equipment choice for lawn re-and-re

cutntrim · #1 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 06:05 PM

I'm replacing the sparse/grubby lawn of a neighbour of one of my maintenance customers. Today I sprayed it with Glyphosate and my plan is to rent a tiller attachment for my 550 Bobcat to chew up the dead turf in a couple weeks, then mix in new soil, re-grade, and lay the sod.

My question is, how would a landscape rake attachment work in comparison? Anyone regularly use that attachment? I've heard they leave a perfect planting/seeding bed every time, but haven't ever used one myself.

start2finish · #2 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 06:42 PM

the landscape rake is good, we use a version on a tractor and skid-steer. The tiller is great, it will incorporate more into the soil. a landscape rake will only work the top few inches where a tiller will get deep.

cutntrim · #3 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 09:34 PM

Good stuff. I know I can get a tiller attachment for my 550, but I don't know if it's a large enough skid to handle a landscape rake.

start2finish · #4 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 09:43 PM

im not sure what hp the 550 bobcat is, it sounds small. But they make 48 inch,60 inch, 72 inch and 90 inch rakes for skid steers I believe.

cutntrim · #5 (**permalink**) 04-26-2006, 10:25 PM

It's small (950lb operating ROC). It'd take a 48" rake, but none are listed on the Bobcat website. Smallest is a 60".

start2finish · #6 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 10:18 AM

there are severeal manufactuers of these type of rakes. The harley rake, glencoe/glanmac makes them, they make models for front deck mowers and mini's.

Woods equipment sells a glenmac rake, it is the same as harley, but built for them.

EDGE also makes a rake, I haven't used one, but have seen pictures.

and bobcat, but that seems a dead end.

cutntrim · #7 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 07:04 PM

Since I'm only looking to rent I'll probably have better luck finding a tiller, but even they're hard to come by.

Tiffany · #8 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 07:36 PM

We have a 257B CAT skidsteer on tracks.. very small .
We rent the landscape rake from Battlefield in Stoney Creek near you for $187/day ... works great for preping sites to seed as long as you have a place to dump all the debris you collect in your bucket. I think CAT and Bobcat attachments are interchangeable.

Spartacus · #9 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 08:59 PM

A Harley M6 rake (72") weighs about 900 lbs, it would be tough on that 550. The Harley M4 rake (48") is only about 500 lbs but I haven't seen one for rent except for the mini loaders. A tiller will definitly loosen the soil deeper but after you will need to make a couple of passes with a harley rake and you will hardly have to touch it with a hand rake. I had a hard time finding a tiller not long ago, only one place near me had one because they don't rent often and they break alot.

cutntrim · #10 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 11:23 PM

Thanks Tiffany. There is a Battlefield here in Burlington, but the 257B is rated at 2310lb vs. 950lb for the little Bobcat 553 that I have. A buddy of mine has a landscape rake attachment for his S185 so maybe I'll just have to get him to do the prep work for me. He's wanting to borrow my little skidsteer for some tight area jobs anyhow...

Pelican · #11 (**permalink**) 04-28-2006, 06:52 AM

Depending on the brand or style of rake, you can turn the soil up to 6" deep. Most grass roots only grow about 2" into the soil from what I've experienced, I don't see the need to go any deeper for grass. After you run your tiller, you'll still need a rake to level and grade the area anyway. I use a Harley rake exclusively, with the box end attachments it does a great job of grading.

cutntrim · #12 (**permalink**) 04-28-2006, 07:06 AM

I know that the Bobcat landscape rake can be flipped forwards to dig deeper, according to their description. Sounds like a perfect attachment to use but it won't go on my 553.

capt_met · #13 (**permalink**) 04-28-2006, 04:00 PM

have you looked at the bobcat soil conditioner?i believe your 553 is rated for one of them. it is similar to a harley rake. windrows the debris to which ever side you choose. it goes a bit deeper than the landscape rake but less than a tiller.
good luck

cutntrim · #14 (**permalink**) 04-28-2006, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by capt_met
have you looked at the bobcat soil conditioner?i believe your 553 is rated for one of them. it is similar to a harley rake. windrows the debris to which ever side you choose. it goes a bit deeper than the landscape rake but less than a tiller.
good luck

Actually I just called my Bobcat sales guy this morning and mentioned the soil conditioner. He's going to get back to me on what size one they have for rent. The 553 can only handle the smaller 48" version. I hope they have it, 'cause from the description of it on their website it seems the perfect tool for that job...especially since I've got more jobs just the same lined up.

cutntrim · #15 (**permalink**) 06-21-2006, 06:48 AM

Update: I ended up using the 48" Bobcat Soil Conditioner and it worked great. The more times you go back and forth, the more effective it is at chewing up the dead turf/clumps. I had originally anticipated bringing in more soil to fill a low area, but was able to push the chewed-up soil around with the conditioner and fill the depression without getting extra dirt. I'm using the attachment again today at a commercial site with +/- 9,000ft of dead areas to be re-sodded.

The 48" size costs $5,500 so I'll stick to rentals for now, but it does seem to be the right tool for the job.