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Existing lawn leveling
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Posted by
Ibanez540r 6 - NE Ohio (
My Page) on
Sun, Aug 5, 12 at 3:04
| I completed my front lawn rehab last fall and I've planned to kill out my 1960's back lawn here shortly and seed near the targeted labor day weekend. It's about 7000 sq. ft and has a slight grade from the house down towards the back of the property line. The lawn area, not including border beds, measures about 100' deep by 80' wide with a pool in the one corner taking away lawn area. After thinking about it, I figured while I was at it I should level the lawn as well as it has some rolling hills/bumps and areas are quite harsh while on the rider. My kids will be of the age to be playing back there quite a bit next year so figured I should make it decent.
What's the best way to go... tractor with a box blade, harley rake, ??? It seems like the box blade is the most diverse, but I'm also reading it takes some practice to get results. I've ran skidsteers, backhoes, etc. a fair amount, but nothing full time and no experience with a box blade. I'll be renting the equipment for at least $300/day, and 1 day is the budget, so what's my best option?
I'm not looking for perfection, just want the down hill grade to be smooth & uniform without the rolling bumps. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Existing lawn leveling
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| ...BTW I don't plan on bringing in any additional soil. I'm hoping to knock down the high spots and pull them through the low. After I'll just run in multiple directions to get the best I can. |
RE: Existing lawn leveling
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| I have no experience with either the harley rake or box blade, but my experience with leveling a lwan is that it is much easier to add fill in the low spots than it is to knock down high spots into the low spots when there is sod from the high spots to contend with as the sod just wont level out-- I've spent a ton of time removing the sod to make the lawn smooth. Whatever you decide to do, I suggest you consider how you are going ro address and eliminate the sod you bring up. I think I'd consider turcking in some sharp sand and use a box blade to smooth out the yard. |
RE: Existing lawn leveling
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| I didnt really consider the sod being clumpy when broken up. I'm not sure if that will be an issue if everything is killed out with RU. Thanks for the heads IP though. Maybe someone will chime in. Also I'm pretty sure sand is unacceptable up here with cool season grasses. |
RE: Existing lawn leveling
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| So after more research, and going out back to realize the humps aren't as dramatic as I was thinking, I'm definitely going with a skidsteer. Now just a matter of harley rake, rock hound, etc. |
RE: Existing lawn leveling
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RE: Existing lawn leveling
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| When I was in college I worked part time for my brother in law who did finish grading. I never saw either the Rockhound or the Harley rake. Those are cool tools, though. Either one would make the use of a skidsteer practical. The bobcat and skidsteer are horrible for certain tasks. Pulling a box blade effectively is nearly impossible, but those tools have their own wheels. Either one would probably work for you. Cool season grasses grow fine in sand. Ask the people near the Great Lakes. |
RE: Existing lawn leveling
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| Thanks Dchall - I was pretty thorough while researching and the harley rake is definitely going to fit the bill. I'll be able to grade and leave a perfect seed bed after a little clean up of rocks. Now that that is decided, I've got a lot to do with not a whole lot of time! Will be spreading a large pile of dirt left from my pool install, putting down 20tons of river rock in a border bed, then prepping the lawn area with the Harley rake. I better get to the round-up soon... (Hope I can pull it off with the 1 day with the machine) ...and then dealing with not letting the dogs use the backyard for several weeks while me seed establishes. Gonna be fun. ...It takes me about 25min. to get to Lake Erie. Although I'm sure I've seen grass growing through or near sand, it isn't "normal" around my area to use sand for lawns. Probably because this area of Ohio there's lots of clay and anyone doing anything worth while I'd assume would use something more beneficial? Dunno, Great lakes are a HUGE area so I'm sure others it is more common. |
RE: Existing lawn leveling
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| I would drag the Harley rake behind the skidsteer (or drive it in reverse) and just keep moving. The video I saw showed a guy backing up and going over the same spot many times. What for? Just get it done once and then evaluate whether you need to go over it a second time or go over it cross ways (probably a good idea). When we had a pool installed, my mom asked to have the dirt piled up for a raised garden. I've seen others pile the dirt up and grow grass over it. They didn't just drop piles. They blended them into the landscape to retain proper drainage. Know in advance that raised beds like that dry out fast and are hard to keep moist. |
RE: Existing lawn leveling
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| Just got done spraying everything down with Pronto Big N Tuf. Let's see how she does. |
RE: Existing lawn leveling
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| You won't be able to mount a harley rake on the back of a skidsteer. They used a harley rake on my yard, it was pretty cool to watch. It turned my rock hard Georgia red clay into a fine dust about 3-4" deep. The one used on my yard had to large wheel out in front of it, which limited how close it could get to an obstacle like a fence. The operator (you) control how fast the rake spins. Good luck! |
RE: Existing lawn leveling
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| ^ Correct, they are only front mounted. Actually, anything that has to do with a skidsteer is front mounted. |
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