What Is The Best Tool For Scratching Sod To Overseed?

Bill VA

Well-known Member
What is the best tool to give the sod a little scratch before overseeding without destroying it? We have got some hill ground pasture that is pretty poor, do not want to hit it with round-up or do major tillage out of erosion concerns, however, a light scratch might be good for overseeding.

What do you recommend?

Presently I have a disc and spring tooth field cultivator.

Any sage advice is much appreciated.

Thanks!
Bill
 
I would use a roller harrow(cultimulcher).Broadcast the seed first,then pull the roller narrow across.The teeth will pull up some dirt,then the rear rollers will presss the dirt firmly around the seed.For better results ,do a second pass at an opposite direction.After the next good rain,stand back and watch the new grass grow. ;)
 

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Having to choose between the disc and cultivator I would use the disc. If it has adjustable gangs set the angle so it doesnt dig deep. If not adjustable just pick it up a little.
 
I have an old Herd spreader on the back of the tractor while pulling a 12 ft. chain harrow when winter seeding clover in hay/pasture fields.

Makes it a 1 pass operation.

The harrow makes a big difference in germination rates (eyeballed, nothing scientific).

Doesn't work well in taller grass, plugs up. But this time of year, there's no taller grass left on my place.

And you just reminded me that I need to get on the ball and do some spreading. In between other jobs :)
Fred
 
The nothrill drill would be the easiest way with one pass. Otherwise just spread it on and then run a spike tooth over it a couple times if you have loose sandy type soil there. If clay it will need to be dry and not sticky or it will just ball up with whatever you use.
 
Poor pasture usually means poor fertility. Have you had a soil test done? Planting new seed into poor soil won't produce results better than what you already have. You may be time and money ahead to apply lime and fertilizer.
 
Thanks everyone for the replies - very helpful.

With regards to a rental no-til, we been down that route and it didn't work out well. The drill was in high demand, wore out and unless you one of the good ole boys, you were at the bottom of the list.

Thanks again!
Bill
 
Bill, I take it you are getting some freezing weather where you're at. You could pick a cold morning when the ground gets honeycombed and spin on your seed. When the ground thaws out it will cover the seed. If you want to be extra sure just take a cultipacker over it when thawed out, will push seed in when soft. If I remember right you have a little old spin spreader (a Herd if I remember right) you could use on a small/light tractor. Save walking it on with a hand spreader like we used to do when younger.
Keep pickin Paul
 
Scratch the top with your disk, broad cast your seed, and run a packer over it. Maybe even do the disk real light with a packer hooked behind it.
 
A good drill has a packer on it power harrowed this 3 times because it was so rough drilled it about November and some in January
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