Go BottomPutting in new lawn
 | unit5alive
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 250 Latrobe Pa 
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2004-03-10 79409
Hi guys ,heres a good one,I have a lot that needs fill /top soil ,what is the proper way to do this & what order and attachments do i need for my bx2200 to finish grade and prepare for grass seed. Do i need a box scraper or rear blade? p.s. the lot is only half an acre. should this be left to a landscaper?
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley 
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2004-03-10 79418
Others here have prepared seed beds from scratch. I haven't except for garden plots. I think I'd sure give it a try with the tractor. Even a seriously failed try isn't likely to make a landscaper cost any more. However, a landscaper likely would anticipate if there'd likely be drainage problems and contour the ground as needed. That's something to think about. I've played of professionally prepared soccer fields that had to be closed for most of a season due to wet spots that would dry out. Even pros can get it wrong.
Taking off what's there now may be the most difficult chore. It's not good to bury big chunks of sod and cutting them up takes a lot of tiller or disk time. Removing it also is a big job. A box scraper might be preferable to a blade if there are bumps to be cut down and the soil moved to low spots. Scrapers can cut carry soil to where it needs to be spread but blades without end-plates can't. It's pretty expensive to fill low spots with new topsoil so it's good to get it level before ordering topsoil. A rake would be useful and maybe almost necessary to go a decent job of clearing up chunks and rocks and giving then finishing. A hydraulic top-link makes a scraper much more useful. ....
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 | Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee
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2004-03-10 79434
2 words........power rake. Harley makes a good one and so does Land Pride. I would suggest renting one to prep the seed bed. If the soil is poor, you may want to add top soil or mix in lime and fertilizer when prepping with the power rake. You can get a good price on fertilizer at your local Coop if you buy it by the pallet which is about 2,500 lbs. I just spread 2,500 lbs. of 19-19-19 and am going back for another pallet this week. It runs $387.50 a pallet for 19-19-19. You can go with 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 which is much cheaper. Best to get it down now while it is still wet and cool. It will dissolve into the soil with the first rain. Grass seed is you choice of what you like but try to pick a grass seed which will do well in your area. I like zoysia and Bermuda grass but another choice might be better in cooler climates. Pick out as many rocks and debry as you can and then seed it. Top it off with spreading straw on top to help protect it and hold moisture. ....
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 | Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2004-03-13 79731
A box blade and a york or rock rake are your options you have to use your tractor. A 42" box blade and a 5' rake would do you well. Do make sure the soil will grow something as that could be frustrating! ....
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 | wbowhunt
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 207 West Virginia
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2004-03-15 79976
If you are going to go to all this work I would highly recommend getting you soil tested. You can either pay a local agency or do as I did and stop in at the State Farm Services admin office and get the kit and mail it out. I did this back in January and it took 8 weeks to get back a very good report on my pasture status and recommendation. But they also do lawn and garden testing. No need to buy fertilizers or lime if you don't need it. You could actually do more damage then good spreading lime or fertilzer. Just a thought ....
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