Opening up land for a garden and orchard

[BCrouse]

Ive recently started opening up land for a garden. I used a 5' bush hog. It did a pretty decent job with the 3-4' high weeds and saplings.

(Dog had to get into the pic. Thanks buddy)

My question is, should I take the landscaper rake to all that dried debris first, then plow or plow first then run the landscaper rake over it? (Yes I cleaned the dog poo up)


I just picked up a 14" (pretty sure its a 14, haven't measured it) single bottom plow that should do a pretty good job of turning the soil over. Still working on cleaning it up. Needs a bit of paint.

I haven't cleared any land for the orchard yet. Suggestions on land prep?

 

[ProjectKing]

Ive recently started opening up land for a garden. I used a 5' bush hog. It did a pretty decent job with the 3-4' high weeds and saplings. (Dog had to get into the pic. Thanks buddy) My question is, should I take the landscaper rake to all that dried debris first, then plow or plow first then run the landscaper rake over it? (Yes I cleaned the dog poo up) I just picked up a 14" (pretty sure its a 14, haven't measured it) single bottom plow that should do a pretty good job of turning the soil over. Still working on cleaning it up. Needs a bit of paint. I haven't cleared any land for the orchard yet. Suggestions on land prep?

I would keep running the bush hog over the garden area till everything is all chopped up. Then let it rot for a week or two and then bush hog again. Should plow no problem. The only issue you may run into is those "saplings". Depending on the size they could hang a plow up.

 

[BCrouse]

I would keep running the bush hog over the garden area till everything is all chopped up. Then let it rot for a week or two and then bush hog again. Should plow no problem. The only issue you may run into is those "saplings". Depending on the size they could hang a plow up.

Any thoughts on the landscaper rake?


Also, do my pictures show up? I do not see them.

 

[davrow]

Pictures not showing, says "invalid attachment"

 

[ProjectKing]

Any thoughts on the landscaper rake? Also, do my pictures show up? I do not see them.

I don't think it's necessary if everything gets chopped up well by the bush hog.

 

[BCrouse]

I don't think it's necessary if everything gets chopped up well by the bush hog.

Yah I think my deck wasnt level and it didnt chop as good as it should have. Im gonna have to do it again if I dont plow it over soon

 

[BCrouse]

Redid the pics. See if they work now

 

[BCrouse]

Should I start looking for a disc harrow or rototiller as a "follow up" to plowing?

 

[JMER817]

Brush hog it one more time, plow it, disc, then run a spiked tooth drag or your landscape rake for your final seed bed.

Or rototill then follow up with your landscape rake.

 

[CADplans]

Remove the coulter blade from the plow,, the debris will just roll under the coulter, lifting the plow out of the ground.
A coulter is normally only useful when fine roots are present, like grass or wheat,,, etc.

 

[BCrouse]

Remove the coulter blade from the plow,, the debris will just roll under the coulter, lifting the plow out of the ground.
A coulter is normally only useful when fine roots are present, like grass or wheat,,, etc.

I will try.
Might have to soak for a few days in some pb blaster....those bolts dont look like theyve been touched in 50 years.

 

[4570Man]

Are you planning on planting something before next spring? I'd keep it mowed a couple more times this year and let it rot over the winter.

 

[BCrouse]

Are you planning on planting something before next spring? I'd keep it mowed a couple more times this year and let it rot over the winter.

Possible. Maybe a cover crop or the Mrs wanted to try and get some root veggies in. Might be too late though.

 

[BCrouse]

I primed and painted the plow. Had to paint it Ford blue.

I also got some plowing done today.

I thought i had'er set in low gear. I was plowing away. Started bogging down a bit. Ok, i thought, more throttle (was running at PTO rpm). Got about 4 rows plowed and about stalled it on the last one. Somethings gotta be up. Doh. Not in L.

After I found low, again, it plowed much more steady.

I found some grounded nested wasps too.

The plow was all shined from the claysand PA soil.

I left the coulter on. The most trouble it gave me was from getting rocks wedged between it and the plow.

