Grading Scraper Question

[winesalot]

I am about to take delivery of an L4701 and I've decided to include a grading scraper with the purchase. I am a big fan of the attachment for driveways, parking lots, and leveling befor planting grass. I am wondering if anyone has used one to prep a large field for planting? I have about 4 acres that was planted with apple trees. Before I bought it they pulled the trees with an excavator so there are hundreds of 6-8" divots in the field. I plan on spraying a broadleaf herbicide and mowing for a few years to kill all the apple suckers and other weeds and will eventually plant trellised grape vines. I hadn't planned on rototilling or leveling the dirt prior to planting but now I am honking that it would be nice to have a smooth surface to start with and cut down pothole bouncing. Will the grading scraper work through grass in fairly sandy soil or will I have to spray roundup on everything and kill it first? Thoughts?

 

[bcp]

I would expect to plow, disc, or rototill first. But if it is sandy and the grass isn't too dense, it may work.

Bruce

 

[Grouse Feathers]

From my experience grading a sand/rock/clay driveway through the woods with vegetation in the center and on the edges, plus twigs, leaves, and pine needles on the driveway; it will not work for a field with vegetation. The debris builds up in a ball between the scraper blades and clogs the grader scraper. Even on our hill with crushed limestone the grader scraper will clog up with vegetation from the center of the drive. Digging the ball of debris out every 25 to 50 yards is no fun so I use a 3 point pine straw rake to clear the driveway of nearly all the debris before grading.

 

[Creature Meadow]

From my experience grading a sand/rock/clay driveway through the woods with vegetation in the center and on the edges, plus twigs, leaves, and pine needles on the driveway; it will not work for a field with vegetation. The debris builds up in a ball between the scraper blades and clogs the grader scraper. Even on our hill with crushed limestone the grader scraper will clog up with vegetation from the center of the drive. Digging the ball of debris out every 25 to 50 yards is no fun so I use a 3 point pine straw rake to clear the driveway of nearly all the debris before grading.

Agree with Grouse Feathers.
I have over 2000' of drive and the pine needles and grass that grows in the center causes me issues as it builds up adn prevents a even flow of material out the rear of the scraper.

If possible disk or till area and level by some other means like using a landscape rake.

Don't believe the scraper will work well based on my history with one.

 

[nickelplated5s]

If he wants the land plane for the drive I'd give it a shot on worked ground. Courtesy of a friend, drag a weighted down panel gate over worked ground. I broadcast spread pasture seed last week and tried it, actually worked pretty well. If you want to work ground in Chelan do it now or wait until next fall. If you're going to spray use RoundUp.