Which implement do I need?

[jmt1271]

I have 10 acres and a Kubota L2501.

3 acres in pasture for 2 horses, ~2 wooded and the rest lawn.

I need to know what implement would be best for seeding and overseeding.

The pasture is "established" but definitely needs help. The lawn is good in about 80 percent of the yard but needs help in the rest. Some bare spots in the backyard. Especially on slopes.

I'm wondering what implement would be best to get me as close to a single or double pass operation to rough up the soil sufficiently for seed, and sow the seed.

If it's some type of seed drill that's super expensive, I will rent, assuming there's something that'll run off a 25hp tractor.

But I'd prefer to purchase something like a soil pulverizer if it'll do the trick. Or something along those lines.

Even if I need to go over everything a second pass with a Spreader to get down the seed.

I'm in Central eastern MO. And only implements on hand are 60 inch rotary cutter, LP grader scraper, and an 8 foot 3 point chain harrow. The harrow could rough up the ground I think, just not sure how much.


Any thoughts fellas?

 

[Industrial Toys]

A seeder and overseeder are within the domain of the turf care specialist. Very expensive stuff! I see the stuff at municipal auctions but have never seen them at rental yards.

It's the here and there problems that are the hardest. Often it would be easier just to do the whole thing. Till it up, smooth it out and plant seed.

I have a 3ph 8 foot Harley rake, which is great at making a seed bed but best over a big area. Then sow seed with a walk behind spreader, pull the smooth side of a chain harrow over it, or some chain link fence and roll it flat for best seed contact.

 

[jmt1271]

A seeder and overseeder are within the domain of the turf care specialist. Very expensive stuff! I see the stuff at municipal auctions but have never seen them at rental yards.

It's the here and there problems that are the hardest. Often it would be easier just to do the whole thing. Till it up, smooth it out and plant seed.

I have a 3ph 8 foot Harley rake, which is great at making a seed bed but best over a big area. Then sow seed with a walk behind spreader, pull the smooth side of a chain harrow over it, or some chain link fence and roll it flat for best seed contact.

Would love a Harley rake. But way out of budget and requires more tractor than I have.

 

[jeff9366]

Horses can pack down a pasture so hard grass gradually declines. Is your soil hard? Does it require aeration?
There are many forms of aerators. I use a Field Cultivator in moist soil. PHOTOS.
Field Cultivator preserves existing grass.

If you have irrigation pipes in your lawn, a plug aerator is less aggressive.

VENDER: 3-Point All Purpose Chisel Plows
IOWA FARM EQUIPMENT (GO TO TILLAGE) Iowa Farm Equipment


A Chain Harrows will loosen the surface, which may be all you need in the pasture. Pull the Chain Harrow set in its most aggressive orientation and see what a pass or two accomplishes.

For your turf, mow very short then pull the Chain Harrow set in its least aggressive orientation to dethatch and scuff the turf surface. Removing the thatch will increase seed germination and take.

Here is an overseeder. Pointless to seed unless the ground is prepared, pH correct and fertilized. I recommend a soil test.
FERGUSON "YARDMAKER": Aerator Products

 

[oosik]

I made a home made "drag" There are LARGE spikes on the leading and trailing 4x4 members. I hook a rope yolk and drag it behind my ATV. Hand spread seed - turn the "drag" over and pull to cover & compact.

It doesn't produce professional results but if you do it a couple times, over the summer - it works well, looks good.

View attachment 585046

 

[jmt1271]

Horses can pack down a pasture so hard grass gradually declines. Is your soil hard? Does it require aeration?
There are many forms of aerators. I use a Field Cultivator in moist soil. PHOTOS.
Field Cultivator preserves existing grass.

If you have irrigation pipes in your lawn, a plug aerator is less aggressive.

VENDER: 3-Point All Purpose Chisel Plows
IOWA FARM EQUIPMENT (GO TO TILLAGE) Iowa Farm Equipment


A Chain Harrows will loosen the surface, which may be all you need in the pasture. Pull the Chain Harrow set in its most aggressive orientation and see what a pass or two accomplishes.

Here is an overseeder. Pointless to seed unless the ground is prepared, pH correct and fertilized. I recommend a soil test.
FERGUSON "YARDMAKER": Aerator Products

Yes sir, definitely going to test the soil.

 

[mcfarmall]

Rented a Gill overseeder by Woods many years back. In my case it was a big waste of money as my yard still sucked. Your results may vary.

