Bucket Bar for Preparing Soil to Plant

[traderfjp]

Hi,
I have a 50ft x 50ft vegetable garden. I planted last year and used my bucket to over turn dirt. The ground is pretty soft and I wanted a less agreessive alternative. I'm looking at a piranha bar and a tiger bar. The plan is to use one of these to dig into the surface of the soil, back drag to break up the top 8". I didn't want to invest in a tiller - I really have no place for storage and the local guy wants 200.00 to till the garden. Which bucket Bar would work best. My tractor is an LS 240HE with backhoe.https://www.bxpanded.com/piranha-toothbar

https://www2.durattach.com/tractortoothbar/1?url=/tractor-implements-and-accessories/tractor-tooth-bars-and-teeth/59-inch-to-69-inch-tractor-bucket-bolt-on-tooth-bar-model-1tbcmp59-69.html

 

[Cycledude]

The link you posted doesn’t seem to work

 

[Jchonline]

The goal is to turn the soil over correct? Back dragging a tooth bar isn't going to turn it. That said, it would be better than nothing. Make sure the soil is very dry...or it will clump up between the teeth and just drag a bunch of dirt instead of allowing it to pass between the teeth. Honestly I would think you can find a cheap plow blade for the 3 point and get the proper tool. You can probably find something used for $100.

 

[traderfjp]

I have a huge backhoe attachment on my present tractor. I didn't want to deal with a tiller attachment. Is there anything that would attach to the bucket that might dona better job than a tooth bar?

 

[old and tired]

The teeth on your backhoe comes to mind.... you can control the depth of flipping over the soil.

 

[shooterdon]

You can rent a rototiller for about $75/day and doing a 50x50 ft area will not take long. Or buy one for $1000. Can't see a better/cheaper way to get the job done, unless you have a friend who has one they will lend you.

 

[bigtiller]

I think the local guy is to high on his price. He probably has it that high for a reason, maybe he simply doesn't want the job at this time. Find another guy.

 

[jyoutz]

I have a huge backhoe attachment on my present tractor. I didn't want to deal with a tiller attachment. Is there anything that would attach to the bucket that might dona better job than a tooth bar?

I’ve been gardening 30+ years. I have used many methods, but every effective soil prep tool is a 3ph attachment. The only gardening function that a FEL is very good for is moving mulch and manure and bringing in the harvest.

I’m going to buy this implement for my tractor to use the rip the soil this spring before soil prep with my walk behind tiller.

Fred Cain 9 Shank 3 Point Field Cultivator

This Field Cultivator is a good attachment to break new ground or to tear up the hard pan in the field. Free Shipping

www.everythingattachments.com

 

[JDAOWNER]

I ALWAYS ADVISE FRIENDS LOOKING TO BUY A TRACTOR TO NOT GET THE BACKHOE UNLESS YOU HAVE A TON OF DITCHING TO DO. THEY ARE HANDY, BUT LEAVE THE TRACTOR NOT ABLE TO USE THE BACK FOR ANYTHING ELSE. RENT A HOE IF YOU NEED ONE. YOU WILL FIND A LOT OF WORK TO DO WITH THE REAR OF THE TRACTOR.

 

[jyoutz]

I ALWAYS ADVISE FRIENDS LOOKING TO BUY A TRACTOR TO NOT GET THE BACKHOE UNLESS YOU HAVE A TON OF DITCHING TO DO. THEY ARE HANDY, BUT LEAVE THE TRACTOR NOT ABLE TO USE THE BACK FOR ANYTHING ELSE. RENT A HOE IF YOU NEED ONE. YOU WILL FIND A LOT OF WORK TO DO WITH THE REAR OF THE TRACTOR.

That’s always been my thoughts as well, but if the backhoe is used frequently, it may be worthwhile. Just get used to attaching and detaching the backhoe, because the 3ph provides a great deal of tractor utility.

 

[CADplans]

You could easily adapt this attachment to the front bucket, if you did not want to remove the backhoe,,



The one in the pic is a small CAT 0 one that I had,,
I have a CAT I one also,, the pic is "somewhere"

The loader tooth bar has too many teeth, so each will penetrate in the soil just a little.

The tool in the picture can go down 6 inches in my garden, with only its 100 pounds of weight.

