Am I Plowing or discing?

Guys,

I'm a newbie and seeking some feedback.

I've come into some 50+ acres of land (and an unoccupied house) the family has owned for about 13 years. It's mostly ridge like forested hills not good for much but the bottom land has some potential. It would be a nice place to retire to or to move to if I'm ever able to work remotely from there. Non AG taxes are a killer and it only takes one horse to qualify for a AG tax break which would reduce the tax burden by 75%. With that in mind, in Nov '08 I had 2.5-3.0 acres bulldozed with the intent of creating some grass land to support one or more horses.

The cleared section rests between the bottom of a hill and a 10' deep runoff river bed that cuts through the property so when it rains, the ground gets pretty soft. The three brush piles of been drying out for a year and we started to burn them down in the last couple of weeks. They need probably one more burn and then the last of the unburned debris scooped into a final single burn pile. When that is completed, I need to then clear the land of any residual debris (dead roots, rocks, etc) before planting some type of grass.

Question: What is the best way to accomplish that final cleanup? I know there are different types of plows and I figure I don't need to go very deep for grass so is there a better type plow to use behind my 8N?

Thanks for the insight!

-Bill
Dallas, TX
1948 Ford 8N (built in '47)
Front mounted Dist, Converted to 12v
http://photobucket.com/Ford_8N

I'd say just disc it, spread your seed, and then drag it with a harrow to cover the seed with a little soil and smooth it all out.

Probably would be a good idea to have a soil test done to see what amendments are needed such as lime, fertilizer etc.

Since this land has just been cleared, using a plow will give you fits- there are bound to be a lot of roots still remaining. Use the heaviest disk you can find- an offset disc would be ideal. The disk will roll over the big roots and cut up the small ones. You don't mention if you have rocks- another argument for the disk.

(quoted from post at 23:47:07 11/29/09) Since this land has just been cleared, using a plow will give you fits- there are bound to be a lot of roots still remaining. Use the heaviest disk you can find- an offset disc would be ideal. The disk will roll over the big roots and cut up the small ones. You don't mention if you have rocks- another argument for the disk.

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Oops! You did mention rocks. I bet I'm not the first person to wish this forum had an edit function built in, like other forums...

Yeah, I'm pretty sure there will be some rocks so will have to exercise due care. Sounds like discing is the path to go on the first go around.

Thanks for the valued feedback!

-Bill
Dallas, TX
1948 Ford 8N (built in '47)
Front mounted Dist, Converted to 12v
http://photobucket.com/Ford_8N

BLDFW
I also agree that a disc plow is what you'll need.

What kind of grass do you intend to plant?

buy or rent a dozer with a root rake and go over the land ,this will bring up rocks roots and anything else thats hides below the surface .and no flats with tracks

(quoted from post at 05:12:00 11/30/09)
BLDFW
I also agree that a disc plow is what you'll need.

What kind of grass do you intend to plant?

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My initial research suggested Bermuda but honestly don't know yet. I'm going to confer with the dairy farmer next door. He purchased some 60 acres of forested land from my mother and cleared it for additional pastureland and two homes, one for himself and his son who will succeed him. After clearing, he tilled it and then planted some kind of grass clippings that had to be spread by hand (not seed).

-Bill
Dallas, TX
1948 Ford 8N (built in '47)
Front mounted Dist, Converted to 12v
http://photobucket.com/Ford_8N

(quoted from post at 21:41:06 11/30/09) buy or rent a dozer with a root rake and go over the land ,this will bring up rocks roots and anything else thats hides below the surface .and no flats with tracks

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That thought occurred to me when watching the bulldozer clearing the land. I kept looking at those huge rakes on the back thinking that I should ask him to rake the sections he just cleared but regretfully I did not act on that. I thought about asking him to come back and rake but that would likely double the cost of the overall clearing expense. Since I don't have to go that deep I'm thinking simple discing will suffice

-Bill
Dallas, TX
1948 Ford 8N (built in '47)
Front mounted Dist, Converted to 12v
http://photobucket.com/Ford_8N

Coastal Bermuda will survive better if you have a good seedbed. Most people start digging sprigs around here in February. Horses need to be kept off newly sprigged ground for at least a year to prevent runners from being eaten.