TRACTOR PARTS Allis Chalmers Case & David Brown Farmall & International Ferguson Ford & New Holland John Deere Massey Ferguson Massey Harris Minneapolis Moline Oliver & Cockshutt Kubota / Yanmar

TRACTOR MANUALS

Allis Chalmers	Case	Farmall IH	Ford 8N,9N,2N	Ford
Ferguson	John Deere	Massey Ferguson	Minn. Moline	Oliver

Discussion Forum

Question on planting grass on rough ground

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register

Author

Richard Fazio

04-23-2001 10:20:37

Report to Moderator

I've got a question for you farmer types. On my hobby farm I'm trying to smooth out a large area and seed with grass. I had it stumped and smoothed it the best I can with the 2N and a back blade. It's still so rough though. The soil here in middle NY state is full of clay. When it's wet it's so soft I sink in with the tractor. Then once it dries it's hard as rock. I caught it in the middle and sort of smoothed it a bit but if I planted grass I would never be able to mow it with a finish mower. What should I do to get that smooth golf course look. Any one got experience here. Thanks

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

tlak

04-24-2001 08:52:09

Report to Moderator

Re: Question on planting grass on rough ground in reply to Richard Fazio, 04-23-2001 10:20:37

Its like Dell said but theres some home made tools that will work. I have two 10" pipes with two short chains connecting them together then a V chain to pull them with, works well. Also a car hood or trunk lid with a chain to pull it used as a rock sled. The more rocks you pile on the flatter the ground will be.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Dell (WA)

04-23-2001 18:38:52

Report to Moderator

Re: Question on planting grass on rough ground in reply to Richard Fazio, 04-23-2001 10:20:37

Fazzie..... ..thats what discs are all about. All those 16" wheels are slicing and diceing and smoothing, then maybe backdraggin' a landscape rake..... .But the real key is a roller.

I have a "cultipacker" roller, looks like a bunch of castiron railroad wheels side-by-side on a sloppy fitting axle (allows the individual wheel to ride up over big rocks). After you whirlie-gig spread your recommended pasture seed, you then roll the seed into the soil with you roller. Grass seed just needs a little bit of soil cover, plus the packer makes the soil firm and that wick transfers soil moisture up to the seed.

There are a lot of good web pages put up by state ag depts, check 'em out with a search engine..... ...Dell

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

jerry

04-23-2001 15:49:02

Report to Moderator

Re: Question on planting grass on rough ground in reply to Richard Fazio, 04-23-2001 10:20:37

If you could get some topsoil brought in, you could knock down the large hills and then manicure with the topsoil, do it close to fall and seed with rye grass( grows really fast and roots stay in ground through summer and help prevent erosion).

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

bj/8N/mt

04-23-2001 15:42:12

Report to Moderator

Re: Question on planting grass on rough ground in reply to Richard Fazio, 04-23-2001 10:20:37

not sure about New York but most places you have a county ag agent that you help support taxwise

get him/her out and pick their brain

your mileage may vary

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Dave 50 8N

04-23-2001 12:40:20

Report to Moderator

Re: Question on planting grass on rough ground in reply to Richard Fazio, 04-23-2001 10:20:37

I'm kinda where you are. I seeded after bulldozing old pond berms and tried to level out areas. The field was just too lumpy and rocky for the kids to play on. I'm planning to redo it before the ground "sets up." My approach will probably include box scraper/rippers and landscape rake.

Before you get ready to plant, contact your local farm supply for suggestions on what you might plant or add to your local soil.

On my first attempt at this, I suggested fertilizer, not knowing I was speaking to an organic type person. She was kind, but suggested an organic approach (this is, after all, Kalifornia), calcium, phosphate, and clover to add nitrogen. That summer I had a green, lush, lumpy field, that yielded a good crop of complements from passerbys. .
.
But the kids still wouldn't play on it. ha!

good luck!

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Charles (Mo)

04-23-2001 18:34:42

Report to Moderator

Re: Re: Question on planting grass on rough ground in reply to Dave 50 8N, 04-23-2001 12:40:20

Hey Jerry, I have to agree with Bg/8n. Your best bet would be to contact your County Extension office. They probably have an agronomist or some other staff person who could answer all your questions. I don't know about N.Y. state but here in Mo. they are located at the county seat courthouse. I have taken soil samples to them to be analyzed for fertilizer and acidity. If you do cover the ground with a good topsoil, be sure you have it thick enough to support the roots of the grass, otherwise your grass will come up but will die quickly. I know this from experience. There is nothing like spending money to learn a lesson.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Pitch

04-23-2001 12:03:31

Report to Moderator

Re: Question on planting grass on rough ground in reply to Richard Fazio, 04-23-2001 10:20:37

I'm in the Finger Lakes I juast bought a lot a couple of years ago. It was in corn the year previous so I bought a 5 foot disc an ran the N crazy for about two weeks cutting and breaking it up. I then rented a York rake found a guy let me have it 25 bucks from Fri noon till Monday noon, raked like mad for three days. I seeded it with rye grass in October Came out great.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Luc VanOverberghe

04-23-2001 11:55:01

Report to Moderator

Re: Question on planting grass on rough ground in reply to Richard Fazio, 04-23-2001 10:20:37

I to live in a heavy clay area and understand the problems you have with it. My approach was let it dry, so you can drive on it without getting stuck, use a "hard tooth culivator" to break up the top two inches, wait a couple of days till it dries up enough to break chunks when you drive over it, use your blade, but drag it back wards (it will break the chunks but not dig in). Now the biggest chunks were 1 inch. Then I seeded! One winter and a lot of rain broke up the last of the chunks, it is smooth and drains to the swails as good as anything!

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Richard Fazio

04-23-2001 18:18:39

Report to Moderator

Re: Re: Question on planting grass on rough ground in reply to Luc VanOverberghe, 04-23-2001 11:55:01

I like your method but how do you seed on dry rock hard clay? Just seed and hope for the best? Or did you use some sort of mulch like hay.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

LucVan(On)

04-26-2001 08:39:17

Report to Moderator

Re: Re: Re: Question on planting grass on rough ground in reply to Richard Fazio, 04-23-2001 18:18:39

In dry spells it does get rock hard. Last spring/summer was particularily wet. This was the only thing that allowed for the grass to germinate. I have seen persons watering huge fields, I can't see the sence in that. This year the grass is growing well and I cut it yesterday, it looks good. I have overseeded it alrready as it is not very thick, it will take a couple of years for this. This is a one acre lot that is my front, side and back yard.

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Luc VanOverberghe

04-23-2001 11:54:51

Report to Moderator

Re: Question on planting grass on rough ground in reply to Richard Fazio, 04-23-2001 10:20:37

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

Chuck

04-23-2001 11:33:05

Report to Moderator

Re: Question on planting grass on rough ground in reply to Richard Fazio, 04-23-2001 10:20:37

I say, go ahead and seed it with a pasture grass, maybe Kentucky 31. Growing grass even in rough area will stop a lot of erosion and then brush hog it once or twice a year. Leave the cut grass to improve the soil and it should smooth out considerably in a couple of seasons. Good luck

[Log in to Reply] [No Email]

[Options] [Printer Friendly] [Posting Help] [Return to Forum] [Log in to Reply]

TRACTOR PARTS	TRACTOR MANUALS

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home | Forums

Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy