Procedure Help. Forest to pasture.

[west2nashvl]

Hey Guys, new to posting on these forums, but have learned quite a bit from reading.

Anyway, Late last year, I ran into a 20 acre parcel of land that had been timbered. The price was right so I bought it. The problem now is the wife wants to turn it into pasture for horses. I've had a buddy come in with a forestry mulcher to chew up the vegetation that has grown up since it was timbered and this has uncovered a beautiful rolling landscape.

Now I have to smooth the soil and plant the grass mix......and I would rather do it myself if I can.(I have more time than money at this point) So with a 30HP Kubota, what 3pt attachments should I look into purchasing? I was thinking I might grab a york rake and small pto tiller to loosen up the soil and then build a drag harrow to smooth it out. What do you guys think?

 

[big lar]

A neighbor just rented a Harley Power Rake, ran it off pto of a bobcat, did a nice job chewing up the lawn sod, don't know how it would do with roots, etc, but they do have a you tube video you can look at. I am considering renting one, here it was $300 a day! Good Luck. How is the fencing; I have heard you can clear land with pigs.but I haven't done it myself.

 

[dave1949]

It's hard to say without knowing some specifics. How long ago was it logged off? Chances are all the roots and below grade stumps are still there to some extent. If they have rotted some, you could try pulling a subsoiler through it to tear up/bring up the roots. What happens if you hook a stump depends on the condition of the stump and its size. Would a tiller wind up the roots or chop them up? I'm betting on winding up some at least. That won't be fun. I think it is really a job for a dozer and brush rake.

 

[jeff9366]

Since you will have brush to clear and move consider a Ratchet Rake in place of the York rake. Ratchet Rakes are sold at Tractor Supply for about $300; they are versatile and effective. While removing brush and maintaining woodland trails are my primary uses, I also use mine to "scratch in" seed for deer plots.

For brush I plow through with the RR in position shown in photo #1. Both top and bottom teeth engage the brush. Some is pulled out, the balance is toppled over or pushed ahead. ( This is twice or three times as effective as the bucket edge without the RR. ) Then I lower the bucket/RR nearly to the ground so the lower teeth on RR are engaged and reverse out. Whatever brush did not pull out going forward pulls out in reverse.

There are about a bazillion TBN posts for the Ratchet Rake.

Tractor is Kubota B3300SU package, 33-hp, 1,800 lbs.

 

[Western]

I would use a chisel plow and run it shallow a few times, plow it one way then plow it the other way, do this until you think you have got it all and uncovered any "hidden gems" roots ect,tra. Then drag a harrow or disc. You might want to consider a 3pnt spreader for throwing out seed and fertilizing every year.

If you find you have a ton of stumps then I would rent a backhoe to get them.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

west2nashvil,

I had 5 acres clearcut almost 2 years ago specifically to convert to pasture for horses. I am midway in this process.

I have almost 2 acres currently cleared enough and fenced that the horses are grazing (actually they have eaten the good stuff to the dirt, and ignore the yucky stuff).

I second jeff9366, my 72" rachet rake has been the BEST tool I have for clearing the slash and growth (and for smoothing out the ground).

I also got myself a Woods TSG-50 Stump grinder, but I am leaving many of the stumps as is. I am clearing the fence lines, nd grinding the tall or otherwise cumbersome stumps, and the ones that cause my tractor to tilt when bush-hogging etc.

One year ago I had a pro with a large mulcher grind at least 4 acres down to about 1" to 1/2".

It is a slow process, but I have not even planted grass, I've had pretty good spontaneous native grasses (and weeds too) pop up.

Best of luck! Feel free to ping me if you have questions.

Be well,
David

 

[Ed of all trades]

Why pull up the roots? they wont hurt a thing where they are. For cattle I would bush hog it several times a year. I have done it in the past and it worked well, I don't know about horses. Here in Va you can spread grass seed in the late fall and the frost will plant it for you. If money is short, and it always is, keep it simple. Do what you have to and no more. If you live where there is little frost a chain harrow pulled with teeth pointed back would stir things up enough to settle the seed.

 

[Piston]

Ed, what do you mean that the frost will plant the
Seeds?

 

[Piston]

Ed, what do you mean that the frost will plant the
Seeds?

 

[Ed of all trades]

The frost will make the dirt expand and as it thaws it contracts over the winter this up and down action will cover small seeds like grass and clover, need to seed at a higher rate than if you used a drill but it saves in the long run. O if you have a very mild winter it does not work as well. Stock will also plant seeds for you with their feet if they are stocked at a very high rate.