Subsoiling and Ripping
Lifting compaction and pan layers, with weed knives available on the legs.
About subsoiling and ripping
Compaction is the quiet yield thief. Headlands, gateways, old tracks, silage pits and anywhere stock or machinery has concentrated will develop a pan that roots cannot get through and water cannot drain past. Ripping fractures that layer and lets the paddock start working properly again.
The subsoiler is also handy for the awkward jobs, the tight corners and odd bits of a paddock that never get done properly with wider gear. Weed knives can be fitted to the legs to cut roots just below the surface at the same time, so one pass does two jobs.
Good for: Anyone with headlands, gateways, stock camps or old tracks that have gone hard and stopped growing.
Worth booking in
Water gets away
Fracturing the pan gives surface water somewhere to go instead of sitting and pugging.
Roots go deeper
Once the hard layer is broken, plants can reach moisture and nutrient that was previously sealed off.
Two jobs in one pass
With weed knives fitted, root cutting happens at the same time as the ripping.
How we do it
We look at where the compaction actually is before deciding depth and spacing, because ripping deeper than the pan just burns diesel and ripping shallower than it achieves nothing. Best results come when the soil is dry enough to fracture and shatter rather than smear.
Out on the job
What to expect
Ring and talk it through
Tell us the paddock, the crop and roughly when you want it in. James will give you an honest read on timing and whether the setup suits your ground.
We get you in the diary
Seasonal work fills up fast, particularly beet and maize planting. Booking early means you get the window you actually want rather than whatever is left.
Seed in the ground
We travel to you with the full setup, place the fert, plant the seed and leave the paddock ready to grow. You get told exactly what went in and at what rate.
Signs it's time to get us out
If any of these sound familiar, it's worth a quick call, we're always happy to advise before you book.
- Water ponds on the paddock long after the rain has stopped
- Headlands and gateways grow noticeably worse than the middle
- A spade will not go in easily past the top few inches
- Growth is patchy in a pattern that follows old traffic lines
Frequently asked
When is the best time to rip?
How deep do you go?
What are the weed knives for?
Can you do just the headlands?
Book subsoiling and ripping for your place
Free quotes and honest advice, right across the region.