Re: Basics of land preparation using tractor

Posted by mark on February 15, 1999 at 18:59:39:

In Reply to: Basics of land preparation using tractor posted by Douglas Stockman on February 14, 1999 at 15:36:07:

The way my Grandpaw taught me was to first mow down the weeds/overgrown grasses with a bush-hog. Then plow the soil with a turning plow, making sure to throw the soil up hill. (This way, when you start working down the soil, gravity will have a tendancy to move the soil back down the hill and level it out somewhat.) The plowing needs to be done when the soil is pretty dry, but still has enough moisture to hold together somewhat when it is turned. After the whole field is plowed, pull a drag harrow over it. This drag could be a couple of railroad ties chained together, a couple of locust post connected with a steel frame, old tractor tires bolted together, etc. This drag will also help to start leveling the soil. THEN start pulling the disc over the field. Alternate between using the disk and the drag until the soil is worked down to a powder-like consistency.
Seeing your County Extension Agent is a good idea. He can explain how to take a soil test to determine fertilizer and lime needs. Lime is best applied in the Fall since it takes it a while to work on adjusting the ph level. Fertilizer can be applied at the same time you broadcast the seed. But it is important to disk one more time after this. Set the cut of the disk blades very shallow (just enough to cover the seeds with just about 1/8" of soil). This will also help dispurse the fertilizer so that the seeds are probably not contacting the fertilizer. That could burn up the seed.
This sounds like a lot of work, but it's fun and gives you plenty of time to think about some of the important things of life.
Best of luck to you and yours.

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