Harley Rake/existing sod

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ancomcabs

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Nov 3, 2011
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299
Going to be fixing up my daughters back yard. Some areas will be new fill (low spots, filled a pool etc.) Some are at the proper grade with grass already established. Going to rent a harley rake and was wondering how the rake will work on the established areas? Or should I try to avoid them all together? The new areas are mixed in though out the yard so it is not like there is a good half and bad half.
This will be my first time using one are there any things to look out for? Will I do more damage than good while learning?
Thanks in advance
 

skidsteer.ca

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Jan 20, 2006
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The proplem with trying to rake existing sod is you get large piles of grass and roots to get rid of. If the existing grass is good, I would get fill brought in and spread in the low areas with my bucket. Then try to rake the new fill just above the grass, maybe taking of 20% of the high spots down to minimize the grass collection, and chasing the new fill into the low spots to level the area and make it smoother.
The best way to get it flat is to of course tear it all right out, but that is a lot more work.
I leveled up a two 4 acres chunks of my old field area that was too rough to enjoy riding a atv on. The first I tilled , then began to rake thinking the several tandem truck loads of grass I was collecting, I could burn. But there was too much dirt in the grass for it to burn. I ended up piling it all up to let it rot down.
The second chunk I kept tilling to prevent the grass from growing for a whole summer and letting the old grass rot away. It raked up much nicer the next year with minimal debris to remove. If it would have been dryer I would have burnt it off first.
Also be sure to plan for where the rain water needs to go and creat some slope in the proper direction.
Ken
 
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ancomcabs

ancomcabs

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 3, 2011
Messages
299
The proplem with trying to rake existing sod is you get large piles of grass and roots to get rid of. If the existing grass is good, I would get fill brought in and spread in the low areas with my bucket. Then try to rake the new fill just above the grass, maybe taking of 20% of the high spots down to minimize the grass collection, and chasing the new fill into the low spots to level the area and make it smoother.
The best way to get it flat is to of course tear it all right out, but that is a lot more work.
I leveled up a two 4 acres chunks of my old field area that was too rough to enjoy riding a atv on. The first I tilled , then began to rake thinking the several tandem truck loads of grass I was collecting, I could burn. But there was too much dirt in the grass for it to burn. I ended up piling it all up to let it rot down.
The second chunk I kept tilling to prevent the grass from growing for a whole summer and letting the old grass rot away. It raked up much nicer the next year with minimal debris to remove. If it would have been dryer I would have burnt it off first.
Also be sure to plan for where the rain water needs to go and creat some slope in the proper direction.
Ken
Ken- Thanks for your replies to both threads
 
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ancomcabs

ancomcabs

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 3, 2011
Messages
299
Ken- Thanks for your replies to both threads
Rough grading is done and it is actually pretty smooth, the only glitch is the soil is very boney, lots of rocks softball size and up, what is the best way short of collecting them by hand to get them? Would a york rake do the job and make it loam and harley rake ready?
Thanks in advance!
 
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