Since I was in my 20s I always read not to roll your yard, it packs the soil which is the opposite of what you want. Anyway, here's my problem: since we moved here 6 years ago I've had numerous times when heavy equipment was driven across my guard..including a lot of trips with my pickup. The result is a yard with lots of depressions from tire/track marks and is just very rough. This is noticeable when I mow, with my old mower I could barely walk after mowing, I did buy a new one that has suspension seating which helped greatly. But I'd like to smooth it out. Here's the question: can I take my tractor and pull a disc harrow across the rough areas a few times and get it somewhat leveled out. Having no ag experience I'm not sure what I'll wind up with. I know I can rent a skid steer and one of those fancy renovator attachments but I'm trying to avoid that.

Hrere's what we used. But it wasn't near that expensive. 

https://www.amazon.com/Yard-Tuff-Durable-Leveling-Harrow/dp/B07JJSRZLB 

I've been putting off dealing with ruts from similar activity.  I was wondering about adding topsoil and screeding it off like leveling concrete.

I just ride the edges of the ruts with the riding mower after a rain and it pushes the soil back to the center of the rut.  This is the same thing as rolling I suppose.  Plenty of videos on leveling with dirt or sand.  Sand can be added a little at a time and let the grass grow through.

I have a drag harrow similar to the one Gene pic'd. Maybe I'll try using it before I do anything else. I had it for smoothing the gravel in the drive at our last house...haven't used it since.

We attached a couple RR ties to it for weight. One caution...don't get caught in a corner. It don't  back up worth a darn.

What       you             that            yard's

                 do         mean           your             rough? 

1 hour ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I have a drag harrow similar to the one Gene pic'd. Maybe I'll try using it before I do anything else. I had it for smoothing the gravel in the drive at our last house...haven't used it since.

 

I can see that working om dirt or gravel but I don't see it working where there is grass.

Yeah, I agree but I can't loose anything by seeing what happens. The one I have has fingers underneath the fabric that might break up the soil a little....or not.

47 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Yeah, I agree but I can't loose anything by seeing what happens. The one I have has fingers underneath the fabric that might break up the soil a little....or not.

We had one like that too. It works even better than the screen like one on rough / rocky ground. We had a 1/4 mile lane from the road to the house. We used that to break up the Virgin land in preparation for cinders. (Lots of extinct volanos in that ares) Followed up with the less agessive chain drag.

4 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Yeah, I agree but I can't loose anything by seeing what happens. The one I have has fingers underneath the fabric that might break up the soil a little....or not.

I do not have a suggestive solution, but IMO the drag equipment will only pull the grass up in clumps.  

Danl

Fred, to answer your original question, yes a disc harrow will help accomplish what you want to do. Keep in mind it will cut the turf. I would refrain doing this until late fall or do it early in the spring. My preference for a disc would be one with notched blades at least on the front gangs; better cutting action in my opinion. Most disc's allow for angling the gangs for more or less aggressive cutting action including different angles between front and rear gangs.

 

To help level, either go back over with your harrow or if possible pull the harrow behind the disc. Try cutting across the ruts at opposing angles the first couple of passes, then parallel on the final pass to help level. First pass you could set the disc for the most aggressive action, readjust for less on subsequent passes. Keep in mind, you will probably need to overseed/ reseed the worked areas.  We used to use a similar technique to level out cattle pastures then reseed for more succulent pastures.

 

In the old times days, we often pulled a cultipacker behind the disc. It helped break up clods, even the ground and bring loose soil to the top...basically it was nothing more than a fancy, notched section lawn roller, albiet much heavier.

Fred, does your tractor have a bucket?

If so back-dragging the area with the edge of the bucket will help level it out.

I've filled in low areas with dirt from high areas this way. 

Edited April 30, 20233 yr by Larry Buskirk

How deep are the ruts Fred?  If they are deep the best way would be to do as Dave explained.  That's some major surgery for a lawn though.

If they are shallow, I would fill them with a sand/topsoil mix and go over the area with the pull behind screen to level it out.

It's more than ruts, Cal. I've excavations done for various reasons and the leftover mounds haven't leveled out either....but some of the ruts I do have are probably 2 1/2-3" deep/ Most are a little more shallow than that....just enough to knock out my fillings when I mow. I think Dave said what I was thinking. A disc will cut the turf up allowing me to smooth it out with the drag harrow....and replant seed as needed.

Larry, yeah I have a loader on the tractor but back dragging the grass doesn't seem to be an approach that would work. If I disced it up, then I should be able to drag it out better then it is.

7 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Larry, yeah I have a loader on the tractor but back dragging the grass doesn't seem to be an approach that would work. If I disced it up, then I should be able to drag it out better then it is.

 

For one larger area I did I rented a Sod Cutter Machine then did the leveling, then relaid the sod. IIRC it was like $45.00 for 24 Hrs. to rent. 

Fred, what did you do to get the ruts out and level the mounds?   Curious minds want to know.

Danl

I haven't done anything yet. I'm still kicking the idea of buying a disc harrow for the tractor and working the soil up real good with it. At this point I probably won't do anything until the fall since I'll be re-planting the areas with grass seed. I did get to see one of the Bobcat attachments in action, and I have to say they would be much faster and do a really nice job. The disc would run me about $1400, though I have some other uses for it. I suspect the rental Bobcat (with the attachment which is called a soil conditioner) would be less than $500 for a day or so.

14 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I haven't done anything yet. I'm still kicking the idea of buying a disc harrow for the tractor and working the soil up real good with it. At this point I probably won't do anything until the fall since I'll be re-planting the areas with grass seed. I did get to see one of the Bobcat attachments in action, and I have to say they would be much faster and do a really nice job. The disc would run me about $1400, though I have some other uses for it. I suspect the rental Bobcat (with the attachment which is called a soil conditioner) would be less than $500 for a day or so.

If you only need it once, the choice is clear. But, if it's going to be a yearly job and you say you have other uses for it.....PLUS it's a new tool!!!! Go for it!!!!

Check with me often, I'm always available to help spend your $$. 

How much top soil can you buy for $1,400 and put it where you need it?