

DannyD · Aug 21, 2004

Dave, the smile factor of doing it on YOUR OWN tractor is calculated at 1 kazillion times the dollars saved.

you have made money!

Hambone · Aug 21, 2004

I agree with Egon. High nitrogen seems to make it nice and green, but does not promote root growth. Triple 15 or triple 12 work really good on my grass. I learned this from Dr. Dirt. I listen to him Here on Saturday mornings.

BrettW · Aug 21, 2004

Guys,
still no one has said if tilling the soil is really necessary. thanks, bw

plaindave · Aug 21, 2004

Yeah - you need to till it. You can't get the seed bed fine enough with just a box blade or a rake. And tilling it helps you when you do the final hand raking to level it out. Also makes for a smoother lawn.

DiskDoctr · Aug 23, 2004

Brett,

Sorry, thought I implied that tilling was a good idea because it breaks up enough of the soil to get a good seed start.

Good roots growth is very important if you want the grass to last. This starts with a good soil bed.

I am also going to take the advice given by others on the fertilizer- Thanks!

-JC