Tiller generic tiller operation question (will it work?)

   / generic tiller operation question (will it work?) #1  

aardvark

Gold Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2004
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458
I've done a search on tillers and found alot of info, but those threads pretty much go on the assumption that the poster already knows how a tiller is used, and why it is used. I don't really fall into that category.

My scenario follows. I have alot of branches and small pieces of roots, sticks, twigs, etc, all over my yard from two hurricanes and from general overgrowth. I've picked up all the big stuff (more than a couple inches diameter, any length), and about 70% of the medium stuff (between one and two inches diameter, more than a foot long), and maybe 20%-30% of the small stuff (less than an inch diameter, less than a couple feet long). I want to not pick up the little stuff, because it's taking forever, there is a huge volume of it, and I'm not having good luck with it currently. I don't care too much about the grass that exists already, because it's not real nice, and frankly there isn't much of it anyway.

My question is, will a tiller chop up all the medium and small sized sticks and twigs, and disperse them into the soil as it tills? How fine or coarse will the they be chopped up? I don't want to plant crops or anything afterward, I'm just going to buy a truckload of sod (either Bahia or St Augustine) and have it installed. If I buy the Bahia sod, I will probably overseed as well since Bahia seed exists.

Thanks for any info
 
   / generic tiller operation question (will it work?) #2  
Personally, I don't think this would work very well. It might break them up some, depending on the wood, and probably would bury a good bit of it, but judging on how mine leaves old cornstalks you'd have pieces sticking up all over your lawn.

I would either rent or buy a landscape rake or blade and drag it all to one place. If you don't care about the lawn, weight the rake/blade a little to make sure it doesn't let any roll under it At that point you could haul it off, burn it, or chip it.
 
   / generic tiller operation question (will it work?)
  • Thread Starter
#3  
I have a landscape rake I used to pick up all the large stuff, but the small stuff kept slipping through. I think the small stuff kept slipping through because then grass was so tall after not being cut in almost a month. Grass was cut today and I'm going to drag the rake around some more tomorrow. I have a four day weekend and am trying to get as much done as I can.

Thanks
 
 
 
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