 

[flusher]

If you're serious about planting an orchard, you should dig a narrow trench 3 to 4 feet deep and check the sides of the trench to be sure you don't have a dense clay layer (hardpan) under the topsoil. If so, you'll have to use a subsoiler to break up the hardpan so the trees can get rooted properly and so water can get to the deep roots.

When my neighbor decided to put in about 8 acres of English walnut trees, he had to get this D8 Cat with dual 4-ft rippers to break up the hardpan before planting his orchard.



Good luck.

 

[BCrouse]

If you're serious about planting an orchard, you should dig a narrow trench 3 to 4 feet deep and check the sides of the trench to be sure you don't have a dense clay layer (hardpan) under the topsoil. If so, you'll have to use a subsoiler to break up the hardpan so the trees can get rooted properly and so water can get to the deep roots.

When my neighbor decided to put in about 8 acres of English walnut trees, he had to get this D8 Cat with dual 4-ft rippers to break up the hardpan before planting his orchard.

View attachment 478751View attachment 478752

Good luck.

Thats a nice machine for subsoiling

Im not going for 8acres. Maybe 10-15 trees. Ill clear a space and then measure out for proper clearances (20-25ft circle). Good tip on the hardpan. Thanks.

 

[CADplans]

Thats a nice machine for subsoiling

Im not going for 8acres. Maybe 10-15 trees. Ill clear a space and then measure out for proper clearances (20-25ft circle). Good tip on the hardpan. Thanks.

I used a post hole digger to put a 4 foot deep, 12 inch diameter hole under EVERY tree I have ever planted.
Whether it has done any good or not is open to debate.
In each hole, I always back-filled with compost.

I did the same process under grape vine plants,,,
I have NEVER had a grape survive.
Hopefully, the failure has been due to the destructive Japanese beetles, not my poor techniques..

I have even cored rows under my garden,,, out of boredom.

The garden has been heavily mulched, so, again, I have no way to know if the holes have helped.

Did I say heavily? I meant H E A V I L Y !!,,, :confused2:

I AM KINDA CRAZY WHEN IT COMES TO MULCH,,, :laughing:

 

[kthompson]

BC, have not seen a clear view of the point on your plow but I think you need a new point on it. They are made for the plow brand and size so you must buy for your plow. Not beating you up the moldboard (we call them bottom plows here) is not easy to get fully and properly setup. Think you can find videos on youtube doing so but yours is not there yet. You are leaving what looks like beds and when you have the tractor running right groove for the width of the tractor and plow and the plow set right it will be not 100 percent level but right near it. Can be a very pretty sight. Miss seeing it. Miss running bottom plows. kt

I think everything attachments might have video on setting up those plows also.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

You do realize that what you have brush hogged off, if left in place, will compost out and "build the soil" to make better soil, don't you??

Sell the plow to the scrap man, and buy a "quality" tiller! lol A tiller is MUCH better tool for incorporating green matter...

SR

 

[BCrouse]

BC, have not seen a clear view of the point on your plow but I think you need a new point on it. They are made for the plow brand and size so you must buy for your plow. Not beating you up the moldboard (we call them bottom plows here) is not easy to get fully and properly setup. Think you can find videos on youtube doing so but yours is not there yet. You are leaving what looks like beds and when you have the tractor running right groove for the width of the tractor and plow and the plow set right it will be not 100 percent level but right near it. Can be a very pretty sight. Miss seeing it. Miss running bottom plows. kt

I think everything attachments might have video on setting up those plows also.

Ive watched Ted setup a single bottom plow and plow. I followed it as best I could. The old Ford plows don't have any left/right adjustment. Thats about the only thing I couldn't adjust. I ran the first furrow with a land level plow, then put my right tires in the furrow and adjusted the plow as flat as possible.

Can you find me a picture of a bottom plowed field? What should it look like?

Everyone I find looks very similar to what mine looks like. A freshly plowed field isn't flat. It takes some discing or a rototiller to flatten it out.