Pasture preparation after Clearing

Mark4510 · Jan 26, 2005

I dont have a backhoe.....wish I did.....but I do have a heavy duty box blade with TopNTilt.

This set up works well for me. I can use the rippers to get most of the smaller roots and turn the dirt over. Then I use the box blade to smooth the dirt and work in composted manure/shavings. The last time I seeded I just threw it around and then drug a long chain link fence section to cover the seeds.

That seemed to work pretty well especially with TopNTilt.
Mark

KiotiJohn · Jan 26, 2005

( I dont have a backhoe.....wish I did.....but I do have a heavy duty box blade with TopNTilt. )
Do find it any problem to get the rippers up high enough to be out of the way so that you can rip and then blade? If I have the rippers all the way down and then angle them up out of the way, it's difficult to get them out of action. If they're in one of the higher settings, it's not a problem. Probably wouldn't be any different if I had hydro link. John

JimMorrissey · Jan 26, 2005

( Should I use a chisel plow or ripper to tear it up? What attachments do you think would be best to prepare the soil?)

I believe this attachment would do an excellent job preparing your soil for seed (once you get the major stumps pulled). I had my soil prepared with one on 40hp CUT with excellent results in nasty conditions. At the time, my little BX would not handle it. That's the only reason I hired it out.

Just make sure there isn't a lot of wire, wire mesh or nylon rope hanging around. Harley Rakes don't like that stuff wrapped up in the edge seals.

You can rent these at most large rental facilities. Excellent Attachment, but large $$ to buy one. They're made for commercial use and are extremely productive.

http://www.glenmac.com/tractortech.htm

cowboydoc · Jan 26, 2005

It's going to be stressful to both your tractor and the chisel plow when you hit anything. A true chisel plow is also VERY hard to pull in the ground. I have a couple of them. My 8' one is a serious job for my 6415 to pull. I'm not sure what size tractor or chisel plow you have but you need plently of horses to pull one.

I don't have the tip n tilt on my boxblade and have done alot of clearing. You definitely could get by without one. But having one would make it easier. If I was short on money that would be the last thing on my list.

WhiteRock · Jan 26, 2005

Looks like from the specs, the 6415 may be a little more tractor than my M9000. So it sounds like a work out. Does your Chisel plow have the spring trips? Do they work?

Will the draft control help if you hit something? (having it set of course.)

How about an offset disk, would that work? Don't they cut and roll the dirt? I know they take a lot of HP, but I don't know how much.

KiotiJohn · Jan 26, 2005

( How about an offset disk, would that work? Don't they cut and roll the dirt? I know they take a lot of HP, but I don't know how much. )
Most discs are really only good in soil that has been cleaned previously. Otherwise, they'll bounce up over any obstacles generally. The soild really needs to be rooted/stoned and raked before using discs. John

cowboydoc · Jan 26, 2005

Yes the spring tips work but if you hit rocks or something they will break. Draft control only helps with controlling depth. If you are going along and hit a rock it won't do anything to help you.

If you have an old offset disc that is already torn up I'd say go ahead and do it. If you have that much junk out there it's going to tear it up but it will help to do the job. If it was me I'd want the area completely cleaned up before I started to do anything.

gabby · Jan 26, 2005

My tool of choice for work like this is the rollover blade. They're beefy and they have three positions selected by lever from the seat. Scrape forward, rip, scrape backward. Practically indestructible. Use it to rip out the roots and small stumps, then roll it over to scrape forward position and smooth the dirt after cleaning up all the chunks.
Gabby

ThistleKop · Jan 26, 2005

There is an implement that in TN is called by various names, bog disc, chopper, etc. It is a heavy, rough and tumble single gang disc. One of the better ones is made by Athens. They are practically indestructable and work very well on projects such as yours. They can be bought quite reasonably at used equip auctions. Go over the area you're working in one direction, when finished, cross disc in the other direction. If you work the ground before it's too dry it will really tear it up and jerk out many of the small stumps and roots. Your tractor will handle a 7-8' bog disc easily.

TK