Smoothing out a pasture

[Zog]

I have been bouncing around mowing my pasture (6 acres and 10 acres) for about 6 years now and it's time to smooth out the ride. It was timbered/turned to pasture about 10 years ago, it is relatively smooth as pastures go but there are a lot of 6 inch ruts/mounds. It was used for horses by the previous owner but I rescue and foster dogs so I need to keep the grass short to keep the tick/chiggers away. I borrowed my neighbors zero turn mower and it cut the mowing time by 25% but I could only go 1/2 speed due to the uneven ground. I see a z-turn mower in my future but I would like to smooth things out first. I have a great stand of grass and don't want to tear up the whole thing, so what I am asking is, 'Is there a way smooth it out without tilling up the whole thing?'
Thanks for helping, Tom
Kubota B2710

 

[MMagis]

Fill ruts with dirt, and level off mounds with rear blade, box blade or FEL. Whatever you have handy.

 

[Egon]

It all depends on how smooth you want it. For best results cultivate, level and reseed. The grass will grow again. Think about this as the long term solution.:thumbsup:

For a quick sorta fix bring in some proper soil and use it to level the real bad spots. This may feel much better than what you have but several years from now it's gona feel rough.

Ain't no shortcuts if you want a smooth field.

 

[rambler]

Takes a long time, lot of effort, lot of detail, shovel work to level it up without starting over.

Tiller is the best to get it level, landscape rake it with the tines reversed to make it very smooth.

Otherwise, sod you have now comes up in chunks, anything 'easy' you do will make it chunkier, or dead, or not really do enough to help. Take a lot of time with buckets of dirt & a shovel and fill in the ruts, whack down the ridges.

--->Paul

 

[beenthere]

No easy fix that I foresee. But mowing with a tractor with larger wheels than a ZTR would be smart, IMO. A lot less bounce, as the tires don't drop into those small holes so easily.

Like was well said, you can resort to filling the holes which is time consuming especially for that large an area.

And plowing it up, discing, dragging and re-seeding will likely give the best results in the least amount of time and work, keep in mind that the old stump roots are likely not yet decayed and will mean for a lot of work cleaning them up (and hope you don't have to contend with rocks at the same time). It is a catch-22 deal.

Also, as time goes by, the roots and stumps still there will decay and create more holes that will need filling in over time.

 

[sweettractors]

A disc harrow and a good heavy drag behind will do a fine job. You may have to partially reseed some areas that were in the worst condition. Ken Sweet

 

[merrickvilleguy]

roto would be best, but depending on roots/rocks from the pasturing in the past you may damage it ...

disk/harrow it will require a few passes (and in many directions) to smooth it out nice and level it. keep in mind if you always run the disk in the same direction the ruts just get bigger

 

[riptides]

Keyword is pasture. A tractor with bigger wheels will help. Keep the ZTR for the lawn.
I mow my entire place with a B7800 (30 HP) tractor and bushhog. I do it in high gear and have some nice spots that get the kidney stones out.

I tried a ZTR, too bouncy, not enough HP for the "pasture" in spots.

A 50/50 proposition, speed vs. quality.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I think a plug aerator would work over a few spaced applications and would avoid de establishing the existing turf.
larry

 

[czechsonofagun]

I do it in high gear and have some nice spots that get the kidney stones out.

HAHAHA, nice way to put it - I have few spots like that too.