Using a tractor to make swales

[bazman]

I was thinking of using my tractor to rip a few lines close together to break up the grass and soil, then using a rear grading blade angled into the new ripped earth to create swales, as I have a ripper and access to a grader blade for my tractor I thought this might be a ideal way for me to create them.

Anyone used a tractor like this before or have links on using a tractor to create them?

I was thinking of doing some close to my dam, so I can catch a wider area of rain run off.

[ecodharmamark]

G'day Bazman,

Sounds like you wish to put in 'diversion drains' and not 'swales', if redirecting run-off into your dam is the goal.

Daz Doherty is a whiz at this stuff - he loves it! You can find him at the following - and I'm sure he would be only too happy to point you in the right direction:

http://www.permaculture.biz/

Another site you may wish to take a peek at is Yeomans Keyline Designs:

http://www.keyline.com.au/

These guys really know their stuff - the sons of the late, and great, PA Yeomans - the Father of Keyline design.

Good luck with your plans and design, Bazman. Don't forget to tell us all about your progress in future posts.

Cheerio,

Mark.

[gardenlen]

g'day bazman,

that would work you don't say the tractor hp or if it has front hydraulics or only rear as those blades for the rear hydraulics are only meant for reasonably light work. but with care you could get the job done. have you considered just simply ripping along the contour lines to get your swale effect you should be able to rip to about 20" depth.

that way you are only driving over that ground once, and the rips aren't as obvious and permanent a landscape feature.

len :)

[Richard on Maui]

ecodharmamark and baz and all,
you can use swales as well as drains to catch and direct extra water into dams, sure. imagine the dead level bottom of your swale is at 100 feet above sea level and the top of the mound is at 102 feet above sea level, and one end of the swale ditch leads up to a pond whose spillway is also 102 feet above sea level. when that swale ditch fills up with water to the point of 102 feet above sea level, it will either overflow the swale, or if the end of the swale is slightly lower, the excess will flow into the pond.
I know I didn't explain that terribly well, but I do hope you take my meaning.
Baz, I have heard of people doing what you propose, but as I have no personal experience with using tractors for this, I won't comment, except to echo Len's comments that if you don't bite off more than you can chew you should be awright.

[bazman]

Ken, it's a MF 135 petrol, so I think it's 35-40hp, I don't have a manual yet, we don't have anything setup on the front, it's a single ripper and the grading blades down force is not that good on hard surfaces but can be angled down which would open the rip up a bit more.

I'm yet to even try the ripper so I don't know what the max depth is, but now would be a good time as the soil is still soft.

[gardenlen]

g'day baz,

the mf will do the job after all when i was growing up in a rural community that was the stock in trade tractor for the farmer in those days.

if the single ripper (looks like what you see on the back of a dozer) is the same as the one i had you will get it down to near 20"s and yes while the soil is damp makes the job easier for the tractor. those rear blades are only made for light arrable work or they can bend seen them like that many a time.

hey baz we're in brissy at present at 'd-bay' actually wonder if there is some chance we could maybe come have a look at what you are planning you know the 2 heads routine thingy :D , not that we want to change your plans and it may seem i'm a bit of a stickler on simply doing it simply eg.,. ripping single rips, as they worked so well for us.

we won't have a car friday but maybe could arrange something for sunday, can't make any assumptions but at the very least we get to meet each otehr so you can see me purple skin and eye in the middle of me forehead hey :lol: :lol: :lol:

anyhow send me an e/m and we can go from there, was planning on trying to see a few of the folka round when our move happens but maybe nows the time to get started??

len

[gardenlen]

g'day baz,

the mf will do the job after all when i was growing up in a rural community that was the stock in trade tractor for the farmer in those days.

if the single ripper (looks like what you see on the back of a dozer) is the same as the one i had you will get it down to near 20"s and yes while the soil is damp makes the job easier for the tractor. those rear blades are only made for light arrable work or they can bend seen them like that many a time.

hey baz we're in brissy at present at 'd-bay' actually wonder if there is some chance we could maybe come have a look at what you are planning you know the 2 heads routine thingy :D , not that we want to change your plans and it may seem i'm a bit of a stickler on simply doing it simply eg.,. ripping single rips, as they worked so well for us.

we won't have a car friday but maybe could arrange something for sunday, can't make any assumptions but at the very least we get to meet each otehr so you can see me purple skin and eye in the middle of me forehead hey :lol: :lol: :lol:

anyhow send me an e/m and we can go from there, was planning on trying to see a few of the folka round when our move happens but maybe nows the time to get started??

len

[bazman]

Hi Len

I just sent you a personal message with all our details

Baz