Wet field to yard...

DavidVT · Mar 8, 2011

Not wanted to hijack another thread (http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/197599-turn-field-into-yard.html), I have started this one.

My interest is in seeking advice for turning some of my very wet fields into lawn. The other thread debates the tiller vs plow issues and is great for that.

In my case I need to resolve the water issues first. I have several areas that I can't even cross with my tractor at this point. We put in a drain around this old pasture years ago and that helped a little.

The property is full of springs and seems in the worst places to be a thin layer of topsoil over clay. The areas where I get into trouble feel like jello when you walk on them.

Ideas?

Western · Mar 9, 2011

I think I would contact your local Soil Conservation office and see if they can come out. They should be able to give you good, on site information.

With the springs involved you may more than the "ordinary" drainage problem.

Just a thought.

Baby Grand · Mar 9, 2011

You may be on top of an old lake bed.
Are you near the CT River?

Glacial Lake Hitchcock

I would definitely call the local Soil Conservation office, as Western suggested. What looks like a problem may actually be an asset.

DavidVT · Mar 9, 2011

Interesting input. Thank you.

When we first moved to the home, we had a parking area created in an area of the pasture that seemed stable. The top soil was pulled off and replaced with a thick bed of stones. At the end of the day it looked great and supported the massive excavator just fine.

The next morning we looked out over our new parking lot. We were shocked to see strange mounds had formed in this thick stone packed lot. Apparently underground water had pushed up the stones.

The contractor had to return and dig deep ditches, install drainage pipe and back fill. The problem never returned, but it demonstrates the amount of water I am dealing with.

Western · Mar 9, 2011

David,

To bad it's not oil my friend! I don't know what the rules are where you live as far as "wetlands" go, but I would definitely get the folks out I recommended above.

You may have a better place for a nice pond full of trout or walleye

and you don't have to mow!!!