Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
aerating a large lawn on the cheap?
Just a quick one:
I have about 1.5 acres of 'lawn', the soil appears to be fairly compacted and so I'd really like to aerate it as it clearly needs doing so. I also want to introduce clover seed and other varieties as well, so yet another reason it needs doing. Anyway, I'd be interested to hear of any ideas of how to do this without spending hundreds (or more) on equipment. Any good ideas on building something to do the job perhaps? I have a ride- on and ATV to tow any such gadget around if need be. TIA. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
aerating a large lawn on the cheap?
Jeßus wrote:
Just a quick one: I have about 1.5 acres of 'lawn', the soil appears to be fairly compacted and so I'd really like to aerate it as it clearly needs doing so. I also want to introduce clover seed and other varieties as well, so yet another reason it needs doing. Anyway, I'd be interested to hear of any ideas of how to do this without spending hundreds (or more) on equipment. Any good ideas on building something to do the job perhaps? I have a ride- on and ATV to tow any such gadget around if need be. TIA. Have a look here http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s1893717.htm watch the video and you can expand on that idea . There is or was a thing called the billy goat lawn aerator had a honda or briggs on it about 5 hp but was less than 20 inches wide However, if you have a welder do what I did ages ago get some old tynes off a seeder or rotary hoe weld the tynes onto a plate that can then be bolted onto your wheel studs then take the car vehicle for a shake rattle and roll about the paddocks being sure not to snap off the studs I later refined that idea to welding the plates on a a frame type thing with a centre axle and the plates ran along that axle (axis) Had 2 x 44 gal drums on their sides and just altered the weight by water fill/empty and took the thing for a drag via the tow ball on the landie . That thing still lives in Tassie as I loaned to a bloke up at Exeter before I left Try a scale model with just star pickets or channel bar and go from there however a POWERED version is much better albeit more expensive But your a bright lad hope this helps . There are the Sheppard Boys (clan) in your neck of the woods "Big nose" is handy on such solutions RED & White Boat was a Cray scallop fellah back in the late 80's if he is still around top bloke fine mind and would help you I am sure |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
aerating a large lawn on the cheap?
"Jeßus" wrote in message ... Just a quick one: I have about 1.5 acres of 'lawn', the soil appears to be fairly compacted and so I'd really like to aerate it as it clearly needs doing so. I also want to introduce clover seed and other varieties as well, so yet another reason it needs doing. Anyway, I'd be interested to hear of any ideas of how to do this without spending hundreds (or more) on equipment. Any good ideas on building something to do the job perhaps? I have a ride- on and ATV to tow any such gadget around if need be. TIA. You could pay a contractor to plough, harrow and seed it. David -- Posted on news://freenews.netfront.net - Complaints to -- |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
aerating a large lawn on the cheap?
On Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:38:37 +0000, Jeßus wrote:
Anyway, I'd be interested to hear of any ideas of how to do this without spending hundreds (or more) on equipment. Any good ideas on building something to do the job perhaps? I have a ride- on and ATV to tow any such gadget around if need be. Buy or make something to tow behind your ride on tractor. It really is a case of a drum filled with concrete with spikes, or a length of pipe. If you could lay your hands on some steel pipe, you could weld some heavy nails to it. Simplest axle is large pipe through middle of concrete with thinner pipe inside and you weld the two arms ofthe tow hitch to the thinner pipe. Alternatively, look for a old vehicle-towed trailer and scavenge the axle and hubs from that, although about $AUS60 would buy you a pair of replacement trailer hubs from the cheap auto places. I would hesitate to suggest a 44gal drum as that is a lot of concrete. might be better with something like a 20Litre or slightly bigger drum and just tow it every time you mow. I hope you are not removing the cut grass, but leaving it as a mulch. you could also add other material as mulch thinly spread. This is how I recover bare patches under my trees and feed my lawn. I get large trailer loads of show rabbit bedding delivered from a breeder, which I thinly spread over the lawn each load, amongst other places. I'd suggest bales of rice husks, but given the major slump in our rice harvest, they are probably hard to find and rather expensive. (Nearly a decade since SWMBO was raising cute bunnies). sigh, off to delivery four kittens to the pound, then buy lots of chocolate for SWMBO to console her) |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
aerating a large lawn on the cheap?
On Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:55:45 +0900, PhilC wrote:
Jeßus wrote: Just a quick one: I have about 1.5 acres of 'lawn', the soil appears to be fairly compacted and so I'd really like to aerate it as it clearly needs doing so. I also want to introduce clover seed and other varieties as well, so yet another reason it needs doing. Anyway, I'd be interested to hear of any ideas of how to do this without spending hundreds (or more) on equipment. Any good ideas on building something to do the job perhaps? I have a ride- on and ATV to tow any such gadget around if need be. TIA. Have a look here http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s1893717.htm watch the video and you can expand on that idea . There is or was a thing called the billy goat lawn aerator had a honda or briggs on it about 5 hp but was less than 20 inches wide However, if you have a welder do what I did ages ago get some old tynes off a seeder or rotary hoe weld the tynes onto a plate that can then be bolted onto your wheel studs then take the car vehicle for a shake rattle and roll about the paddocks being sure not to snap off the studs I later refined that idea to welding the plates on a a frame type thing with a centre axle and the plates ran along that axle (axis) Had 2 x 44 gal drums on their sides and just altered the weight by water fill/empty and took the thing for a drag via the tow ball on the landie . That thing still lives in Tassie as I loaned to a bloke up at Exeter before I left Try a scale model with just star pickets or channel bar and go from there however a POWERED version is much better albeit more expensive But your a bright lad hope this helps . There are the Sheppard Boys (clan) in your neck of the woods "Big nose" is handy on such solutions RED & White Boat was a Cray scallop fellah back in the late 80's if he is still around top bloke fine mind and would help you I am sure Thanks for all the info Phil. I'll have to ask about the "Sheppard Boys", cannot recall hearing their name before. I do have a Mig welder - still all shiny and never used, bought 2 or 3 months ago. Also have to teach myself the art of Mig welding, which I'll do when time permits I have a lot of projects on the go here, cheers |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
aerating a large lawn on the cheap?
On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:34:35 +1100, David Hare-Scott wrote:
"Jeßus" wrote in message ... Just a quick one: I have about 1.5 acres of 'lawn', the soil appears to be fairly compacted and so I'd really like to aerate it as it clearly needs doing so. I also want to introduce clover seed and other varieties as well, so yet another reason it needs doing. Anyway, I'd be interested to hear of any ideas of how to do this without spending hundreds (or more) on equipment. Any good ideas on building something to do the job perhaps? I have a ride- on and ATV to tow any such gadget around if need be. TIA. You could pay a contractor to plough, harrow and seed it. I could - or might be able to - but thats not a good long term solution. Unless you know a local with the right gear and skills, the only other option is DIY. Try getting an electrician or plumber out here, for example - forget it! |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
aerating a large lawn on the cheap?
On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:59:27 +1100, terryc wrote:
On Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:38:37 +0000, Jeßus wrote: Anyway, I'd be interested to hear of any ideas of how to do this without spending hundreds (or more) on equipment. Any good ideas on building something to do the job perhaps? I have a ride- on and ATV to tow any such gadget around if need be. Buy or make something to tow behind your ride on tractor. The latter is what I had in mind. All the buying I have done this year has got to stop, need to DIY where possible... it's been a very expensive year for me. It really is a case of a drum filled with concrete with spikes, or a length of pipe. If you could lay your hands on some steel pipe, you could weld some heavy nails to it. Simplest axle is large pipe through middle of concrete with thinner pipe inside and you weld the two arms ofthe tow hitch to the thinner pipe. Alternatively, look for a old vehicle-towed trailer and scavenge the axle and hubs from that, although about $AUS60 would buy you a pair of replacement trailer hubs from the cheap auto places. I would hesitate to suggest a 44gal drum as that is a lot of concrete. might be better with something like a 20Litre or slightly bigger drum and just tow it every time you mow. Thanks Terry, there are some good ideas there. I did think of something drum-like in shape with spikes, but as you mentioned, a 44gal drum will end up weighing too much - unless I use something lighter than concrete. But plenty food for thought there, for sure. I'll keep an eye out for something like a 44gal drum, only smaller diameter. I hope you are not removing the cut grass, but leaving it as a mulch. Oh yes indeed I am. That said, I bought this property in July this year, I strongly suspect the previous owners were removing the cuttings. Bugger-all organic matter visible. you could also add other material as mulch thinly spread. This is how I recover bare patches under my trees and feed my lawn. I get large trailer loads of show rabbit bedding delivered from a breeder, which I thinly spread over the lawn each load, amongst other places. I'd suggest bales of rice husks, but given the major slump in our rice harvest, they are probably hard to find and rather expensive. (Nearly a decade since SWMBO was raising cute bunnies). I have a small spreader due to arrive any time now, the type that can be towed behind a ride-on or ATV. With this I planned to sow the seed, some fertiliser. I also discovered a lifetime's supply of sawdust, from a sawmill that shut down 40 years ago. I've been grabbing truck loads of it for use as mulch primarily around the fencline, where there are trees and shrubs. It is well and truly broken down and not acidic. I was thinking of adding this to the spreader every time I mow the grass, just to help build up some organic matter. Aside from the 'lawn' areas, the soil here is very good indeed. sigh, off to delivery four kittens to the pound, then buy lots of chocolate for SWMBO to console her) Oh bugger... good luck with that. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
aerating a large lawn on the cheap?
