What implement?

[MadMax31]

This is my yard after the walkway was done. The ruts are 2-8" deep. The yard was rock picked and tilled before topsoil was brought in for hydroseed.

In order to smooth it out again, what implement would be best? I have voicemails at 3 landscapers who have harleyrakes, but none have returned my call.

I have a BX23S, not an L. We already talked about renting a rototiller for another project.

Thanks for any insight!

 

[MadMax31]

Obligatory tractor pic

 

[Missouribound]

A better question is who did the walkway? If that's you then shame on you. You won't do much until it dries up but a box. blade may help you move things back where they should be....and an FEL.

 

[MadMax31]

Hired a mason recommended by a friend. He finished on a friday, dropped of that litle pile of "topsoil" on Monday and asked where his check was.... Im more upset about it than my Wife is, and I was expecting this.... The jackwagon couldnt be bothered to lay a few sheets of plywood for the cement truck to lesson the damage.

 

[groomerbuck]

If that were my project id start over. Id strip the top soil/ sod from damaged area, reestablish sub grade and spread the top soil. All can be done with just your loader.

 

[Creature Meadow]

I believe I am a reasonable person and have worked in construction for years.

If my problem I would give him half the money now and the other have after he fixes or hires someone to fix your yard.

If he refuses then short pay him for your time to fix or what a contractor would charge.

To your question once it dries your FEL should be adequate to level back out .

 

[MadMax31]

Thats the problem with our soil, its concrete. If a skid steer cant dig more than 2 inches my tractor wont be of much help. This was all skimmed over by a 60 ton bull dozer after sections of house were dropped. We brought in roughly 100 yards of top soil so the grass had something to grow on and kids wouldnt need stitches every time they fell in the yard.

Finally got a call from the one landscaper whose opinion I really wanted. Find out Monday how much my mason cost me...

 

[Tooljunkie]

Guess "dont trash my yard "should have been in initial negotiations. Tiller. The price of a concrete pump would have been about the same as paying a landscaper to fix the aftermath. Difference is not waiting for grass to grow back.

 

[skeets]

Maybe the best implement would be a letter to him from your lawyer

 

[Missouribound]

Hired a mason recommended by a friend..

Here's an idea....see if your friend has a landscaper he recommends. What could possibly go wrong?

 

[groomerbuck]

Top soil will NEVER compact. So just regrade it. You could have that all fixed up in a half day with your bx.

 

[427cjackson]

I would use a box blade and FEL...till it if you need to break up the sod and smooth it out again.

 

[Steve Neul]

There are a number of different ways that could be fixed. I think once the ground has dried a tractor with a front loader could smooth that out. A box blade would be better but just a blade would do it also. To me it looks like it needs a lot more dirt brought in. Fresh dirt would make it easier too.

 

[MadMax31]

I tried skimming the tops of ruts with loader. Just stopped tractor in its tracks and spun out. The ruts have revealed the shale and hardpan that is my "soil". We joke that we didnt buy 16 acres of land, but a quarry.

Ive been thinking about a boxblade for the driveway, it might help tear up clay tracks?

 

[sheepfarmer]

Max when you tried your loader did you try back blading it? Shouldn't spin out unless it is still very wet. If you adjust the angle of the bucket you can just shift the tops of the ruts a little at a time. Put some new topsoil on it and pull it back over the ruts to smooth it out.

 

[MadMax31]

So, in my boredom waiting for landscapers to never show up, I hit it with the loader. Pushed and pulled from the sides and then backbladed lengthwise. It rained hard last night so the clay was mushy and workable. Actually flattened out better than I thought.

Wait for it to dry a bit and spread some topsoil around.