Clearing land for a garden and orchard
- Thread starter BCrouse
- Start date
A day settling. The roots seem to be poking through more.
Options:
1) hit it with a landscaper rake and try and pull some of the roots out. Then depending on the surface, another pass with the tiller
2) hit it a few more times with the tiller, hoping to chop the roots up.
Options:
1) hit it with a landscaper rake and try and pull some of the roots out. Then depending on the surface, another pass with the tiller
2) hit it a few more times with the tiller, hoping to chop the roots up.
I wouldn't be able to resist taking a landscape rake to it. I am not certain stuff grows better, but it would make getting seed started easier if you are doing rows of veggies. And the fewer of those roots left around to start new weed plants the better. The time I rototilled in the corner of the mint patch I had mint come up everywhere, not just in the corner.
That looks like rich soil. But the roots you are dealing with are different than the larger ones I had. Mine varied from as thick as your arm to as thick as your leg. Once they dried out they stacked like lightweight driftwood and burned up completely. This viney clingy network you are dealing with may not cooperate with the landscape rake. I'd try anyway if only to comb out as many rocks as possible. You may find it more effective to let the ground fallow this season; see what growth pops up from those roots and use a weed killer on it. Once dead another tilling should break it loose and then it might rake out better. Just a thought.
Best of luck getting it like you want it.
Clay
Best of luck getting it like you want it.
Clay
Another suggestion that was made was to clear as many rocks as possible then hit the roots with a bushhog. It hasnt rained since i tilled yet. I would think the bushhog's rear wheel would sink quite a bit. Would make setting the cutting height interesting.
And it would be one heck of a dust storm!
And it would be one heck of a dust storm!
i bought a attachment that had curved spring tines about 18-20 inches long. to scrape the ground and catch roots with. when the tines filled up i would raise it just enough to drag the roots and limbs to the side. but not high enough to let them fall. several passes from different directions took care of most of the roots. the next time i used the rototiller, i hardly had any junk get tangled up in the tines.
some equipment that might be interesting for you...
i couldn't find an example of what i'm using..
http://www.stevenstractor.com/farm-equipment/gardening-implements.html
some equipment that might be interesting for you...
i couldn't find an example of what i'm using..
http://www.stevenstractor.com/farm-equipment/gardening-implements.html
He's probably talking about a field cultivator.
Ripping it up really good with a subsoiler then following up with a chisel plow or field cultivator works really well for getting up the roots.
Ripping it up really good with a subsoiler then following up with a chisel plow or field cultivator works really well for getting up the roots.
Yep I'm not sure a landscape rake has enough backbone to pull the roots out, a good C tine cultivator with chisel points would probably do it or at least ball them up. Depending on how many rocks are left
maybe a good discing to cut them up more and running the tiller a few more times would get more of them out...Or you could pull the bottom plow back out and turn it again perpendicular to your original pattern and then till it again.
I like pulling a bottom plow
Yep I'm not sure a landscape rake has enough backbone to pull the roots out, a good C tine cultivator with chisel points would probably do it or at least ball them up. Depending on how many rocks are left
Or you could pull the bottom plow back out and turn it again perpendicular to your original pattern and then till it again.
I like pulling a bottom plow
I have a new (old) piece of farm kit I am fixing up. Its a homemade toolbar with a mix of parts what I believe are JD and IH.
Ordered some new/replacement parts to swap all of the shank attachment on it between sweeps and chisel points. So, I should be able to pull that through with the points once I get everything replaced.
I've been trying to smooth up and shape what my wife & I refer to as our yard. Too many rocks and sandy conditions but over the last few days its shaping up somewhat. I'm using a 5ft Tractor Supply rototiller and its been quite the beast. Very pleased with it to date. Not sure there is an ideal set of tools and implements for each situation. To some extent it seems you get by as best you can with what you have.
Attachments
My single row planter arrived. I got it assembled and tested the seed plate for peas with the cover crop seed I got. Oats and peas. Worked well.
I still need to take the landscaper rake to it I think. Those roots are just overwhelming.
Looking towards the garden. Its still behind some brush from where I am. Orchard will be straight ahead and a pond (maybe...) off to the left.
I still need to take the landscaper rake to it I think. Those roots are just overwhelming.
Looking towards the garden. Its still behind some brush from where I am. Orchard will be straight ahead and a pond (maybe...) off to the left.
Had a little time this AM before I had to do some other things...
Set the rake at an angle.
After 2 passes (mostly, only 1 pass on the left side)
Slowly pulling the roots and larger rocks out.
Im going to take all the leftover root and dirt and put it into the compost pile. I don't want to waste good organic material and dirt. It'll get incorporated back in at some point.
Set the rake at an angle.
After 2 passes (mostly, only 1 pass on the left side)
Slowly pulling the roots and larger rocks out.
Im going to take all the leftover root and dirt and put it into the compost pile. I don't want to waste good organic material and dirt. It'll get incorporated back in at some point.
