Can Riding Mowers Pull Heavy Lawn Rollers?

Preparing the Roller

• Prior to attaching the roller to the riding mower, any debris in the lawn should be removed; otherwise, items, such as branches and rocks, can be pushed down and compacted into the soil. If you're using a water-filled roller, do not fill it all the way up; instead, fill it halfway and do a practice roll to see if the lawn is sufficiently flattened and not too compacted. Add or drain the water, as needed, until the desired level of compaction is achieved.

Operating the Lawn Roller

• A fully laden roller can weigh up to 400 pounds. Your riding mower will need an appropriate hitch to pull it. Make sure to install one that is recommended by the manufacturer prior to attempting to pull a lawn roller. When pulling the roller, make sure to operate your riding mower's throttle fully open. When attempting to roll on hills, always go up and down them instead of side-to-side to reduce the chances of a roll-over.

How to Roll

• The technique for proper lawn rolling is much like that of lawn mowing or fertilizing. It can be done in a circular fashion to make a wider path with each successive lap or in a back and forth motion. Either method will work, but care should be taken to just barely overlap each previous roll so that the same area is not too compacted.

Benefits of Lawn Rolling

• Lawn rolling can be beneficial if performed for a few specific purposes. A light rolling of a newly seeded area will increase and improve the soil-to-seed contact, which will improve germination. Likewise, rolling a lawn, after sod has been laid, will improve the contact between the sod's roots and the soil, which will establish the lawn sooner. A light rolling will also help smooth out rough areas caused by mole damage or frost heaving.

Consequences of Lawn Rolling

• Lawn rolling can damage the quality and thickness of turf if done excessively. Turf that is growing on sandy or loamy soils can tolerate rolling better than wet, heavy soils. The resulting compaction will lead to a reduction in the vigor and hardiness of the lawn grass. Soil moisture stress and the related diseases can also be increased in lawns that are rolled too frequently or deeply.