‘hobby’ Tagged Posts

Choose The Box Blade To Level Your New Yard

When it is time to level the yard after construction, one of the best tools to have on hand is a box blade. Not to be confused with a box cutter, th...

 

When it is time to level the yard after construction, one of the best tools to have on hand is a box blade. Not to be confused with a box cutter, the box blade is a large implement designed for use with a tractor that is designed to contour and smooth the ground.

While most box blades are designed to attach to a tractor using a three point hitch, you will also find that there are smaller versions that are designed for use with a lawn tractor or an ATV. The three point hitch makes use of the blade much easier, as the operator is able to adjust the height of the blade as well as the tilt of the blade using the hydraulic system of the tractor. The hitch and implement can be adjusted using the hydraulic leavers and the operator never has to leave his seat on the tractor. In addition, the adjustments can be made while the blade is in motion.

Most box blades are designed for cutting in both a forward and backward motion. Most blades have three or more ripper shanks in the front of the box. These shanks can be used for breaking up hardened soil and for rough leveling. If not needed, they can also be retracted. More expensive box blades allow the operator to operate the unit in reverse with a floating blade for finishing work in leveling.

The correct size of box blade will depend on the area that you are working with. If you have a very small area to level, you may find that a small forty two inch model that is made for use with a small lawn tractor or even an ATV will do an adequate job. If you have a much larger area that you need to level, then you will want the larger six foot unit. Just be warned, the larger blades require larger tractors to have adequate force for working the blade.

Some large commercial blades come with laser guidance systems. The systems automatically adjust the hydraulic system to keep the blade level with the ground.

Before beginning to level the ground, it is important to remove large rocks, logs or other objects that may interfere with the process. Any large dirt piles can be cut back by using the blade in reverse like a bulldozer. This helps to ensure that the tractor is always operated on fairly level surfaces to lower the chance of tipping over.

Now you will be able to lower the shanks to break up any hard ground that may be found. The shanks can also be used for rough leveling of high spots in the yard. Once those spots are loosened up, raise the shanks and use the blade to move the dirt as necessary. This operation may require that you get off of the tractor, so use proper safety procedures.

The last pass you make will be with the blade in the floating position and done in reverse. This gives the final grade to the new lawn.

Are you looking into smoothing and contouring your yard? If so, then the box blade and the box scraper is the way to go. This equipment can easily be hooked to the back of your tractor.

A Review Of Farm Tractor Implements Today

 

Farm tractors have traditionally be used solely on farms. This has changed gradually as technological advancements in farm tractor implements have improved over the years. Today, farm tractors are used on large parcels of land in residential and park areas and as part of many highway programs.

There are many sizes and styles of farm tractors. Some of the tractors are extremely large with implements built in to the frame of the tractor. Other farm tractors are smaller with a hitch on which the implement can be secured and used. The tractors provide an easy and versatile way to accomplish many of the tasks that must be done to maintain and properly run a large parcel of land.

On large parcels of residential land and golf courses, the most common compact tractor attachments that are seen are bushhogs. These are mowing attachments that attach to the tractor with a hitch. The blades of the mower can be adjusted and are made of a heavy duty steel that allows them to cut through most obstructions in the field.

When a parcel of land is first being prepared a set of implements are used that are grouped together as a planting system. The system consists of a cultivator, seed and fertilizer hopper, and coulter. This system will successfully plant a large field with almost any type of seed. In addition, it is a popular system for large parcels that include golf courses where grass must be planted evenly over several acres of land.

Farm tractors are very versatile when used in mountainous areas. In the past a snow blower and grader were separate pieces of equipment that were used independently of each other. With a farm tractor a combination of snow blower and grader can be attached to the tractor easily.

Many farms have ponds that provide agricultural and livestock water through canals. When the pond becomes full of debris and sediment, the usable water levels can be reduced. With a pond scoop attachment, it is very easy to remove debris and sediment from the pond. You might also wish to attach the front load scoop to your tractor to scoop smaller areas.

There are several safety features on the attachments for farm tractors. The hitch is secured with a chain or locking mechanism. In addition there are also safety harnesses for the equipment. A person driving a tractor with an implement hitched to it does not have to worry about the equipment coming loose from the hitch.

The quality of soil in paddocks and arenas can play an important part in an animals ability to perform properly. The chain harrow provides aeration and tilling for the soil. The soil is leveled, but provides the soft surface that is necessary for optimum performance in the arena.

Farm tractor implements are designed in many sizes to fit the different styles of tractors made. Some of the implements are very large and wide to make working in a large field faster and easier. Other tractors and implements are designed for smaller parcels of land and have implements that fit on a sign trailer which also attaches to the tractor.

