Landscape Rake Questions

[wingspar]

I just used a landscape rake the other day for the first time and have some questions for you experts. 1. At what point in the landscaping process is this thing employed? Before seeding but after tilling? 2. What about dirt lumps? Do you need to pulverize them first to avoid picking them? 3. What is the optimum machine speed, i.e. how fast should those teeth bars be spinning? Slow, medium or fast? 4. Is it really important to pick rocks down to 3/4"? Thanks for you help.

 

[500K_773]

It's been over 10 years since I used Bobcat's Landscape Rake, but I'll see if I can answer your questions.
1.) We used it after bringing the area up to grade with the native soils, but prior to spreading 2" of topsoil. 2.) Not sure here, what's wrong with picking them up? 3.) I believe I was running the machine at nearly full throttle, so blades must have been moving nearly full speed. 4.) Are you going to plant grass on this surface or cover with topsoil? Yes, I like to remove all the rocks I can.
Although it's been some time since I've ran the Landscape Rake, I was really impressed with the Soil Conditioner. The Soil Conditioner will pulverize any clumps and windrow all rocks and debris (even smaller than 3/4"). Sorry I couldn't be much more help than this.

 

[Tigerotor77W]

It's been over 10 years since I used Bobcat's Landscape Rake, but I'll see if I can answer your questions.
1.) We used it after bringing the area up to grade with the native soils, but prior to spreading 2" of topsoil. 2.) Not sure here, what's wrong with picking them up? 3.) I believe I was running the machine at nearly full throttle, so blades must have been moving nearly full speed. 4.) Are you going to plant grass on this surface or cover with topsoil? Yes, I like to remove all the rocks I can.
Although it's been some time since I've ran the Landscape Rake, I was really impressed with the Soil Conditioner. The Soil Conditioner will pulverize any clumps and windrow all rocks and debris (even smaller than 3/4"). Sorry I couldn't be much more help than this.

Hey, and welcome to the forum! 500K pretty much answered all your questions, but if you want a video to see a few aspects of the works, you can head over to www.bobcat.com and take a look at their landscaping section, and even request a CD if you want more information. Good luck!

 

[wingspar]

It's been over 10 years since I used Bobcat's Landscape Rake, but I'll see if I can answer your questions.
1.) We used it after bringing the area up to grade with the native soils, but prior to spreading 2" of topsoil. 2.) Not sure here, what's wrong with picking them up? 3.) I believe I was running the machine at nearly full throttle, so blades must have been moving nearly full speed. 4.) Are you going to plant grass on this surface or cover with topsoil? Yes, I like to remove all the rocks I can.
Although it's been some time since I've ran the Landscape Rake, I was really impressed with the Soil Conditioner. The Soil Conditioner will pulverize any clumps and windrow all rocks and debris (even smaller than 3/4"). Sorry I couldn't be much more help than this.

Thanks for the reply 500k. I mentioned the lumps because I was assuming that topsoil had a $ and that it would be best to leave it at the site, preferably under the sod. It would also be hard to separate the dirt from the rock later, but that depends on how people dispose of that stuff. Having said that, I can see where lumps, especially the larger ones, would not be good for a seedbed. I guess if I were in the business I would till and work the soil enough to eliminate the lumps before raking for rocks. As for the size issue I didn't think a 3/4" rock would bother anyone, but maybe that's not true. The rake seems to pull a lot of plain dirt into the bucket when raking, and I think that is due to the teeth spacing. So you liked the soil conditioner. I'm assuming you ran a Bobcat soil conditioner. Have you taken a look or even tried any other brands, like Woods, Harley or Quick Attach? I hear lots of good things about the Harley, but other brands might have their advantages too. How deep to you generally run your soil conditioner? Do you run the engine wide open with that too? Later, wingspar

 

[500K_773]

Thanks for the reply 500k. I mentioned the lumps because I was assuming that topsoil had a $ and that it would be best to leave it at the site, preferably under the sod. It would also be hard to separate the dirt from the rock later, but that depends on how people dispose of that stuff. Having said that, I can see where lumps, especially the larger ones, would not be good for a seedbed. I guess if I were in the business I would till and work the soil enough to eliminate the lumps before raking for rocks. As for the size issue I didn't think a 3/4" rock would bother anyone, but maybe that's not true. The rake seems to pull a lot of plain dirt into the bucket when raking, and I think that is due to the teeth spacing. So you liked the soil conditioner. I'm assuming you ran a Bobcat soil conditioner. Have you taken a look or even tried any other brands, like Woods, Harley or Quick Attach? I hear lots of good things about the Harley, but other brands might have their advantages too. How deep to you generally run your soil conditioner? Do you run the engine wide open with that too? Later, wingspar

It was the Bobcat hydraulic angle Soil Conditioner that I rented. Generally I ran it at full depth that it would cut, so about 1-1/2" - 2", the carbide tooth height. I ran it a full speed, especially while working old turf areas. Full speed on bare ground areas also did a great job of bringing the rocks to surface and then windrowing them.
I haven't seen any other brands available locally. Hardly any of the other contractors are utilizing the soil conditioner. I was really impressed with it and will be renting it again next week for a job I need to do.

 

[864wood]

It was the Bobcat hydraulic angle Soil Conditioner that I rented. Generally I ran it at full depth that it would cut, so about 1-1/2" - 2", the carbide tooth height. I ran it a full speed, especially while working old turf areas. Full speed on bare ground areas also did a great job of bringing the rocks to surface and then windrowing them.
I haven't seen any other brands available locally. Hardly any of the other contractors are utilizing the soil conditioner. I was really impressed with it and will be renting it again next week for a job I need to do.

In a perfect world and unlimted funds I would own a soil conditioner in a heart beat. I have been doing alot of lawn restructures and it is utterly fantastic. I also use it when I do final grades for landscapers. I have got it to such a sience that I windrow all debris into piles for the laborers to pick up and leave the large areas so nice hand raking isnt necessary. I would take my machine with combo bucket and the soil conditioner in the combo chained down. I presently have one on rental for two weeks to take care of 5 individual jobs. The new hydr controlled anle soil conditioner in MD is $6400. I will continue to rent for now.