Soil prep tools for new construction lawns?

[Agentiron]

I am purchasing a utility tractor and some attachments and want to do some lawn installations on new construction. I assume I will be comeing in with everything finish graded and want to prep the soil. Much of the time I will be involved with heavy compacted clay.

My first thought was to get box scraper and tiller, and use the tiller to loosen the soil, and then use the box to level things out. I don't want to ruin the grade either. I don't know how valuable the box scraper would be, perhaps a landscape rake would be better. Do you fellas use either of these tools much for installs?

I then thought running over it with the tiller, and then following it with a pulverizor may be better yet. Would this be better at keeping the finish grade, or would I still need a box scraper or rake, or even an angleing rear blade?

Would suggestions do you have for a green horn?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[DmansPadge]

If it already has a finish grade... I would think all you need to do is loosen up the top inch or two? Or for that matter... cover with top soil. I would think a disc or rake would work best for that. The boxblade would be more for moving dirt or leveling. Ofcoarse I'm sure those tasks would come in to play sooner or later also doing that kind of work.

 

[RonR]

I've only worked a few new construction sites, but have yet to find one that if you work the ground very deeply, you will find a SLUG of buried building debris!

From my experience, the closer you can stay to just working the top 1-2" of soil, the better you will be.

ron

 

[Farmwithjunk]

In this order,

Box blade,

Harley Rake,

Fertilizer spreader,

pulverizer,

power seeder,

I'm assuming that tractor has a loader. Don't even try it without a loader.

And that's just a start.

 

[rdln]

When you say utility tractor, I am thinking that you should be talking to builders and such to do the final grades yourself and while the ground is still loose seed while either charging the builder or buyer (with money put in escrow and get paid by check from bank after closing) this way the money is there, the buyer can finance work possibly leading to more profitable job with selling extra topsoil, better seed etc.

as for implements, If I had to choose one (not inlcuding loader) to start with seeding <.5 acre lawns already with perfect final grade it would be a Gill type pulverizer.
As RonR states the typical cookie cutter subdivision has a small lot filled with trash and the pulveriser would take the most abuse. with that pulveriser you are looking to leave a gently compacted 3-4 inchs of dirt for a seed bed.

next in order of priority is a rototiller to mix the clayfill with tosoil that you wittingly sold the customer and breaking up sod in those remote corners of some small yards that the dozer operator ran out of fill or didnt see a drainage problem

if money is no problem and lot sizes stay small I would next invest in a power rake.
harley is the best known but landpride makes a couple styles to.

after you are tired of pushing a broadcaster for seeding and puling a roller by hand to push the seed in, I would get the 3pt brillion type seeder.

when lawn sizes start getting above an acre, opt for a 3pt fertilizer spreader, goosen or finn straw blower, extra hand or two, worker comp insurance, withholding tax forms, osha visits, 30 foot gooseneck and i ton pickup to haul allthat iron to the job site....

dont forget to establish a relationship to a good wholesale seed and fert. supplier, farmer for straw etc.

 

[Agentiron]

I understand what you fellas are saying about junk being just below the surface. I have found everything but Jimmy Hoffa's burial spot, and I have had very limited experience with new construction.

I do total lawn maintenence and understand the importance of a good soil base and believed that tilling would be the best way to break up compaction. That being said, with the clay
we have tilling is probably futile as it will become compacted in short order anyway. Probably just wasting my time with the tiller as you folks mentioned.

Farmerwithjunk

Could you give any more details on your process? I wonder if you use all those tools on every install, or if it was a priority list of those tools relative importance. Would you use the box scraper on a property that is already finish grade, or would you use it to get a finished grade?

Thanks for your time folks.

 

[Agentiron]

rdln

Great post! Thank you!

I have never done any finish gradeing, but imagine with some practice it is not hard. It definately would be the most profitable, and prodcutive method.

I also see the appeal of the pulverisor, and even wonder how the pulverisor/renovater would perform? Seems like it would be a great tool, although I realize it is not a substitute for a harley rake.

Most of the lots will be either 1/4 acre or 1/2 acre's. Can the finish grade be effectively accomplished with a ck20 size unit?
Any other thoughts would be great!

 

[beenthere]

For a single 3pt tool (assumming you have the FEL with bucket) I would vote for the Harley rake (or powered rake). The attachment shows a lawn roughed by the builder, and the only attachment used was the Harley rake. After the rake, seed was broadcast and lightly hand-raked in to cover. Then watered. This was an area that had experienced hard rains and some erosion. The first pass with the Harley rake was when the soil was pretty wet, but the air dried it quickly after the first pass. Later, a second pass left a suitable bed for seeding. There are more tools that can be used, as already mentioned. But if I only had one tool, it would be the Harley rake, no question.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I've graded a few yards myself. (Dad was a home builder) I've watched literally thousands of yards being finished while I was pounding nails INSIDE the house. And now I'm back to grading a few yards every summer. I don't do it as a profession, but I see dozens of contractors who do.

Start with a box blade. The basic tool. Shapes and grades. You almost always start with one on the back of the tractor in order to shape and fill.

Harley rake. If you've ever seen one in action, you'll know where I'm coming from. They can take a gravel lot and turn it into a lawn in one pass. Fast, easy, and did I say fast? The biggest single developement in finish grading since the hand rake.

Fertilizer spreader. Relatively cheap in the grand scheme of things. Can be used to seed with also.

Pulverizer. Before the power rake, (Harley), this was the "finishing tool" for all finish graders. Still carries a big load.

Power seeder. Not only faster, but you get better results than broadcast seeding. Your work will be judged on what it looks like after the grass grows in. Here's a way to make your work look good.

And then a tiller. (Not on first list) My advice? Buy a CHEAP one. You'll finally destry ANY tiller you use around new construction. Might as well make that a smaller hit when it happens. Plan on replacing every few years if you use it much.

And YES, the tractor MUST include that loader.

 

[Agentiron]

Great information fellas, thank you.

Farmwithjunk, I will have a front loader for sure, but you have to tell me why it is so vital?

Does anyone have a cheap harley rake laying around? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Well, maybe I should move the tiller down the wish list. I have access to a 47" Kioti tiller with light use for 800. It sounds like a pretty good deal. I wonder how well a 20hp tractor will turn the Harley rake.

Thanks again