If you are a farmer, or manage a a farm, you shall be needing Farm Tractor Implements. If you searched on the internet, you shall find that there are a load of Tractor Implements being sold.

Farm Tractor Equipment: A Big Money And Past Past

 

It is becoming extremely popular for many households to resort back to yesterday with growing their own food and running large farms. If you are considering purchasing land for farming you will need to look at numerous varieties of farm tractor equipment. This type of machinery comes in a variety of sizes as well as a variety of prices. Many pieces of equipment can be very expensive depending on the additional attachments and how modern you want to go.

Tractors have a fascinating history. In 1897 the first tractor was developed for optimal use and they have been going strong since. This much needed farm necessity has seen many changes over the years. Currently there are tractors small enough to simply mow the lawn to extensive enough to help with a large farm. We haven’t even touch on the many garden tractor implements as well!

It is hard not to be taken aback when you view a vintage tractor. The nostalgia kicks in and the first impulse is to purchase a vintage piece of equipment for help with the farm. However, in reality it is wise to steer clear from nostalgia and think futuristic.

Years ago the only place you would see a tractor would be in the country and then it was a luxury compared to many neighbors who used a horse and plow… They have definitely improved since the early steam powered models. The tractor equipment has improved the ease of farm work and is used for sowing to reaping and any other chore in between. They can now be operated off of gas or diesel and can do everything from plowing one acre to one thousand acres.

Working a farm is a hard job. It does not matter if you are working two or two hundred acres, the day is long and the pay is little, but it continues to be a rewarding type of work. The new equipment has made the work a little easier or at least more comfortable. They come with heat for the winter and air for the summer. Attachments can be added for plowing snow or the field and the ride is definitely smoother.

It can cost thousands upon thousands of dollars to purchase equipment necessary to operate a farm. Making it crucial to know what compact tractor implements you need before beginning the search. If you only need a tractor to mow with, there are many models available and in a variety of sizes.

Many times farm equipment can be bought used and refurbished for further use. Many estate sales in country areas will offer great prices for heavy equipment needed to maintain a farm. Be cautious thought that you do not purchase vintage for refurbishing only to find that it is more for look than use.

Determine how large of a tractor you will need and look through county ads for sales. If you purchase a vintage model, keep in mind that they should only be used sparingly or for show. It is interesting to find an old piece of equipment at a local auction. Most cannot wait to get their new toy home to tear it apart and see just what it’s made of.

Always remember safety when using farm tractor equipment. Children adore these for rides, but caution must be exercised as many accidents can occur with children and large equipment. If you take care of the equipment and keep the maintenance up they will last for many years.

Looking for Tractor Equipment can be as time consuming as searching for a new vehicle. Tractor Equipment comes in an endless variety of sizes, shapes and styles. The Farm implements you purchase will be based on your tractor’s size and intended use.

Implements to Make Your Garden Grow

 

The days of planting and maintaining a garden by hand are long gone. Tractors have been around for a pretty good while and have evolved into necessary equipment for gardening. The tractor implements that are being manufactured today to help create the highest yielding crops and are now readily available for purchase online and delivered directly to you.

Today, most tractors provide a 3 point hitch system coupled with a PTO hook up to make short work of even the most difficult farming and gardening tasks. This allows you to connect plows, post hole diggers cultivators, disc harrows, tillers, fertilizer spreaders, and planters just to name a few, but let’s not jump ahead. Some farming implements are going to be powered by the PTO of the tractor, while other are just connected and pulled behind the tractor. If you have a tractor with a front end loader then you will also be able to connect a multitude of other attachments to the front of your tractor.

Garden tractors can greatly benefit from having a front end loader installed. Most tractor owners use this to attach a bucket to their tractor, but this is only one of many attachments that can be used if you have a universal quick attach hitch on your loader. Many farmers not only have crops, but livestock as well that need hay carried to and from pastures and fields. 4 in 1 buckets for front end loaders are a good example of how to utilize your loader for more uses.

So, you may be asking yourself, what implements should I consider owning to create the best garden possible without having to pick up a hoe? There is a basic set of attachments take help to produce a healthy crop, so keep on reading. If you are planting a garden, a garden tractor plow is almost a necessity. A plow allows you to turn the earth and prepare the soil for planting your garden. If you have a smaller compact tractor then it is usually a good idea to use a One Bottom Plow. For larger tractors, a farm plow or two bottom plow is the better choice. This will allow you to plow your garden or field faster if your tractor has the horsepower to pull it.

