Is there any point in chain harrowing grassland?

[Selectamatic]

Hello everyone...

Im thinking of what's to be done in the spring, and am considering drawing a set of chain harrows over the ground, followed by, probably a dose of 20/10/10.

My reasoning is that it will level out the millions of molehills I seem to have (Mole catcher at it, but bloody mole hills everywhere...) and the thought that it will tear out some dead grass, and give the ground a bit of a airing and a boost as it starts to grow early on in the season.

What is the collective thought about chain harrowing, does it do any good, or is it just a chance to ride a tractor round a field?

 

[Flat 10]

Hello everyone...

Im thinking of what's to be done in the spring, and am considering drawing a set of chain harrows over the ground, followed by, probably a dose of 20/10/10.

My reasoning is that it will level out the millions of molehills I seem to have (Mole catcher at it, but bloody mole hills everywhere...) and the thought that it will tear out some dead grass, and give the ground a bit of a airing and a boost as it starts to grow early on in the season.

What is the collective thought about chain harrowing, does it do any good, or is it just a chance to ride a tractor round a field?

You don't want soil in hay or silage so probably worth harrowing just to level those.........

 

[Kevtherev]

Yes but don't over do it

 

[Anonymous...]

We always give our mowing land a run with chain harrow, then stone pick and roll, only because we have done a lot of draining and it is slowly removing hidden stones and levels bumps

 

[Derrick Hughes]

A good farmer dont have moles so he dont need to waste his time playing with Iron

 

[tinsheet]

Everything that is safe to drive on gets a pass over with a grass harrow in the spring, levels any mole hills breaks up dung pats rips out dead grasses, best tool we ever bought.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Of course, chain harrow or tine harrow plus roller, ideal.

Please soil test before just arbitrarily throwing 20.10.10 on, where is your sulphur for starters?

 

[Derrick Hughes]

It was an old custom that those who aquired a new tractor over the winter wanted to get out and show off their new toy .so they thought up tbe useless waste of time and fuel passtime of chain harrowing so they could do just that

 

[Kevtherev]

Chain harrows were about before tractors

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Remember Taid (grandfather) telling the story of next door neighbour using a blackthorn bush dragged by the horse as a harrow after spreading muck!!!!!

 

[Beef farmer]

Chain harrows were only used to warm the horses up for some real work.

 

[sleepy]

Hello everyone...

Im thinking of what's to be done in the spring, and am considering drawing a set of chain harrows over the ground, followed by, probably a dose of 20/10/10.

My reasoning is that it will level out the millions of molehills I seem to have (Mole catcher at it, but bloody mole hills everywhere...) and the thought that it will tear out some dead grass, and give the ground a bit of a airing and a boost as it starts to grow early on in the season.

What is the collective thought about chain harrowing, does it do any good, or is it just a chance to ride a tractor round a field?

I don't think it does any good to the grass, but it is quite useful for breaking up any remaining sheep dung from winter guest and levelling out any mole hills / sheep tracks etc, which is why I do it.

 

[DrWazzock]

A power Harrow running shallow with levelling board scraping the ground towing a set of upside down zig zags is much better if you are serious about leveling molehills.

Then let the rain wash the soil in. Roll once the grass has had time to come through again, otherwise you just end up with bigger bald patches.

Too much chain harrowing can coarsen the grass mix, ripping out the fine ones and leaving the coarse ones.

Admit it looks nice and makes me feel better though.

 

[tr250]

Hello everyone...

Im thinking of what's to be done in the spring, and am considering drawing a set of chain harrows over the ground, followed by, probably a dose of 20/10/10.

My reasoning is that it will level out the millions of molehills I seem to have (Mole catcher at it, but bloody mole hills everywhere...) and the thought that it will tear out some dead grass, and give the ground a bit of a airing and a boost as it starts to grow early on in the season.

What is the collective thought about chain harrowing, does it do any good, or is it just a chance to ride a tractor round a field?

Are you all sheep? In a mixed grazing situation I can't see the point as cattle level mole hills. And hammering with sheep in winter pulls out old grass. Dad let us do some as kids to train us up and keep us entertained but not done any since. I have tried the chain harrows to chit blackgrass in arable with not a great deal of success

 

[Paul E]

Get those molehills blasted!
Big lump of wood on the front to level them off, and a longer rope helps too as it pulls more level with the ground.
Also, do it when its as dry as possible - which in north Wales will probably be July (!) and get your molie man in the day after to see what he's missed.

 

[exmoor dave]

Get those molehills blasted!
Big lump of wood on the front to level them off, and a longer rope helps too as it pulls more level with the ground.
Also, do it when its as dry as possible - which in north Wales will probably be July (!) and get your molie man in the day after to see what he's missed.

Sheet of heavy weld mesh does a great job on mole hills

 

[exmoor dave]

A power Harrow running shallow with levelling board scraping the ground towing a set of upside down zig zags is much better if you are serious about leveling molehills.

Then let the rain wash the soil in. Roll once the grass has had time to come through again, otherwise you just end up with bigger bald patches.

Too much chain harrowing can coarsen the grass mix, ripping out the fine ones and leaving the coarse ones.

Admit it looks nice and makes me feel better though.

Flail topper with blunt hammers does a similar job, set tight to ground does a much better job of pulling up thatch and spreading dung than a grass Harrow.
Cuts the grass as well!

Found this out by accident!


Barely use our grass harrow, thinking of trying it for bruising bracken instead of a roller, or might even take the tine sections off and replace with weed wipers to make a 6m weed wiper.

 

[Philip Watkins]

A good farmer dont have moles so he dont need to waste his time playing with Iron

Moles means plenty of worms and a healthy soil so good farmers will have more moles.

 

[Paul E]

Moles means plenty of worms and a healthy soil so good farmers will have more moles.

The farmers with good soil will have more moles.
Neighbour has lots of moles - a good farmer he is not!

 

[Welsh Farmer]

I always like to harrow our grassland around the house but you have to catch it just right to make the job worthwhile imo.