AND, as far as cost,, sometimes, that tool is on Craigs List,, for $50,,,

 

[jyoutz]

You could easily adapt this attachment to the front bucket, if you did not want to remove the backhoe,,

View attachment 726474

The one in the pic is a small CAT 0 one that I had,,
I have a CAT I one also,, the pic is "somewhere"

The loader tooth bar has too many teeth, so each will penetrate in the soil just a little.

The tool in the picture can go down 6 inches in my garden, with only its 100 pounds of weight.

AND, as far as cost,, sometimes, that tool is on Craigs List,, for $50,,,

That is a cultivator, not a plow or ripper. Eventually the garden will develop a plow hardpan layer at 6” if the ground isn’t loosened at a greater depth periodically. My tiller did this, and that’s why I’m buying a ripper to get that deep soil loosened.

 

[CADplans]

That is a cultivator, not a plow or ripper. Eventually the garden will develop a plow hardpan layer at 6” if the ground isn’t loosened at a greater depth periodically. My tiller did this, and that’s why I’m buying a ripper to get that deep soil loosened.

I doubt that the tooth bar could do a better job with hardpan??
I did not name it, because several regions have different names for that attachment,,
To John Deere, a cultivator has sweeps, and shields to protect young plants,,

 

[JimRB]

A ripper bucket for your backhoe could work as a subsoiler. Backhoe Ripper You just have to reposition the tractor a bunch. My JD870 that weighs about 400 pounds less than your tractor is not very interested in pulling a single shank on the 3 point hitch. I need more weight on or in the rear wheels.

 

[shooterdon]

I’ve been gardening 30+ years. I have used many methods, but every effective soil prep tool is a 3ph attachment. The only gardening function that a FEL is very good for is moving mulch and manure and bringing in the harvest.

I’m going to buy this implement for my tractor to use the rip the soil this spring before soil prep with my walk behind tiller.

Fred Cain 9 Shank 3 Point Field Cultivator

This Field Cultivator is a good attachment to break new ground or to tear up the hard pan in the field. Free Shipping

www.everythingattachments.com

That seems like overkill and expensive for a 50x50 ft garden. Around here, people use a rototiller, but maybe our soil is different. A used one might be $4-500 on Craigslist. It is something a person uses twice a year, for a few hours, to save $200 a year on veggies.

Oh, I know....the difference in flavor is worth $1000.

 

[jyoutz]

That seems like overkill and expensive for a 50x50 ft garden. Around here, people use a rototiller, but maybe our soil is different. A used one might be $4-500 on Craigslist. It is something a person uses twice a year, for a few hours, to save $200 a year on veggies.

Oh, I know....the difference in flavor is worth $1000.

Most people use a rototiller everywhere. But over several years, soils get compacted and develop a plow pan just below the tilling depth and need to be ripped. The ripper costs $1650, considerably less than most pto tillers. My garden is considerably larger than 50x50 and it fills our freezers and canning jars each year. The garden and orchard combined with a freezer full of home grown beef is a major part of our household groceries each year.

 

[Diggin It]

I used my 60" tiller yesterday to break up some turf, then turned around and used the FEL to scrape the loose material to where I wanted it. I also have a Toro walk behind tiller for smaller jobs.

I have a subsoiler if I want to break the ground deeper. Got that from my dealer for $150 or so.

Note that I didn't mention digging or turning dirt with the FEL. Pretty sure damaging the loader arms or cylinders would cost more than a tiller. I might consider turning a garden area with the BH, then leveling with the FEL, or a cultivator as shown above, or even a drag harrow.

Even with loose, non compacted material piles, you can't really push in too deep with the FEL on these little machines.

 

[jyoutz]

I doubt that the tooth bar could do a better job with hardpan??
I did not name it, because several regions have different names for that attachment,,
To John Deere, a cultivator has sweeps, and shields to protect young plants,,

I’m not referring to a tooth bar. I’m referring to a ripper plow that goes 12-14”.

 

[Egon]

A 50x50 garden:
Just use the bucket like a spade and dig up,the garden to whatever depth you want. When finished back blade and or drag a beam of some kind over it for levelling.
No need for an extra cutting edge or equipment other than the drag.

 

[old and tired]

I’m not referring to a tooth bar. I’m referring to a ripper plow that goes 12-14”.

3 Point Subsoiler-Subsoiler Attachment

Use this 3 point subsoiler to break through hard-pan, clay and promote better soil drainage. This subsoiler has category 1 hitch pins.

www.agrisupply.com

Subsoiler, I think is what he's talking about...