"Jeßus" wrote in message ... On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:34:35 +1100, David Hare-Scott wrote: "Jeßus" wrote in message ... Just a quick one: I have about 1.5 acres of 'lawn', the soil appears to be fairly compacted and so I'd really like to aerate it as it clearly needs doing so. I also want to introduce clover seed and other varieties as well, so yet another reason it needs doing. Anyway, I'd be interested to hear of any ideas of how to do this without spending hundreds (or more) on equipment. Any good ideas on building something to do the job perhaps? I have a ride- on and ATV to tow any such gadget around if need be. TIA. You could pay a contractor to plough, harrow and seed it. I could - or might be able to - but thats not a good long term solution. Why not? What has the long/short term got to do with it? Unless you know a local with the right gear and skills, I don't know where you are. People who do this are fairly common where I am (country NSW north of Newcastle) the only other option is DIY. Try getting an electrician or plumber out here, for example - forget it! I have exactly the same problem with tradesmen but I would not have such a problem with ploughing and seeding, different issue altogether. If a neighbour couldn't do it they would know somebody who could. This is only a small job for a tractor and spreader they would normally be doing 20 or 50 acres around here, 200 or 500 out west (but they have bigger tractors!). The trouble with DIY is doing it with human-powered gear is out of the question unless you have much time and are very fit, cheaper than going to the gym I suppose. David David -- Posted on news://freenews.netfront.net - Complaints to -- |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
aerating a large lawn on the cheap?
=?iso-8859-1?b?SmXfdXM=?= writes:
Anyway, I'd be interested to hear of any ideas of how to do this without spending hundreds (or more) on equipment. Are you near a city? If so, try ringing those rental places where you can hire DIY equipment, and see what they have. I think you need a tennis court roller bristling with hollow spikes: each takes up a small plug of soil as it passes. It might be a bit of a load to tow around behind the ride on, though. Besides, it will work wonders on those abs. -- John Savage (my news address is not valid for email) |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
aerating a large lawn on the cheap?
On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:39:13 +0000, Jeßus wrote:
Simplest axle is large pipe through middle of concrete with thinner pipe inside and you weld the two arms ofthe tow hitch to the thinner pipe. Another idea came to mind if you can weld; old bicycles; the bottom bracket from cheap bicycles. Real cheap little kids bikes have a plastic plug beaing, or the o peiece bmx axle can be adaped. Thinkng you might score some during the summer clean out, especially when kids get upgraded bicycles for christmas. I would hesitate to suggest a 44gal drum as that is a lot of concrete. might be better with something like a 20Litre or slightly bigger drum and just tow it every time you mow. Thanks Terry, there are some good ideas there. I did think of something drum-like in shape with spikes, but as you mentioned, a 44gal drum will end up weighing too much - unless I use something lighter than concrete. But plenty food for thought there, for sure. I'll keep an eye out for something like a 44gal drum, only smaller diameter. alternaively, if you bolt offcuts of poly around the axle or outside, you can lesson the amount of concrete. At one stage I would have sugested buying pipe/tube and cutting to length and filling the drum with that, but since the price of steel has oh,gone up a magnitude, it is rather expensive. I wonder how a drum chocka with wood, or that saw dust(make sure it is dry) would work. sigh, off to delivery four kittens to the pound, then buy lots of chocolate for SWMBO to console her) Oh bugger... good luck with that. Poor guy at the pound flinched when she wanted reassurance that they would not be euthanised and coped a mouthful (stern taling to). Lol, but managed to calm her down and explain that he couldn't guarantee it, but it was best chance.* Especially, when we went to vet later with olde cat and someone already had a list of free kittens photos with cute descriptions and no one had taken the phone number, which was what she was intending to do. I've had more trouble with the two older cats, who spent more time hissing at the kittens, but the old one bit me at the vet and the younger one has been very aloof as it's playmates have disappeared. Even managed to get caught in the cat trap,which it had totally ignored for weeks. *I was folding up the carry cage at the pound after they had emptied it and it didn't sit right, so open it out again and WHOOSH, there went a ginger flash. "Oh, I thought there was only three" said the pound guy. Chuckle, the mischevous ginger one had hidden under the old jumper in the cage. If I hadn't decided to fold the cage down, he would have come back home again. |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
aerating a large lawn on the cheap?
