New guy questions

[Tscott9330]

Hey all,
I just got my new Branson 4220i with FEL and I love it. I just need some advice on what implements I should keep an eye out for. Currently I have a 6' box blade and a post hole digger.

The first project the tractor will face is a fencing job, hence the PHD.

The second will involve clearing bits and pieces of our 20 acres of small trees and shrubs. I have been trying out the FEL for this purpose, but of course the bucket is not really ideal for this. I have seen others with grapples, which I would like to have, but don't have the money right now. I was thinking maybe there is some thing that would attach to the front of a FEL Bucket (Maybe Clamp on like a set of pallet forks) that would resemble a row of teeth to help grab the brush by the stem and pull up. The soil here is quite sandy so it should not take much upward force to pull the brush up and out, but I need to be able to get a grip with the FEL any suggestions here would be appreciated.

Finally, I need to get the ground ready for seeding. We had a large portion of the land cleared with a Dozer, so all we have is rough ground and lots of weeds. I was planning to use a disc plow to turn over the soil before seeding, I figured it would make quick work of the weeds and if done at a shallow depth would not make it completely impossible to drive around the property in a vehicle. Is this the best tool for the job or should I be looking for something else?

Sorry for the long post, but I have a lot to learn and do.

Tom

 

[Bird]

Tom, many of us added tooth bars to the front edge of our front end loader buckets. The teeth are usually 6" to 8" apart; great for digging into hard piles of dirt, but can also help with the kind of work you want to do. A disk is a good implement for preparing ground for planting. In my opinion, a tiller is better but also much more expensive and you may or may not need to go that route.

 

[Thomas]

Congrats on your new Branson Tom.
You may want to consider land rake for finally leveling also for other duties...plus good tow behind trailer.

 

[Egon]

As per Bird on the teeth.

For cultivation consider a plow/disk/tiller and maybe consider building yourself a drag to get it all smoother when first starting. A lot here depends on how often you will be working the land and how deep the pockets.

 

[jbrumberg]

Tscott9330:

Welcome to TBN and congratulations on your new tractor ! You have a good start on attachments . I agree with Bird as it relates to the toothbar for general digging and the addition of a tiller if you plan future gardents. IMHO a tiller would be the way to go especially if you are planning smaller size vegetable and/or flower gardens which can be used in smaller spaces than a disk, but a tiller could take a long time to smooth large portions of land at one time (and tillers are not cheap ). In an old post a member named Timber used his PHD in combination with his FEL with toothblades to dig up trees. There are a lot of ways to smooth out a "worked soil" including Thomas's or Egon's suggestion of building a drag or as some old posters have suggested towing an old mattress spring or chain link fence behind the tractor. Your pockets will determine your options. Keep the posts coming - Jay

 

[VABlue]

You could also look at Harbor Frieght's clamp on brush forks. Don't know how strong they are, but I'll check them out before clearing my woods. And the land rake (york rake) will be helpful, as well. As for the lawn smoothing, tilling would be the easiest way to prepare a seedbed. It will get rid of all the weeds and make a nice 6-8" bed. Either way, tiller or disc, the bed will need to be smoothed before you lay down seed or you'll have a bumpy ride when mowing. I was too lazy to smooth mine... Take the time to set up the seed bed properly and your lawn will be much nicer.

 

[MarkV]

If you are seeding more than an acre a spreader comes in handy for seed, fertilizer and lime. Get a soil test done at your county extension office to find out what amendments the soil requires. If lime is needed working it in when you till or disk is the best way.

MarkV