Run off ditch

Anonymous Poster · May 24, 2002

I need to dig a run off ditch through my property. It is to catch rain water coming down the hill and re-direct it to the pond. I have four options as ways to do this. I have a middle buster, a box blade, a scrape blade, and a bottom plow. Of these 4 , the middle buster is the easiest (to me anyway) , but I am concerned if it is the best? The ditch doesn't have to be deep, (5-8 inches or so) so I know the middle buster will work. But I "think" the scrape blade will work just as good if not better.

Any recommendations????

Thanks,

greg

Bird · May 24, 2002

How wide does the ditch need to be? Is it going to be a "swale"? Just speculatin', but I'd probably make a couple of passes with that middle buster to break up the ground, then use the box blade to remove and spread the dirt; i.e., clean up the ditch.

MDSteve · May 24, 2002

I did a similar project last week and I used my back blade. I tilted it as far as it would go and got a nice 6 inch trench. Once I finished I leveled the blade and put it at an angle to move the extra dirt farther away from the ditch.

rf33 · May 24, 2002

Greg,
I think that if you have a box blade, that would be the implement of choice for this project. If it has scarifiers, I think you might just be able to tilt your box blade to one side (by adjusting your side link), and make a nice gradual ditch by going over the ground a few times each way.

Anonymous Poster · May 24, 2002

Thanks. Not necessarily a "swale" (as I understand them anyway), but just to catch the water coming down the hill and move it towards the pond. Should only be an issue during really hard rains. Won't be a lot of "soil" as it is in a grassy pasture. I don't think it has to be very wide either. I like the idea of the scrape blade and I may try it.

Thanks for the ideas,

greg

rdln · May 24, 2002

bottom plow did it for me, I needed the exact same on my sledding/hunting/target backstop hill.

Harv · May 24, 2002

Greg -

My very first tractor project was to clean up some drainage ditches and install some culverts, and I naturally took pictures of the whole thing. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Where the ditch had disappeared altogether, I with rippers down and just scraped away. I then came back and cleaned up parts of it by <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.acknowledge.com/tractor/L2500DT/photos/DitchDigging.jpg>attacking from the side with my FEL.

Like I said, it was my first time doing anything useful with the tractor, but <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.acknowledge.com/tractor/L2500DT/photos/culvert1a.jpg>the final results</A> were just what I was going for.

gerard · May 24, 2002

I ditto what Bird said. The middle buster will loosen everything up and make the spoils it easier to remove but if you have a scraper blade that tilts and angles you can use that to drive straight and windrow the excavated dirt without worrying about dumping the spoils (as you have to do periodically when using a boxblade.)

Anonymous Poster · May 24, 2002

You already have heard some good ideas. Here is an idea onlyyou can decide if it is good or not. If you own a heavy rear blade that will angle and tilt you have it made. I would angle the right side of the blade forward one position. I would then tilt the right side one position down; if it is a Landpride or Bushhog. You can then with a little practice make a ditch in no time. You can then adjust the blade and slope the sides or do whatever you want. Just catch your ground in the proper moisture condition where it works the best.
Just a thought
Greg H