New Lawn Install

[dfeck]

I'm needing to put in about 1.5 acres of new lawn. I had a dozer do the rough grading and now need to fine grade. I did a light tilling to break up some of the dirt "clumping" that took place after the dozer guy left. Now I need to pick-up the small rocks/stones and finish the grading. I used my landscape rake (without gauge wheels) with disappointing results. Will gauge wheels make a big difference? I was thinking of renting a rockhound but I'm very unfamiliar with them. Is a rockhound easy to use? Will they give very good results? I can rent one with or without the skidsteer. I have access to a Newholland TC40 with a 3rd valve on the loader. Will this operate a rockhound?

Thanks,
Doug

BTW - I have no access to a Harley Rake.

 

[toy1]

I have both a rock hound and Harley rake and run them on a track loader. If you need to contour the harley works the best it will smooth the ground and provide a good seed bed, you will still have to pick up the piles that the harley will make. The rock hound also does a good job preparing the seed bed and it does a good job on picking up rocks and other debris, however it does not contour very well. You only need one set of valves for either to work Harley is easier to master then the rockhound, depending on the size of the rock hound you can rent make sure your tractor can handle the weight when it is full of debris.

 

[EddieWalker]

After I go over my land with a dozer, I like to drag a log with some cyclone fence wraped around it to smooth it all out. The dozer gives me the shape I want, but the log gives it the nice finish.

Eddie

 

[JimMorrissey]

Feck,

I'd go with the Harley. Definitely makes a nice seed bed and it fills in a lot of the low spots. You can scoop up the rock and debris with your tractor loader after you're done with the Harley rake.

Once you're ready, don't forget the "starter fertilizer". It's manditory for new lawns IMO. Scotts makes a nice sun and shade mix that hard to screw up.....lay it on thick and lots of water.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I did this last summer. Rent the Rockhound with the skid steer. Just don't count on that being your final grade. After de-rocking the ground, put some gauge wheels on your rake, do some meditation or medication -- whatever it takes to get in a calm state of mind, and start working on the final grade. It is frustrating, but it will come with practice. Some sort of a drag -- chain link fence section or whatever is a good idea. I did not do this. I went from the landscape rake to a roller. The roller won't fill voids very well. If I had used some sort of a drag first, I think I would have ended up with a smoother surface.

 

[Dex]

If I had a Harley I would use it. I am gong to buy one soon. Right now I box it to grade then ust a 6' frame that I built with chain link fence to smooth out the yard. Then I overseed with a broad cast cone spreader. After that I use a seeder/areator to push the sed into the ground. Top with starter fertilzer and water and you will have a yard in about 14 days if you leep it watered. Rmember not to mow until the seedlings get to a height of at least three inches. Good luck!