Skid steer bucket vs rake/planer/leveler

[cardiac5]

Just cleared about 18 acres of cedars, brush, and 1-8in elm and silver maples for a wildflower program. I leveled a lot of it while pushing stuff to piles and back dragging to catch stumps I might’ve missed. There’s still plenty of holes and uneven ground left though. Have another 2-2.5 acres I took all the stumps out from a previous mulching job.

Question is do I fill in the holes and disc, use the bucket, or get one of the leveling attachments on the skid steer to level out the rest? I’m pretty decent on the skid steer with just the bucket just trying to figure out how to save the most time.
Thanks in advance.
Track loader was rental for 1 week. Did the clearing, put in bigger culverts in creek, and fixed up some drainage issues around ponds. It’s back at foley now.

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[KurtR]

that little tracked cat machine is what i would use

 

[Beendare]

that little tracked cat machine is what i would use

Yeah, me too.

Skid steers are great for moving material and working in small spaces..... not as good at grading large areas.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

Harley rake

 

[cardiac5]

Cat was a rental. Didn’t want to spend a few months doing it with the skid steer so I rented it to get it done in a week.


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[KurtR]

That size of area a skid steer is two small I would have kept that little dozer for another couple days. Its the tool for the job

 

[cardiac5]

The last night of my rental we got 3in of rain. Then it rained the next 2 days also, I looked at keeping it but couldn’t justify it with the weather. Just wanted it for another day and not a whole week. I have 4 days off a week so I have the time just trying to figure out what’s the best use of it. Also have a 175 Massey Ferguson and a 6ft disc but that’s it.


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[KurtR]

Just have to decide whats more valuable to you time or money. If the skid steer is what you have and its the one in the picture I hope you have alot of time. I dont know that any attachment is worth getting just use the bucket

 

[Billy Goat]

How are you planting the wildflowers?

 

[HiMtnHntr]

If the skid is what you have use it. I get the best leveling back dragging. Shoot your grade and set some stakes to give you an idea, buckets dirt where you need it and level it…

 

[HandgunHTR]

If all you are doing is planting wildflowers, you don't need to have it "front lawn level".

I would just disc it a couple of times and then drag it. You can make a homemade drag with some chain link fence and a couple old railroad ties.

 

[Billy Goat]

If all you are doing is planting wildflowers, you don't need to have it "front lawn level".

I would just disc it a couple of times and then drag it. You can make a homemade drag with some chain link fence and a couple old railroad ties.

This is right, however for the pollinator installation seed bed needs to be prepared different ways depending on drilling or broadcasting.

 

[cardiac5]

They have drill/no till drills to rent. Contract from start to finish is over 5 years but you can finish as fast as you want. I would’ve broadcasted it if I took the full 5 years.


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[dogman11]

Get a Harley rake and you will be very happy! Get one that angles and work your material across as you make passes. It will throw anything that you have left like small rocks and sticks to the side and look like a lettuce bed ready to plant. With a skid steer you can cover the 2 acres easily in a day once you have it cleared.

 

[WCB]

For wild flowers or native planting I would just seed it as is and save the time. I've done a lot of wildflower/native plantings....I've never found the need to due more in general than eliminate previous plant life and expose the soil.

If most of it looks like the ground in the picture...At most I'd get a tractor and disk or 3 in 1 soil conditioner. Rent a large broadcast spreader for the front or back of an ATV or PTO driven on the tractor you rent. But again IMO no need to do anything further.

Also, forgot to add you might want to give it a couple weeks and see what comes up then kill it...then plant.

When you say wildflower do you mean only a flower mix or are you talking an actual native grass and flower mix?

 

[Billy Goat]

They have drill/no till drills to rent. Contract from start to finish is over 5 years but you can finish as fast as you want. I would’ve broadcasted it if I took the full 5 years.


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Seeding depth is critical with natives. If using a no til, make sure it has depth bands. I prefer a Truax.

Condition you have now would work well to broadcast. However you probably need a year of spraying after clearing.

I'd not worry about leveling, but removing the trash so you can drill. Will probably need a cultipiacker to firm the seed bed. Thars what it needs to be able to control the seed depth.

Different area I assume than I work in, but I typically won't drill in areas that are mulched or cleared. Mulching puts too much down that the natives can't grow through, and clearing inevitably leaves too much debris that I wouldn't run my drill through. Renting the equipment, not as much of a factor.

I'd switch focus to working on controlling competition at this point. Any more time spent on ground prep probably won't make much difference in the establishment. Maybe competition isn't a big factor in your area, but that's generally the biggest factor in establishing successful stands for me, controlling competition.

 

[TSAMP]

I have a soil conditioner for my skid steer and it works great for tidying up after clearing ground.

 

[LostArra]

Depends on the skills of the operator.

No offense to OP or any other posters but the person running the machine is more important than the machine (within reason). I've seen some old guys that could level a putting green with a bottom plow while I dig the Panama Canal.

 

[cardiac5]

Wild flowers and warm season grass- Monarch species mix. Plan is to spray once this year and again next year before planting.


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[moxford]

Lots of AG soil-health research out on no-till and top level broadcast seeding vs tilling or drilling, and the wider impact of spraying. Not sure how much it plays against your flowering (vs food production), but may be worth a YouTube rabbit hole or three…