Best implement to mix/cultivate soil under trees.

[Yamezz]

I have a parcel of land with fairly large trees that I would like to renovate. The ground is basically a layer of years of fallen leaves and branches mixed with loose sand, over sandy clay. I'd like to mix the top layer with the sandy clay beneath, mixing the humus and nutrients with the more gutsy soil underneath. The top layer varies from about an inch thick to six inches thick. What would be the best implement to attack this job with? Would a set of discs be best? I'm thinking the presence of tree roots may be a problem for another attachment, but the discs may skip across them.

 

[newbury]

Probably pigs would work best.

 

[jonnyc1999]

I like the idea of pigs like Newbury said, although I would hate to take care of them. I would think that a disk would cut through the soil nicely but would probably also damage the roots just as much as a tiller or rake. I'm not sure there is a good answer to your problem, but i'd be curious to hear your outcome since I'm in the same boat at my property

 

[Yamezz]

I'm currently leaning towards a scarifier with coil springs.

 

[clemsonfor]

you will damage the important feeder roots to the trees causing stress and top dieback with the root damage you will cause.

 

[Egon]

There are attachments that slide out from the tractor and cultivate around the tree.

 

[greg_g]

Back a landscape rake up to the trunk, and adjust the top link for an aggressive tine angle. Then pull away, dragging as much as the rake will pull. Repeat until you get down to the point where roots interfere. To get all 360 degrees, you'll have to shift your approach 3 times - by 90 degrees each. Once the material is removed from the trunk, treat as desired - then use a box blade or front loader to redistribute the material beneath the tree

//greg//

 

[clemsonfor]

I think he wants to mix the organic leaf litter in with the top 2 soil layers so doing the rake thing and pulling the material away and tilling or disking them putting the litter back wont accomplish the goal?

I may be wrong but i wont reread it all so forgive me if i put my foot in my mouth by missunderstanding the OP.

 

[jeff9366]

I think your original idea of using a disc harrow is good.

You will likely need 4-WD for traction when pulling a disc harrow in sandy conditions, after your first pass.

If you have Position Control on one of your two John Deeres you can "set" the disc harrow to maintain any height (=depth) you want. Without Position Control you will have to work the 3-Pt hitch Hydraulic Control Lever to adjust disc depth for consistency. No problem for your task.

If you adjust the disc harrow gangs so the front gangs are pointing forward and the rear gangs pointing back, [ >< ] disc harrow will mix and scatter without cutting very much. This is termed "aggressive" positioning of the gangs, even though gang discs penetrate least set thus.

Gang discs cut deepest positioned "straight". [ = ]

( Rusty, bent, beat up disc harrows can be impossible to adjust. )

Smooth discs are less prone to catch roots than slotted discs; slotted discs chop better.

With a disc you will have a lot of flexibility. Remember to LIFT the implement before commencing turns.

I would NOT be concerned about roots of "fairly large trees" in Florida but it may be different Down Under.

Let's get 'er done!

OPTIONAL:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/275147-disc-harrow-primer-howse-disc.html

 

[Arc weld]

Best is a relative term. A Humus machine made in France is made specifically for cultivating under tree's. They are very expensive though. Back in the 80's they were over $7000 Canadian! I bought 3 at an auction for $300 each cause nobody knew what they were. I sold one for $2400. They came in 5', 6' and 7' models. They attach to the 3pt. hitch and have an automatic sliding arm with a rotary cultivator head with 3 almost vertical teeth. A sensor arm hits the tree and depending on how hard it pushes on the tree, makes the arm slide in around the tree. Springs pull the unit back after passing the tree. They work really slick! In the archives on here are some pictures of one. Look under offset vineyard cultivator.