John Savage wrote:
=?iso-8859-1?b?SmXfdXM=?= writes: Anyway, I'd be interested to hear of any ideas of how to do this without spending hundreds (or more) on equipment. Are you near a city? If so, try ringing those rental places where you can hire DIY equipment, and see what they have. I think you need a tennis court roller bristling with hollow spikes: each takes up a small plug of soil as it passes. It might be a bit of a load to tow around behind the ride on, though. Besides, it will work wonders on those abs. -- John Savage (my news address is not valid for email) Sounds similar to those units used on golf courses Do you know a greenkeeper who could be tempted by 30 pieces of (scrub that ;-P), substitute a block of 30 of the best? Failing that, the 44 gallon (sorry, 200 litre) drum sounds reasonable. That is, provided you cut a slice from a second drum which could be re-joined to provide a lesser cyclinder - and then to be inserted inside the first drum. Concrete could be poured between the two. This would lessen your weight problem. All the other provisos on axle manufacturer and attachment of spikes do, of course, stand. Bit of tack welding would get you through ... though solid welds would be preferred ;-) Would take time, effort and money (the quantity of the latter depending of coure depending on your Steptoe qualities and hussling teqniques ;-P .... and of course availability of materials in your locality.) avagoodone And good luck giovani PS: the strength of the equipment and that of the spikes (needed) would of course depend on the soil make-up of your 1.5 acres of lawn. If soft-ish, you may get way with spikes of reinforcement rod, or better still, 1/2 inch (oops, should that be 12mm?) pipe. With the hollow cylinder described above, pipe could be made to allow plugs of soil to pass through. (Trust that makes sense?) If "solid clay,a rethink may be necessary; you may need a ripper (or rippers) A further consideration would of course be the ultimate proposed use of the 1.5 acres. Will it be for production of grass for grazing animals, just to look good .... or perhaps a nice ground for tennis ... or perhaps even ... croquet? PPS: plse stop picking on Cliff ;-) He's as straight as they come! :-P (However cannot confirm his skills in relation to internet access or his use there-of. Would suggest however, that he does not glitter) |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
aerating a large lawn on the cheap?
On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:22:28 +0000, John Savage wrote:
=?iso-8859-1?b?SmXfdXM=?= writes: Anyway, I'd be interested to hear of any ideas of how to do this without spending hundreds (or more) on equipment. Are you near a city? If so, try ringing those rental places where you can hire DIY equipment, and see what they have. Nowhere near a city or large town I think you need a tennis court roller bristling with hollow spikes: each takes up a small plug of soil as it passes. It might be a bit of a load to tow around behind the ride on, though. Besides, it will work wonders on those abs. Yes, something like that would be ideal and what I initially pictured in my head I have an ATV here, so if the ride-on couldnt cope... mind you, the ride- on has a twin cylinder 22HP engine, so it has a reasonable amount of grunt. Thanks for the idea. |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
aerating a large lawn on the cheap?
On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:07:55 +0800, giovani wrote:
snip Failing that, the 44 gallon (sorry, 200 litre) drum sounds reasonable. That is, provided you cut a slice from a second drum which could be re-joined to provide a lesser cyclinder - and then to be inserted inside the first drum. Concrete could be poured between the two. This would lessen your weight problem. All the other provisos on axle manufacturer and attachment of spikes do, of course, stand. Bit of tack welding would get you through ... though solid welds would be preferred ;-) Would take time, effort and money (the quantity of the latter depending of coure depending on your Steptoe qualities and hussling teqniques ;-P .... and of course availability of materials in your locality.) Bingo on your last comment. One of the few downsides to living where I do is the scarcity of materials, both new and used. Around this area, nothing gets thrown out, and even scouting the recycling places in Launceston, you won't see a whole lot. So to an extent, the design will be limited to the materials I can come across. The two 44gal drum idea is a good one though - this part of the design is the main issue - depends on what or if I can find something better than 44gal drums. The width would be just about right for the mower or ATV though. PS: the strength of the equipment and that of the spikes (needed) would of course depend on the soil make-up of your 1.5 acres of lawn. If soft-ish, you may get way with spikes of reinforcement rod, or better still, 1/2 inch (oops, should that be 12mm?) pipe. With the hollow cylinder described above, pipe could be made to allow plugs of soil to pass through. (Trust that makes sense?) Yup, sure does If "solid clay,a rethink may be necessary; you may need a ripper (or rippers) A further consideration would of course be the ultimate proposed use of the 1.5 acres. Will it be for production of grass for grazing animals, just to look good .... or perhaps a nice ground for tennis ... or perhaps even ... croquet? Pretty much all of the above. I have no intention of turing it into a manicured, perfect lawn. I just want it to be healthy and vigorous. As mentioned, I only bought the property last July and the house itself is approx. 12 years old, so that more or less dates the lawn. I wouldve been pasture previously. I'd say they used a catcher the whole time instead of returning the cuttings to the soil (blasphemy IMO). PPS: plse stop picking on Cliff ;-) He's as straight as they come! :-P (However cannot confirm his skills in relation to internet access or his use there-of. Would suggest however, that he does not glitter) LOL |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
aerating a large lawn on the cheap?