Once you have used your turning plow on your garden, the very next move is to go ahead and eliminate the large hard dirt clods. For this next step you will need either a disc harrow, or a rotary tiller. Depending on the size of disc harrow your tractor can pull, the disc harrow is normally the cheaper of the two, but requires more work in the form of several passes to get the soil prepared to plant in. It is simply connected to the 3pt. hitch and pulled behind the tractor and lowered so that the discs are slicing the dirt clods into smaller pieces.

Considering the tremendous amount of time that can be saved, many gardeners prefer to use a PTO driven tiller instead of a disc harrow. Yes, the rotary tillers do cost more up front, but this is easily justified if you have a large garden that you can prepare for planting your crops in one pass instead of two or more depending on how fine you like your soil to be. One more thing to consider when buying a tiller is whether or not your tractor has the horsepower to pull a tiller the full width of your tractor. If not, look for a tiller that has a clevis hitch so that you can offset the tiller to clear out one side of your tire tracks to keep from ending up with a hard spot in your garden.

Now that the soil ready to plant, the next step is to create a raised garden bed to plant your crop in. A great tool for this is known as a garden hiller or garden bedders. You can find a 3 in 1 tool that will allow you to complete the next couple steps with a single farm tractor attachment. Everything Attachments offers a garden cultivator with a bolt on bedder, furrowing attachment, and cultivator all in one. Once you have created you raised beds, many garden farmers tend to make a pass over each row with a furrowing attachment to make a small V into each row. This creates a place for the gardener to place their seed and easily cover it up with the soil on either side.

Once all of the garden is planted, garden farmers are faced with the task of keeping weeds and unwanted plants from choking out the intended plants of their crop. There are two ways to do this as well. You can get up in the morning and use an old fashioned hoe, or you can use a garden tractor cultivator. Basically, you attach the cultivator to the three point hitch of the tractor and space your shanks apart so that you do not disturb the roots of the planted crop and drive down each row of your field or garden. The cultivator will rip up the unwanted weeds and leave your crop intact. Once your crop grows enough, you will find that it will shade the areas beside the row and prevent the wide spread growth of the weeds.

Before you drive down to your local Tractor Equipment store, if you are looking for American Made Attachments for your tractor . . . try the Everything Attachments website

categories: farming,tips,advice,hobby,garden,organic food,gardening,tractors

Backyard Ponds – What You Need To Know About Wildlife Ponds

 

When asked to think about a pond, most of us will probably imagine a very “clean pond” with clear waters, filters, pumps and fish swimming around. On rare occasions you will find an entrepreneurial person that have transformed his outdoor pond into a wildlife pond.

Let’s try to define a wildlife pond. Such a pond can be viewed as an environment that naturally sustains itself. A part of your garden where you are mostly an observer and you let nature take care of the rest.

Main steps to create a wildlife outdoor pond:

1. Select a site close to nature, where wildlife have free access to your pond.

2. Build your pond as described below.

3. Add a bit of “dirty water” from a natural wildlife pond.

4. Let it be with least interference.

5. Eventually the environment will take care of the rest.

If you do it right your ecosystem will be autonomous and you won’t even have to take care of the creatures living in your wildlife outdoor pond!

Guidelines to build a wildlife pond. You can use informal ponds plans and ideas to build a wildlife pond, but there will be no need for filters and aeration as your ecosystem will naturally take care of this. To attract toads and other types of wildlife your pond needs a healthy population of insects, therefor your pond won’t have fish in it, as they will destroy your insect population.

Place your pond close to nature, at the very edge of your property. But remember that your pond was build to attract insects, frogs and other animals, so to avoid future problems, place it on a site far from your house and neighbors property.

Leave the area around the pond untidy, high vegetation can be a nice hiding spot to animals you want to attract.

A secret ingredient that will make the difference. Find a naturally occurring wildlife pond, take some water from it and introduce it into your pond. The organisms you got from the natural pond will populate your newly created wildlife pond.

What kind of creatures will you attract? The water you took from a natural pond will kick start a rich population of insects. First comers will probably be pond skaters later followed by dragonflies. The next step is the arrival of toads, frogs and birds, the insect predators. You can buy toads and snails and introduce them to your pond, but make sure to keep the balance of your ecosystem. If the mosquito population starts to get out of control, you can add snails to keep them water clean of their eggs.

Pond building have a large number of options, and wildlife ponds are not always the most popular, but if well planned and executed it can be a wonderful part of your backyard.

Learn more about Pond Building. Visit Michael W.’s site where you can find out all about backyard ponds, with practical tips, tutorials and inspiration.