I am new to the tractor world and am in the process of purchasing a new tractor. I am going to completely redo my lawn this spring and was wondering what would be the best implement or implements for the job? I would rather not spend more than $2000 for the implements needed. What suggestions can you offer?
Renovating Lawn. What is best implement?
- Thread starter hilden31
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daBear
Gold Member
Need a bit more info. Are you re doing a half acre or 5 acres? What is there now? Are there ruts and washes to be smoothed out? Are you starting completely over with a different type of grass?
The answers can vary widely by what you have going on. You could get a tiller for $1500 or so and be happy, or several other options.
The answers can vary widely by what you have going on. You could get a tiller for $1500 or so and be happy, or several other options.
It is about an acre and is level ground. There are no ruts, but there are some low spots that I would like to eliminate. There is grass right now, but it never grew very well. The contractor used a conservation mix and it was very spotty so I will be changing the type of grass seed.
Someone I spoke with the other day said that a pulverizer would work well, but from what I have read on other posts it would only be good for a brand new lawn. All input is greatly appreciated.
Someone I spoke with the other day said that a pulverizer would work well, but from what I have read on other posts it would only be good for a brand new lawn. All input is greatly appreciated.
jrlandscaping
New member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2007
- Messages
- 14
You have a few options...if you had a pic I could lead you in the better direction.
1) Rent an overseeder from your local rental yard. Landpride offers a 48" unit that mounts on your 3 pt and is powered with your PTO. There are vertical blades in the front that slice the ground, then seed drops in behind, and finally a cultipacker in the back that rolls the seed firmly in place. With this unit you would just go over what you have now. Two passed perpendicular to each other. Typical rental charge is $200. This would not fill in your low areas. But you could bring in some topsoil and spread with your loader?
2) Again rent or purchase a rototiller and landscape rake (with gage wheels). If you have a lot of rocks though, this option may not be the best. The rototiller will take a beating.
3) Go the old farm way, buy a moldboard plow, disc, and some type of harrow drag. You can use these items every year for your garden as well!
4) Lastly and probably the best tool by far is the harley rake. New these are $6,000. Again you should be able to rent one for about $250 a day. Awesome tool, 3 in 1, replaces the rototiller, box blade and landscape rake. Go over a couple times for your rough pass, then angle it and take a light skim pass, you will have a perfectly smooth seedbed. It will windrow any and all junk (rocks, stones, sticks, etc.) off to one side for disposal.
1) Rent an overseeder from your local rental yard. Landpride offers a 48" unit that mounts on your 3 pt and is powered with your PTO. There are vertical blades in the front that slice the ground, then seed drops in behind, and finally a cultipacker in the back that rolls the seed firmly in place. With this unit you would just go over what you have now. Two passed perpendicular to each other. Typical rental charge is $200. This would not fill in your low areas. But you could bring in some topsoil and spread with your loader?
2) Again rent or purchase a rototiller and landscape rake (with gage wheels). If you have a lot of rocks though, this option may not be the best. The rototiller will take a beating.
3) Go the old farm way, buy a moldboard plow, disc, and some type of harrow drag. You can use these items every year for your garden as well!
4) Lastly and probably the best tool by far is the harley rake. New these are $6,000. Again you should be able to rent one for about $250 a day. Awesome tool, 3 in 1, replaces the rototiller, box blade and landscape rake. Go over a couple times for your rough pass, then angle it and take a light skim pass, you will have a perfectly smooth seedbed. It will windrow any and all junk (rocks, stones, sticks, etc.) off to one side for disposal.
Attachments
First thing I would do is get a soil sample to see whats really going on. Then based upon the results you can plan your attack for added any amendments to the soil.
There are many attachments that will do the job obviously some better than others. First thing, Harley Rake = $$$$. If you can rent one great otherwise not worth the money for one time use unless you know you can get rid of it without trouble. If you already plan on totally starting over, I would recommned the tiller route, that way you can use the implement for garden, etc.. later on. Just don't till too deep becuase it will cause the ground to be lumpy later. Till in the amendments, lime, fert, whatever then drag it smooth with a piece of chainlink fence and you should be ready to plant. Some use seeder that will place the seeds and then cover with the perfect amount of soil however I have had great luck just using a push spreader then lightly dragging over the seed or use a roller to get go seed to soil contact. Main thing, keep it moist but don't have alot of runoff. Pray that rain dosen't wash it out.
There are many attachments that will do the job obviously some better than others. First thing, Harley Rake = $$$$. If you can rent one great otherwise not worth the money for one time use unless you know you can get rid of it without trouble. If you already plan on totally starting over, I would recommned the tiller route, that way you can use the implement for garden, etc.. later on. Just don't till too deep becuase it will cause the ground to be lumpy later. Till in the amendments, lime, fert, whatever then drag it smooth with a piece of chainlink fence and you should be ready to plant. Some use seeder that will place the seeds and then cover with the perfect amount of soil however I have had great luck just using a push spreader then lightly dragging over the seed or use a roller to get go seed to soil contact. Main thing, keep it moist but don't have alot of runoff. Pray that rain dosen't wash it out.
Thanks for the great information. I will look into the overseeder that you suggested and fill in the low spots. Any idea how much the landpride model would cost to purchase that was recommended?
One other question...what would a pulverizer be best used for?
One other question...what would a pulverizer be best used for?
jrlandscaping
New member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2007
- Messages
- 14
The landpride overseeder runs about $7,000 new. Better to rent one. The pulverizer..you can google it to see what it looks like. That would work as well. New about $1200. Just depends on how much grass or weeds are there now. If you can post a pic I think we all could suggest the best route, but it sounds like you are looking for an excuse to tell the wife that you need to buy some tools. Can't blame ya!
dqdave1
Veteran Member
Rent a harley rake; after you play with it you will be amazed at what you can do with it.
jeffinsgf
Veteran Member
Guys, guys, guys....the man said he wants to renovate, not rip out and replace. Every recommendation given so far is for equipment that would be required to create a new lawn from scratch, not work with what is already there. Not only that, but investing in that kind of equipment isn't a wise investment, unless you're going into the business.
Here's my advice, Hilden, and it's not only what I suggest, it is what I have done personally. You need a core aerator. Few things will revitalize your lawn like core aeration. It is an implement that you will use at least a couple times a year from now until you give up. The next thing you need is a topdressing spreader. Broadcast spreaders won't do (you may need one of them, too, at a later date). A topdressing spreader (or topdresser) will spread a uniform layer of any material on your yard. I topdress with compost a couple times a year and sand at least once. There are lots of different styles in a wide variety of price ranges, but those two items can be had within your stated budget.
Aerating and topdressing will eliminate the compaction in your yard, prepare the site for overseeding (easily done by hand) and eventually smooth out the humps and bumps and dips. They are long term processes that you need to repeat a couple times a year, every year, so owning the implement makes good sense.
Here's my advice, Hilden, and it's not only what I suggest, it is what I have done personally. You need a core aerator. Few things will revitalize your lawn like core aeration. It is an implement that you will use at least a couple times a year from now until you give up. The next thing you need is a topdressing spreader. Broadcast spreaders won't do (you may need one of them, too, at a later date). A topdressing spreader (or topdresser) will spread a uniform layer of any material on your yard. I topdress with compost a couple times a year and sand at least once. There are lots of different styles in a wide variety of price ranges, but those two items can be had within your stated budget.
Aerating and topdressing will eliminate the compaction in your yard, prepare the site for overseeding (easily done by hand) and eventually smooth out the humps and bumps and dips. They are long term processes that you need to repeat a couple times a year, every year, so owning the implement makes good sense.
