Yard needs smoothing tool

[BAP]

Sounds like you have a rear blade. If you do, spin the blade 180 degrees and drag it around backwards to smooth with.

 

[RDinNHandAZ]

Thanks, I do have a 5’ back blade and that is what I have used to get the lawn like it is. However it does not take out the undulations and tends to tear up sod clumps. If I fill a spot with loam it helps a lot but really does not do a smooth enough job to keep me from bouncing along as I mow. Speed does not matter either. I have been using it for about 10 years occasionally to level as I fill so it isn’t like I haven’t tried.
Maybe I am being too fussy as the yard looks flat mostly, but it really is bumpy. For the obvious hummocks and holes the blade works to get close to what I’d like I just think it could be really smooth.

 

[DustyRusty]

If you want it to be a golf course smooth, you are going to need to start over, and a professional do the work for you. I had a hydroseed company do my field, and they came in with a Harley rake and used it for 2 days before it was good enough for seeding. Ten years later, I still am pulling rocks out every spring and filling in the holes with loam. This summer was so dry that a lot of the grass went brown, and I didn't have to cut it. I just hope that it comes back next string because reseeding it is going to be very expensive.

 

[RDinNHandAZ]

Thanks for making that clear. I will not be paying anyone to rip it out and start new. It is green and we have had enough rain to keep it green. I’ll keep picking the surface rocks, filling the low places and occasionally scraping off he high spots that have been there since the beginning. I’ll buy a small load of loam each year and try the drag on a small area now to see if I can improve the bumpiness. I have about three yards of loam now to experiment with. I’m so cheap that spending the $76 for the drag was a hard decision. No way am I throwing real money at it.

 

[Mark_BX25D]

I like your plan.

Keep us posted?

 

[Fladogman]

I just load the bucket with dirt, shake a little out over the holes and back drag with the bucket flat in the float position. It's quick and easy then move on to the next spot. It works on spot areas but if it's the majority of the yard, tear it up, level it and reseed. Otherwise you'll worry with it from now on. Just My opinion

 

[CGMKCM]

For those who are willing to spend a little $$$ a 3 point mounted pulverizer is an excellent tool for leveling and prepping soil for planting. It also does a great job on gravel driveways. I picked up a used one for $400 at an estate sale.

 

[19thSF]

I have a load of screened loam to get my yard smoothed out. The lawn/yard has lots of small holes and is rough enough that 2 hours of mowing leaves me with a sore back from the bumpy ride. I read that spreading the loam thinly with the FEL and dragging a leveler is one way of getting it better. I don’t want to loose the lawn grass. One poster used a large pallet to pull around to good effect. My pallets are all rotted and on the burn pile. Others built 2X4 and 4X4 drags. I priced lumber. WOW! Then I found this for small money ($76): https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FBXZNTC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I’ll pull it with my BX1870. What do you think? I would like to know if anyone has used anything similar? Once I assemble it I can’t return it if it is the wrong tool. Thanks.

Hello RDinNHANDAZ,

This might work well. Nail some chain link fence material to a 2x4 (should be a little wider than your tractor so you may need two widths), and six or so feet long. Attach a pull chain, sling or whatever, and happy smoothing.

Good luck with it.

Bob

 

[GeoHorn]

save your money! Anything like that will be attacking your lawn. The only way is to mark each hole, individually fill it, and hope that the grass grows through. …….

THIS ^^^^^^^

 

[flyidaho]

I just sold a harrow, 40 bucks! I kept one section, it has the spikes you can drag forward or backwards, depending on how much you want to do. It was ganged together as a big tractor section, my L3301 doesn't even know it's there. I used it for the first time the other day, after I mowed down the grass where I was going to use my sub soiler ripper/pipe laying attachment, it knocked down a lot of the bumps and mole hills.

 

[RDinNHandAZ]

I noticed the drag I ordered price was reduced to $65.99 on Amason. I set up a chat session and got a $10 credit. It came yesterday and I assembled it in about 20 minutes. Good hardware and it seems perfect. It weighs about 35 lbs. I’ll try it later today w/o any weight added as the loam is light. I have an area with a small hill that I have dug out about 4 FEL buckets of rocks. I've got a couple of more loads to do before I bring the loam and drag it. My plan is to pull it with my Husqvarna Swedish rider lawn mower so I have the Kubota to assist if I pop up rocks and need it. Update later........

Well I went out and dug up two more FEL buckets of rocks. Then I dropped 3 FEL buckets of loam 1/3 at a place. I just left the loam in 9 or 10 piles and didn’t try to fill the holes. That way I could see how the drag did under the worst conditions. Meh........ mixed results. The drag did spread the loam really well but I realized I need a LOT more loam so I’ll drop some more and order another load next week. The area looked flattened but when you run over a former hole the tires pack the loam and leave a hole. Maybe shoveling into them and tamping would be better. With more material and with multiple trips over them they will probably pack in with just the drag too. No question the drag smooths the highs and lows but it takes lots of material. My mower pulled the drag fine and sod areas were not damaged much at all. It did pop up some rocks from fist size down that I had not seen. That is a good thing but I had to stop twice to collect them. The area is about 1,000 sq ft. When done It will be good to fertilize, lime and seed.

I feel the drag is a good product that on first try improved the smoothness but used a lot more loam than I expected. $66 well spent!

 

[airbiscuit]

"The drag did spread the loam really well but I realized I need a LOT more loam so I’ll drop some more and order another load next week. The area looked flattened but when you run over a former hole the tires pack the loam and leave a hole."

I think you're on the right track. I would suggest that instead of trying to make it perfect all at once, you do this much, let the grass fill in (and stabilize the dips), and do it again next year. Over time, you will get the results you want.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat!