Recommendations on better grading

[IronRyan]

This isn't really a tractor question, more of a farming question. Let me set the stage real quick.. I had 4 acres of woods cleared in march of this year. My wife and I are planning on starting a vineyard with planning on planting grapes in early 2024. Ive seeded the field and it's starting to come up nicely. But where the large trees and root balls were, the ground is already getting uneven. in some places it undulates like a belly dancer, I'm thinking about working it up this fall and re sow it. My question is, what would be the best way to do this? I have some attachments, landscape rake, yard box, disc harrow, roto tiller, along with the FEL. Should i disc it then rake it, or should i till it all up and use the rake? I'll post a few pictures, hopefully they will look ok.
Thanks,

Ryan

 

[jimh406]

I would use a tiller to loosen the soil then run use the rake. The disc won't break all of the clods up.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

If you want it smooth then get a land plane.
If you just want to take out the sharp dips, and make it rolling dips, rototill and landscape rake it.

 

[D2Cat]

Rake it first to get all the loose stuff out of the way!

 

[IronRyan]

If you want it smooth then get a land plane.
If you just want to take out the sharp dips, and make it rolling dips, rototill and landscape rake it.

If you want it smooth then get a land plane.
If you just want to take out the sharp dips, and make it rolling dips, rototill and landscape rake it.

I want it like a baby's butt! Thanks, I'll look into buying one

 

[woodman55]

rake it, till it, land plane it.

 

[Motion]

If you just cleared this land in March of this year and didn't the larger roots and tree balls out, you'll have divots for years to come, not to mention what insects will be feeding on the rotting wood and the effect it may have on your grape varieties. The balls need to come out and then subsoil it many times, removing all organic material each time, so there's nothing left in the ground. Unless you're planning on installing an irrigation system, consider having someone laser level the area. In the meantime, take several soil samples so you can start adding amendment for the desired use. In my opinion "early 2024" is a push.

 

[IronRyan]

If you just cleared this land in March of this year and didn't the larger roots and tree balls out, you'll have divots for years to come, not to mention what insects will be feeding on the rotting wood and the effect it may have on your grape varieties. The balls need to come out and then subsoil it many times, removing all organic material each time, so there's nothing left in the ground. Unless you're planning on installing an irrigation system, consider having someone laser level the area. In the meantime, take several soil samples so you can start adding amendment for the desired use. In my opinion "early 2024" is a push.

Thanks for the info, they did remove all the root balls when they excavated and i do have a subsoiler, forgot to mention that. I was planning on subsoiling it after the grass gets a little more established, so i was on the same page there. Its on a slope so keeping the topsoil from washing was my major concern. Planned on soil testing in a few weeks when i've recovered from my knee replacement a couple weeks ago, yes getting old sucks. Hopefully i can get everything ready by late winter. Thanks

 

[GreensvilleJay]

subsoil N->S, then E>W several times,wait 2-3 days..
disc N>S, E>W several times, wait 2-3 days
rototill,again N>S,E>W several times
drag a long bar and chains,over and over....

farmers here use discs with 'rolling baskets' which really help to level out their fields. they go N>S, then E>W,then NW>SE,SW>NE.
the more passes you make the better it gets,so when you say 'great I'm done' take one more pass

really you have ONE real chance of getting it GREAT, for years to come ,because after you setup for grapes ,you're 'done'. Have a relative with grapes in the Niagara Fruit belt, spent a year getting the field 'just right'. Has paid off big time,now very easy to maintain and harvesting,even 'ice wine grapes', is easy.

 

[IronRyan]

subsoil N->S, then E>W several times,wait 2-3 days..
disc N>S, E>W several times, wait 2-3 days
rototill,again N>S,E>W several times
drag a long bar and chains,over and over....

farmers here use discs with 'rolling baskets' which really help to level out their fields. they go N>S, then E>W,then NW>SE,SW>NE.
the more passes you make the better it gets,so when you say 'great I'm done' take one more pass

really you have ONE real chance of getting it GREAT, for years to come ,because after you setup for grapes ,you're 'done'. Have a relative with grapes in the Niagara Fruit belt, spent a year getting the field 'just right'. Has paid off big time,now very easy to maintain and harvesting,even 'ice wine grapes', is easy.

Totally agree with the one chance to make it right, i'm definitely wanting to make things as easy to maintain for the future. Good plan, thanks