Quick verdict
A heavy zinc-plated steel mesh mat that tows behind a lawn tractor, ATV or by hand to level top dressing, drag sand into a lawn, smooth a gravel drive or groom a baseball infield. Where a levelling rake does a lawn, a drag mat does an acre. The weight of the mesh shaves high spots and fills low ones as it slides, and zinc plating keeps it from rusting between uses. It needs something to pull it and room to turn.
Strengths
- Levels large areas fast behind a tractor or ATV
- Works top dressing sand into turf evenly
- Smooths gravel drives and groomed fields
- Zinc-plated steel resists rust
- Folds or rolls for storage
Weaknesses
- Needs a tow vehicle for anything beyond a small area
- Too aggressive for fine lawns if dragged dry and fast
- Heavy to lift onto a trailer
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Levelling by the Acre
A levelling rake does a suburban lawn in an afternoon; a large lawn, a paddock or a ball field wants something that works behind a vehicle. A drag mat is a heavy steel mesh that slides across the surface, dragging material off high spots into low ones and working sand down into turf. Yard Tuff’s is zinc-plated steel mesh that tows behind a lawn tractor or ATV and folds for storage.
This review is based on the maker’s specifications and on how steel drag mats are used in turf and field maintenance generally. We have not used this mat ourselves.
Lawn Top Dressing
Spread sand or a sand and compost mix, hitch the mat and tow it slowly across the lawn in overlapping passes, then again across the first direction. The mesh moves dressing from bumps into hollows and brushes it between the blades so the grass stands clear. Two or three passes leave a lawn flatter than any rake would in the time.
Other Surfaces
Baseball and softball infields are groomed with exactly this mat, which is where the design comes from. A gravel drive rutted by rain smooths in a couple of passes. A rotovated seedbed loses its clods and takes a fine finish before sowing. Arena sand levels the same way.
Grass Safety
Dragged slowly over dressing on an established lawn the mat does no harm. Pulled fast over dry turf with nothing to move it scuffs and tears, and added weight is for infields and gravel, not grass.
Build
Heavy steel mesh is what gives the mat its levelling weight and zinc plating is what keeps it from rusting into a solid sheet in the barn. Hose it off and hang or roll it after use.
Who Should Buy It
- Owners of large lawns with a tractor or ATV.
- Clubs and schools grooming infields.
- Anyone with a gravel drive that ruts after rain.
Common Owner Complaints
Weight when lifting and scuffing when dragged too fast. It is steel; slow down.
Technique Tips
Attach the tow chain or rope so the mat lies flat behind the vehicle with the leading edge square; a mat towed from one corner ridges the material. Drive at a slow walking pace and lift the mat clear when turning so it does not pile dressing at the end of each run. Add a short board or a few bricks on top only for infield and gravel work where more cut is wanted.
Care
Hose off sand and clay before it dries in the mesh and hang the mat or roll it loosely. Zinc plating resists rust; a mat left in a wet pile will still rust at the chain hooks.
Alternatives to Consider
The HIDALIFE or BlumeTrec levelling rake for lawns without a tow vehicle. A chain harrow for pasture. A homemade pallet drag for gravel only.
Verdict
With something to pull it, a steel drag mat levels in minutes what a rake takes hours to do, and this plated one lasts. Tow it slowly over dressing and the big lawn comes flat.
Full specifications
Yard Tuff Heavy-Duty Zinc-Plated Steel Mesh Field Surface Levelling Drag Mat FAQs
Spread sand or top dressing, then tow the mat across in overlapping passes and again at right angles. The mesh drags material from high spots into low ones and works it down between the grass blades.
For a small area, yes, with a rope and effort. It is designed for a tractor or ATV hitch.
Dragged slowly over top dressing on an established lawn, no. Dragged fast on a dry lawn with no dressing it scuffs. Add weight only for infields and gravel.
Grooming baseball and softball infields, smoothing gravel drives after rain, breaking up clods on a seedbed and levelling arena sand.