 

[Buxus]

Not sure if this is too slow a process for you, but this is the way I do it:

Starting in July I use a 25 gallon sprayer from TractorSupply to kill the area I plan to seed in the fall. I use dye in the spray to make sure I get it all. I go over any spots that don't die in August. Then I mow it super short with my zero turn. This is the only time I use the grass catcher when mowing (other than in the fall). It does a good job of leaving mostly bare dirt or close to it. Then in September I use an old Ryan slit seeder I bought used (you could rent one) with no seed in it to create a nice seed bed. Then I use a Scott's spreader to put seed down over the prepared area. I don't irrigate at all.

I am gradually replacing all the lawn on my 32 acres (lots wooded) to get rid of the wire grass. Looks fantastic by November.

If I could rent a seed drill I'd probably substitute that for my Ryan slit seeder in the open areas that I have not gotten to yet.

 

[Industrial Toys]

There is a current on-line auction and I will probably try and buy a 3PH offset disk, to deal with areas that are not even and have grass on them. We have a ton of stones, so it may not be as easy as I imagine. Then drag it. I may not even use the Harley.

 

[jeff9366]

Then I use a Scott's spreader to put seed down over the prepared area.

My neighbor uses a Scott's plastic, hand-held, broadcast seeder, which cost about $18.00. He can really sow grass seed evenly in his pasture with that little green plastic spinner.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That's all I use, unless I really have a larger area. Seed is expensive, and you can control and see where it's going with the hand crank spreader. Eventually, your hand will fall off though.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

What tools to use ??

I can give you an example of the problem I've been working on in one of our pastures here in the north.
It was reclaimed forest and bush about 20 years ago. It was seeded with a pasture blend of the time, used for hay, and grazed lightly. Then it was not used for about 10 years.

Much of the hay quality plants have not survived because of inattention I suspect. And bush brush has started to take back over.
My plan the last 3 years has been to brush hog mow every bit of it at least once a year. Some patches more often depending for instance, if I find thistle. I over seed with admittedly a cheap generic type pasture blend and annual rye. This is the best plan to eventually replace many plants I don't want with things livestock will eat. All on the cheap.

So my implements are a brush hog mower, disk, harrow, and a sub soil shank I use in places I want winter melt to drain faster or places I want maximum snow melt to go into the ground.

Regardless how you spread seed, the biggest thing is light cover on the seed, or good firm contact of the seed on the ground.

My 5 cents of experience and opinion.

 

[jmt1271]

My pasture is about 2.5 acres right now but the lawn areas I'd like to hit probably total less than an acre.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Buckaroo. I don't hear anything you say. How does that impact gender discrimination? Maybe only a sane Canadian will understand this question?

 

[searcyfarms]

hello i live in Missouri, 2.5 acres for 2 horses will be nothing but dirt after spring rains and once they eat if off and wear it down it will not recover until the next spring and get thinner and thinner you will not be able to maintain 2.5 acres for 2 horses period sorry to bear the news.

i had 2 horses on 6 acres here and they will eat it slick after spring and pack it down hard. i haven't had horses in about 4 yrs now and its just recovering w/out any work on my part on its own other than keep the weeds out by 24d the first two yrs now I'm mowing it back two times a yr to help stimulate growth and the timothy, clover, brome are doing well although i do have some patches of foxtail that i need to deal with - mow it slick as u can, cut it up with light disking or scratch it up with field conditioner, again, i wouldn't bother to waste my money or time on trying to keep it going if horses are on it constant and you do not or are not able to remove them from it for months at a time because it will never recover enough to be worthwhile of your money/expense/time

its horrible what horses will do to a pasture if you don't keep them off it, the only thing worse is a hog, they get it by the roots !!!!

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

Buckaroo. I don't hear anything you say. How does that impact gender discrimination? Maybe only a sane Canadian will understand this question?

I have no idea what or how this applies to this thread. Are you sure you put this in the right place ??

 

[Industrial Toys]

It would seem that our PMs only concerns about, just about anything, is only how it might relate to Gender Discrimination. Maybe the news of our Prime Minister (Zoolander) hasn't reached you up there yet. Or how his eyebrows fell off his face when giving a speech at some summit!

 

[oosik]

WoW, IT. There must be a news article that neither Wyobuckaroo nor I have yet seen. Ah....on this, I will agree with Wyo. Perhaps a link......??

Wyobuckaroo - be careful with the way you manage the thistle areas. For our area - thistle usually means, freshly turned ground. The State Dept of Agriculture has some very specific recommendation so that the thistle won't simply spread. I am talking about Canadian Bull Thistle. For years I used a combo of - chop it down & RoundUp. In the short term it always looked like I was making progress. Long term - it was spreading.

I'm not trying to tell you what or how to do - just check for your area and see what the best local advice is. Thistle can be pretty tricky.

I turned a small patch of land - perhaps, 100 x 150. It became a thistle patch overnight. I've worked on this area now for almost four years. Finally, I'm winning and it's on the way back to native grasses.