Harley rake soil prep and leveling
A Harley rake turns rough, lumpy ground into a smooth, loose bed ready for seed or sod. It is the step between final grade and a lawn that comes in even.
Call (865) 346-6688What a Harley rake does
A Harley rake is a power rake that runs on the front of a skid steer. A turning drum breaks up the top few inches of soil and knocks down clods, while the rake gathers rocks, roots and small debris into a row so they can be picked up.
What is left is loose, level soil with no tire ruts or lumps. Seed sits in it instead of washing off, and sod lies flat.
When you need it
- A new build where the yard is packed down and full of rock after construction.
- An old lawn you are tearing out and starting over.
- Ground left rough after a trench, a demolition or a drainage fix.
- Any yard you want seeded or sodded and want to come in even.
East Tennessee ground
Around Knoxville the topsoil is often thin, and the red clay under it packs hard once trucks and machines have been on it. Rocks and chunks of limestone come up through it. A Harley rake loosens that crust and pulls the rocks out, so roots have a chance to get down.
On sloped lots we work across the slope where we can so the finished bed holds up better in a heavy rain until the grass takes.
How we do it
Call or send the form. We walk the yard with you, look at the soil, the rock and the slope, and give you a straight number in writing. Our crew brings the Caterpillar 265 skid steer and works the ground until it is ready for whoever is seeding or laying sod.
What affects the price
- The size of the area.
- How much rock, root and debris is in the soil.
- How hard the ground is packed.
- Slopes, tight spots and how easy it is to get the machine in.
What the job covers
- Breaking up packed soil
- Leveling out ruts, lumps and low spots
- Gathering rocks, roots and debris into rows
- A smooth, loose bed ready for seed or sod
- A straight written number after we walk it
Common questions
Is a Harley rake the same as grading?
No. Grading moves dirt to set the shape and slope of the yard. The Harley rake comes after, to break up and smooth the top layer. If the yard needs both, we do the grade work first.
Do you seed or lay sod?
We prep the ground. You or your landscaper put down the seed or sod once we are done.
What happens to the rocks it pulls up?
The rake gathers them into rows. How they get picked up and where they go on the property is something we settle at the site visit.
Can you work the ground when it is wet?
Red clay that is too wet smears instead of breaking up. If the ground is soaked after a heavy rain, we wait until it dries enough to work right.
Related work
Related work
Rough and final grade
We rough grade the lot after the build, then come back for final grade so the yard sheds water and is ready for seed, sod or landscaping.
Learn more02Grade work
Grade work shapes the ground so water runs where it should and the site sits the way you need it to. We walk it first and give you a straight number in writing.
Learn more03Land clean-up
Land that has sat for years fills up with brush, fallen limbs, old fencing and junk. We clear it out so you can see what you have and put it to use.
Learn moreGet a quote
Get a straight number
Tell us about the job and where it is. We will call you back to set up a time to come look.