We have a very bumpy, lumpy lawn. Basically we have just been mowing
it for 20 years or so and the combined efforts of moles, dogs,
children and removed trees have left their mark! :-)

Overall it's a big area (we have a smallholding), so we probably want
to mechanise things a bit at least. We have a Kubota 36HP tractor and
a Stiga ride on mower so something for the tractor on the 3-point hitch
might suit, hired or bought.

Late last year we resowed a section where the chickens had lived for
a while and that has come good very quickly so actually [re]growing
grass seems easy enough.

So, what is the way to attack the surface and make it smooth? Some
sort of device like a flail mower run so that it scratches the surface
smooth? Is there such a thing?

Presumably starting from scratch one would plough, harrow and roll to
a smooth surface but ploughing does seem a bit drastic. Maybe some
sort of fairly fine-grained harrow is what we need, just to break the
surface up to a depth of an onch or two.

Any and all advice would be very welcome.

--
Chris Green
·

On 24/01/2021 10:01, Chris Green wrote:
We have a very bumpy, lumpy lawn. Basically we have just been mowing
it for 20 years or so and the combined efforts of moles, dogs,
children and removed trees have left their mark! :-)

Overall it's a big area (we have a smallholding), so we probably want
to mechanise things a bit at least. We have a Kubota 36HP tractor and
a Stiga ride on mower so something for the tractor on the 3-point hitch
might suit, hired or bought.

Late last year we resowed a section where the chickens had lived for
a while and that has come good very quickly so actually [re]growing
grass seems easy enough.

So, what is the way to attack the surface and make it smooth? Some
sort of device like a flail mower run so that it scratches the surface
smooth? Is there such a thing?

Presumably starting from scratch one would plough, harrow and roll to
a smooth surface but ploughing does seem a bit drastic. Maybe some
sort of fairly fine-grained harrow is what we need, just to break the
surface up to a depth of an onch or two.

Any and all advice would be very welcome.

rotovator is what you need


--
"And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch".

Gospel of St. Mathew 15:14

The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 24/01/2021 10:01, Chris Green wrote:
We have a very bumpy, lumpy lawn. Basically we have just been mowing
it for 20 years or so and the combined efforts of moles, dogs,
children and removed trees have left their mark! :-)

Overall it's a big area (we have a smallholding), so we probably want
to mechanise things a bit at least. We have a Kubota 36HP tractor and
a Stiga ride on mower so something for the tractor on the 3-point hitch
might suit, hired or bought.

Late last year we resowed a section where the chickens had lived for
a while and that has come good very quickly so actually [re]growing
grass seems easy enough.

So, what is the way to attack the surface and make it smooth? Some
sort of device like a flail mower run so that it scratches the surface
smooth? Is there such a thing?

Presumably starting from scratch one would plough, harrow and roll to
a smooth surface but ploughing does seem a bit drastic. Maybe some
sort of fairly fine-grained harrow is what we need, just to break the
surface up to a depth of an onch or two.

Any and all advice would be very welcome.

rotovator is what you need

I suppose so, we do actually have an old (but functional still) Howard
Bantam. If set to a fairly shallow dig that would do the job (and
develop my biceps!).

--
Chris Green
·

On 24/01/2021 10:44, Chris Green wrote:
The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 24/01/2021 10:01, Chris Green wrote:
We have a very bumpy, lumpy lawn. Basically we have just been mowing
it for 20 years or so and the combined efforts of moles, dogs,
children and removed trees have left their mark! :-)

Overall it's a big area (we have a smallholding), so we probably want
to mechanise things a bit at least. We have a Kubota 36HP tractor and
a Stiga ride on mower so something for the tractor on the 3-point hitch
might suit, hired or bought.

Late last year we resowed a section where the chickens had lived for
a while and that has come good very quickly so actually [re]growing
grass seems easy enough.

So, what is the way to attack the surface and make it smooth? Some
sort of device like a flail mower run so that it scratches the surface
smooth? Is there such a thing?

Presumably starting from scratch one would plough, harrow and roll to
a smooth surface but ploughing does seem a bit drastic. Maybe some
sort of fairly fine-grained harrow is what we need, just to break the
surface up to a depth of an onch or two.

Any and all advice would be very welcome.

rotovator is what you need

I suppose so, we do actually have an old (but functional still) Howard
Bantam. If set to a fairly shallow dig that would do the job (and
develop my biceps!).

Only other option is a (mini) digger and a blade

Or a spade and a rake!

--
There is something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesale
returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact.

Mark Twain

In article , Chris Green
wrote:

Any and all advice would be very welcome.

rotovator is what you need

I suppose so, we do actually have an old (but functional still) Howard
Bantam. If set to a fairly shallow dig that would do the job (and
develop my biceps!).

Not advice, just a mild suggestion: I bought an Aldi electric scarifier
a few years ago.

