Grading Smoothing out a lawn

[TC135]

Would like to get some advice on how I might go about smoothing out a lawn that is extremely bumpy. Have a BX 25 and about 1.5 acres that I mow. The ground is blue clay. Was wondering if I should get a box blade and start from there or go another route that I might not know of. Any suggestions welcome.
One other question,the manual says that 48" box blade is the max size. Right now I can get a good deal on a used 60" one. Is there a problem using the larger implement?

 

[beenthere]

Rent a Harley Rake, and go from there. It will be the shortest, and cheapest, and easiest in the long run.

 

[Egon]

Tell us a little more about this Lawn. By smooth what is your end desire?

 

[KennyV]

Would like to get some advice on how I might go about smoothing out a lawn

Do you golf... or are you near a golf course?
Depending on how smooth you want it and how much work you want to put into it.. ask the grounds keepers. They have some tried methods that are remarkable. KennyV

 

[Evil the Weasel]

I've been told the only good way to smooth out a bumpy lawn is with fill, but there has to be a cheaper way. I can say with absolute certainty that my lawn roller was a waste of money.

 

[midtnvol]

I've been told the only good way to smooth out a bumpy lawn is with fill, but there has to be a cheaper way. I can say with absolute certainty that my lawn roller was a waste of money.

Mine did a pretty good job though I didn't get it in time for the spring thaw. I'm told that makes a lot of difference.

 

[TC135]

The lawn has alot of ruts and holes from uneven grass growth and poor grading. Would like to see it smooth enough so that I might be able to go faster than 1mph while mowing.
Also have been filling a large low spot and although back dragging is ok, it is not the best because of the hard clumpy clay that I have.

 

[crazyal]

If it's not got a lot of rocks in it I would second the harley rake. One day and it'll be flat and loose enough for grass to regrow. I don't think hard clay would even slow it down. If you look on the net, I can't remember the name, there's a company that makes them that has videos of them in action. Around here it's what all the landscapers use when they are starting from scratch.

 

[leonz]

Would like to get some advice on how I might go about smoothing out a lawn that is extremely bumpy. Have a BX 25 and about 1.5 acres that I mow. The ground is blue clay. Was wondering if I should get a box blade and start from there or go another route that I might not know of. Any suggestions welcome.
One other question,the manual says that 48" box blade is the max size. Right now I can get a good deal on a used 60" one. Is there a problem using the larger implement?

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Greetings and salutations my neighbor to the north,


I would invest in a large quantity
of gypsum and lawn lime pellets first,
as the gypsum will break up the clay
quickly and the lawn lime will bring
the PH back up and sweeten the soil.



Renting an overseeder or finding a friend
with flail mower with thatching blades will
also allow you to dethatch and in the
process allow you to overseed the lawn
with a broadcast spreader heavily and
water it lightly afterwards-the overseeder
grooves hold the seed much better than
using straw or simply spreading and hoping
it germinates.


Doing a soil test will scare (been there done that)
you and tell you you need a lot of gypsum and lime.


buying ton of lawn lime and a ton of gypsum
(preferably the mined type) and not the chemically
processed(quicker dissolving, no waste, easier to spread);

Spreading a 1,000 pounds of each with a good spinner spreader
at a slow speed will do wonders for the lawn(been there done that)
the first time and the results will be quickly seen.

Spreading the other 1,000 pounds of each in the fall will help break up the clay even more and you will see the results in better turf if it is good grass.

The wide box blade will be and issue as you will have to make more passes at a very very shallow depth.

leonz

 

[kubota_krazy]

I am a master gardener and using a roller is the worse thing for your lawn.. it causes compaction.. which leads to a shallow rooted lawn which makes it prone to damage durng dry spells and diease.. if you roll... you should use an areator also. The best way is to fill the low spots in and level it out..