On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:22:43 +1100, terryc wrote:
On Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:39:13 +0000, Jeßus wrote: Simplest axle is large pipe through middle of concrete with thinner pipe inside and you weld the two arms ofthe tow hitch to the thinner pipe. Another idea came to mind if you can weld; old bicycles; the bottom bracket from cheap bicycles. Real cheap little kids bikes have a plastic plug beaing, or the o peiece bmx axle can be adaped. Thinkng you might score some during the summer clean out, especially when kids get upgraded bicycles for christmas. It just so happens the previous owners left behind a bunch of BMX bikes, so your idea is highly appropriate It's a good idea. I would hesitate to suggest a 44gal drum as that is a lot of concrete. might be better with something like a 20Litre or slightly bigger drum and just tow it every time you mow. Thanks Terry, there are some good ideas there. I did think of something drum-like in shape with spikes, but as you mentioned, a 44gal drum will end up weighing too much - unless I use something lighter than concrete. But plenty food for thought there, for sure. I'll keep an eye out for something like a 44gal drum, only smaller diameter. alternaively, if you bolt offcuts of poly around the axle or outside, you can lesson the amount of concrete. At one stage I would have sugested buying pipe/tube and cutting to length and filling the drum with that, but since the price of steel has oh,gone up a magnitude, it is rather expensive. Yep, but due to the relatively short lengths required, I shouldnt have *too* much trouble collecting enough old pipe to do that. I wonder how a drum chocka with wood, or that saw dust(make sure it is dry) would work. Another good idea Terry sigh, off to delivery four kittens to the pound, then buy lots of chocolate for SWMBO to console her) Oh bugger... good luck with that. Poor guy at the pound flinched when she wanted reassurance that they would not be euthanised and coped a mouthful (stern taling to). Lol, but managed to calm her down and explain that he couldn't guarantee it, but it was best chance.* Especially, when we went to vet later with olde cat and someone already had a list of free kittens photos with cute descriptions and no one had taken the phone number, which was what she was intending to do. The great irony when I was looking for a cat 5 years ago, it took me about 6 weeks to find one. This was back when I lived on the mainland. I did find one, eventually, at the RSPCA. But I was surprised how few people advertised litters in the area - well, none actually, in a town of 13000. I've had more trouble with the two older cats, who spent more time hissing at the kittens, but the old one bit me at the vet and the younger one has been very aloof as it's playmates have disappeared. Even managed to get caught in the cat trap,which it had totally ignored for weeks. Ah yes, the dynamics of relationships also applies to animals The younger one will get its nose back in joint soon enough... *I was folding up the carry cage at the pound after they had emptied it and it didn't sit right, so open it out again and WHOOSH, there went a ginger flash. "Oh, I thought there was only three" said the pound guy. Chuckle, the mischevous ginger one had hidden under the old jumper in the cage. If I hadn't decided to fold the cage down, he would have come back home again. After which it'd probably be a permanent resident |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
aerating a large lawn on the cheap?
On Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:31:09 +0000, Jeßus wrote:
After which it'd probably be a permanent resident Yes 1) Fate 2) SWMBO really wanted to keep that one. |
Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
aerating lawn: anyone try those shoes? | Gardening | |||
Aerating Lawn | Lawns | |||
Aerating the lawn - which type of sand | United Kingdom | |||
Aerating the lawn. | Lawns | |||
Aerating the lawn. | Lawns |