It's a fearsome heavy beast, about (?)45cm wide, and has interchangeable
bars - one is blades, one is wire hooks. I tried it out on our tiny lawn
(about 4m wide and 12m long) and it seemed about to rip it to shreds,
even on the highest (i.e. mildest) setting.

So I took it to the place where I do some gardening for the owner, and
the two areas of grass are a lawn twice the size of ours, and a large
sward about the size of half a football pitch. We use the thing
occasionally to rough up the grass.

It occurs to me that if I had your problem, I'd use the "scarifier" to
try and even it out.

My 2p (or 1p, really)

John

On 24/01/2021 10:44, Chris Green wrote:
I suppose so, we do actually have an old (but functional still) Howard
Bantam. If set to a fairly shallow dig that would do the job (and
develop my biceps!).

I rented a Howard a couple of years ago to flatten the pile I'd spread
from the foundations of my new mancave.

It did a good job. OTOH my garden isn't one that needs a ride-on mower,
never mind a 36HP tractor.

(And I do wish the builders hadn't hidden a couple of slabs...)

Andy

On 24/01/2021 10:01, Chris Green wrote:
We have a very bumpy, lumpy lawn. Basically we have just been mowing
it for 20 years or so and the combined efforts of moles, dogs,
children and removed trees have left their mark! :-)

Overall it's a big area (we have a smallholding), so we probably want
to mechanise things a bit at least. We have a Kubota 36HP tractor and
a Stiga ride on mower so something for the tractor on the 3-point hitch
might suit, hired or bought.

Late last year we resowed a section where the chickens had lived for
a while and that has come good very quickly so actually [re]growing
grass seems easy enough.

So, what is the way to attack the surface and make it smooth? Some
sort of device like a flail mower run so that it scratches the surface
smooth? Is there such a thing?

Presumably starting from scratch one would plough, harrow and roll to
a smooth surface but ploughing does seem a bit drastic. Maybe some
sort of fairly fine-grained harrow is what we need, just to break the
surface up to a depth of an onch or two.

Any and all advice would be very welcome.

If I had to do it, I'd ghert a turf cutter and tae off the turf, then
rotovate the ground and level it, treading it down firmly, rake the
surface and relay the turf adding in newe where needed.

On 28/01/2021 01:04, David Hill wrote:
On 24/01/2021 10:01, Chris Green wrote:
We have a very bumpy, lumpy lawn.Â* Basically we have just been mowing
it for 20 years or so and the combined efforts of moles, dogs,
children and removed trees have left their mark! :-)

Overall it's a big area (we have a smallholding), so we probably want
to mechanise things a bit at least.Â* We have a Kubota 36HP tractor and
a Stiga ride on mower so something for the tractor on the 3-point hitch
might suit, hired or bought.

Late last year we resowed a section where the chickens had lived for
a while and that has come good very quickly so actually [re]growing
grass seems easy enough.

So, what is the way to attack the surface and make it smooth?Â* Some
sort of device like a flail mower run so that it scratches the surface
smooth?Â* Is there such a thing?

Presumably starting from scratch one would plough, harrow and roll to
a smooth surface but ploughing does seem a bit drastic.Â* Maybe some
sort of fairly fine-grained harrow is what we need, just to break the
surface up to a depth of an onch or two.

Any and all advice would be very welcome.

If I had to do it, I'd ghert a turf cutter and tae off the turf, then
rotovate the ground and level it, treading it down firmly, rake the
surface and relay the turf adding in newe where needed.

depends if the turf is any good.

seed weed and feed is a good way to get a decent lawn going but
it takes a couple of years


--
There is something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesale
returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact.

Mark Twain

David Hill wrote:
On 24/01/2021 10:01, Chris Green wrote:
We have a very bumpy, lumpy lawn. Basically we have just been mowing
it for 20 years or so and the combined efforts of moles, dogs,
children and removed trees have left their mark! :-)

Overall it's a big area (we have a smallholding), so we probably want
to mechanise things a bit at least. We have a Kubota 36HP tractor and
a Stiga ride on mower so something for the tractor on the 3-point hitch
might suit, hired or bought.

Late last year we resowed a section where the chickens had lived for
a while and that has come good very quickly so actually [re]growing
grass seems easy enough.

So, what is the way to attack the surface and make it smooth? Some
sort of device like a flail mower run so that it scratches the surface
smooth? Is there such a thing?

Presumably starting from scratch one would plough, harrow and roll to
a smooth surface but ploughing does seem a bit drastic. Maybe some
sort of fairly fine-grained harrow is what we need, just to break the
surface up to a depth of an onch or two.

Any and all advice would be very welcome.

If I had to do it, I'd ghert a turf cutter and tae off the turf, then
rotovate the ground and level it, treading it down firmly, rake the
surface and relay the turf adding in newe where needed.

Turf?! Some hopes. :-)

--
Chris Green
·