Repairing ruts in clay mud?

[fc1]

So, I'm new at this, and learning, and I've made a mess of my side yard running my tractor in the rain. Deep clay, turns to mud, run the tractor, make some ruts. I've had some luck backdragging with the bucket to smooth my mess, but I wonder if there are better ways?

Obviously, avoiding the issue to start is a superior option but I'm not certain it will always be available, so I could use some pointers in how to smooth out my rutted mess.

Thanks in advance!

 

[D2Cat]

If you drive the tractor in the rutted area and make any depth of rut you just have to wait until it dries up some. No options. Weight in mud creates ruts. You need no rain and a strong wind!!

 

[jaxs]

An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure,. stay to he** off the yard with your tractor when it's wet. After things dry out import friable soil and use a box blade to smooth everything out. BACK DRAG! What makes you think you can do what you see operators with years of experience doing? Box blades are the best tool for greenhorns to level dirt.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

In the 'long term'.
... turn the clay into 'earth' and then a lawn. Yes, this will take time but you'll end up with a lawn that' you can drive on.

 

[mikester]

rent a powered landscape rake

 

[johnjk]

I’ve rutted the snot out of areas needing to get through when conditions aren’t favorable. Our soil is 99% clay and 1% rocks. Other than having a pile of dirt for filling ruts, I tend to widen my travel so I’m pushing the squished out soil back in. Some may say I’m just making a bigger mess which is true. If you have a box blade that works great to pull that dirt back in when it dries out. I’ve also had luck with adding in scoops of wood chips and then driving over them. You still sink but not as bad and they firm the area up somewhat. Bonus is they break down over time unlike rocks. Back dragging IMHO doesn’t do anything with wet clay ruts. The bucket is too light and if you get any sort of down force on it, up comes the front wheels. If you can get perpendicular to the ruts with the FEL, you could possibly scoop up what you pushed out and deposit it back in the rut.

 

[jaxs]

It becomes increasingly difficult with each passing day to find simple solutions to problems. As long as dirt and water has been making mud you would think someone out there in cyberspace would have a simple answer.

 

[Grandad4]

How you fix it depends on whether you expect to use it in the future and, if so, whether it needs to be available in bad wheather.

 

[Mark_BX25D]

Prevention is key, but once you have the problem, I think you should give a good look at the Ratchet Rake.

I love mine! It's great for fixing ruts and for maintaining my gravel driveway and road. Does a great job on potholes.

 

[fc1]

Thanks to all who responded- having mixed success with repeated backblading but the real key is probably just letting it dry out some. We'll get 5 or 6 days with no rain and then one or two with .25-1"; not gonna dry real thorough under those conditions!

 

[jaxs]

Thanks to all who responded- having mixed success with repeated backblading but the real key is probably just letting it dry out some. We'll get 5 or 6 days with no rain and then one or two with .25-1"; not gonna dry real thorough under those conditions!

THAT sounds like a plan, mud is difficult to do anything with.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

patience...gotta have patience.
know someone who tilled up their 1ac veggie patch when wet
it compacted so bad he had a very dismal crop
I'd waited 5 days and couldn't give away the 'bounty' fast enough.