New Garden need help

BuilderML · May 8, 2013

Thanks in advance for the help,
I have a question about putting in a new garden, Size will be 40x60, I am in the process of removing the existing sod/grass. The topsoil that i am removing along with the sod is really nice stuff. This is what i am thinking of doing and would really like your input. I will make a pile of the existing sod/topsoil mix and cover with a tarp about 1-2 weeks to kill of the grass. I am also bringing in 18 yards of 1" screened topsoil. Also 18 yards of manure, Mix it all together spread it out and hope for the best. My main question would be is the pile with the grass that will hopefully have been killed off be ok to use in the mix or should i just set it aside. Any other ideas you guys and gals might have would be great.
These are a few pictures half way done before the rain started

sam5570 · May 8, 2013

BuilderML said:
Thanks in advance for the help,
I have a question about putting in a new garden, Size will be 40x60, I am in the process of removing the existing sod/grass. The topsoil that i am removing along with the sod is really nice stuff. This is what i am thinking of doing and would really like your input. I will make a pile of the existing sod/topsoil mix and cover with a tarp about 1-2 weeks to kill of the grass. I am also bringing in 18 yards of 1" screened topsoil. Also 18 yards of manure, Mix it all together spread it out and hope for the best. My main question would be is the pile with the grass that will hopefully have been killed off be ok to use in the mix or should i just set it aside. Any other ideas you guys and gals might have would be great.
These are a few pictures half way done before the rain started
View attachment 316937 View attachment 316938

i would by all means use the sod on th garden, after all it's top soil. i don't think you are going to kill all the grass by covering it up for a couple weeks. when you un cover it will show back up in about 3 day's. the cow manure will be good.

farmgirl19 · May 8, 2013

Yes, you will wnat to save and use the topsoil. You can add it to a compost heap, but it will take the summer to kill the grass and seeds. You can then add it into your garden and till it in next Spring. I always have 2 compost heaps going. One that is older, and nothing has been added to recently, so I can use it when and where needed, and the "fresh" one, that will be ready when the first one is close to placed in the garden. Actually, if I had 3, it would be best, but space becomes an issue then, if the piles are very large.

Western · May 8, 2013

I think I would have just tilled it under then added the new soil and manure, but I like the easy way:laughing: The guys have given you good advice, definitely keep it, it's already paid for when you bought the place:thumbsup:

farmgirl19 · May 8, 2013

Western said:
I think I would have just tilled it under then added the new soil and manure, but I like the easy way:laughing: The guys have given you good advice, definitely keep it, it's already paid for when you bought the place:thumbsup:

That would have worked too, but it looked like he had already taken up the sod. And not knowing if the soil is sandy, or clay, tilling might be harder than what he has done, if it has a clay consistency.

BuilderML · May 8, 2013

Rain let up enough to finish the other half, Figured i would finally post some pictures of the tractor. If i had a tiller i would of gone that route. No clay around here just sandy gravel luckly this was farm land many years ago so i have a nice amount of topsoil.

dave1949 · May 8, 2013

Nice project. I think you did the best thing by stripping the sod off. You will be fertilizing and watering the garden, tilled in sod would have ideal growing conditions. You would be weeding and pulling grass clumps all summer IMO.

I vote for composting the sod. Make piles of a size you can easily get at and turn with your FEL several times this summer, add some of the manure to the piles too. Throw on grass trimmings and clippings, kitchen non-meat scraps, weeds you pull, leaves in the fall and keep turning it. All those plant things will offset the amount of dirt hanging on the sod.

18 yards of manure for 40x60 sounds like plenty. I think you will have quite a bit leftover and that's a good thing. Is it relatively fresh manure or has it been composted?

BuilderML · May 8, 2013

dave1949 said:
Nice project. I think you did the best thing by stripping the sod off. You will be fertilizing and watering the garden, tilled in sod would have ideal growing conditions. You would be weeding and pulling grass clumps all summer IMO.

I vote for composting the sod. Make piles of a size you can easily get at and turn with your FEL several times this summer, add some of the manure to the piles too. Throw on grass trimmings and clippings, kitchen non-meat scraps, weeds you pull, leaves in the fall and keep turning it. All those plant things will offset the amount of dirt hanging on the sod.

18 yards of manure for 40x60 sounds like plenty. I think you will have quite a bit leftover and that's a good thing. Is it relatively fresh manure or has it been composted?

I have not found someone to deliver a tri axle load of manure yet. I would think it would be fresh. Good thing my neighbors aren't close by.

Stimw · May 8, 2013

Buy, borrow, beg, rent or steal a tiller for your tractor!!
I used a rear tine 32" walk behind tiller on my garden for a few years and then found a 4'er on CL for $600. The difference is day and night!
The 4'er makes my soil like saw dust it grinds it up so fine, see the pic.
Knowing what I know now, if I needed a tractor tiller I would buy new if I could not find a used one, they are that good.
I know money can be tight and it might not be doable, then put it on your list.

Western · May 8, 2013

Stimw said:
Buy, borrow, beg, rent or steal a tiller for your tractor!!
I used a rear tine 32" walk behind tiller on my garden for a few years and then found a 4'er on CL for $600. The difference is day and night!
The 4'er makes my soil like saw dust it grinds it up so fine, see the pic.
Knowing what I know now, if I needed a tractor tiller I would buy new if I could not find a used one, they are that good.
I know money can be tight and it might not be doable, then put it on your list.

Agree 1000%!
I have a 5', I bought it when I bought the tractor because I knew it would be hard to convince me to drop $2500 later:laughing: Not good between rows, but does a wonderful job and allows you to use a small (tiny, light) tiller or hoe to manage the weeds.

I would have not had a second thought of tilling in that grass with my PTO tiller, unless its a grass that has runners like Bermuda, tilling Bermuda when it's not blistering hot makes it want to grow thicker in my experience.