Anyone use a disc harrow?

[ottawarob]

I see earth tools sells a disc harrow for the BCS. I'm considering getting one to run over field I've previously bush mowed, to chop the heck out of goldenrod and other nuisance roots before reseeding, and before tilling. This stuff clogs up my rototiller pretty well, not ideal.

Just curious if anyone here has used one of these implements and could comment on their effectiveness. I've seen some videos of ATV disc harrows, I'm hoping these would work in a similar fashion.

 

[jcraftenworth]

it's a garden tractor grade implement, not sure how heavy duty. If you get some weight on it I guess it'll dig in but discing is not good for primary tillage. If you have a rotary plow that would work best, a moldboard plow would work. Discing is really for after you have plowed unworked soil.

 

[tcreeley]

What I do with goldenrod, tall grass, weeds is mow it before I roto till or harrow. No binding, just short cut pieces. A disc harrow can di it, but it will take a ton of passes - really meant for plowed dirt.

 

[Sonny580]

I have one for my DB tractors, AND as above posters state, disk is more for plowed ground! You could stak a ton of weight on it and sharpen the blades razor sharp and do a little, but it wont dig out goldenrod rootballs. thanks; sonny580

 

[ottawarob]

Hrm, I was wondering that. Thanks guys. For my existing garden plot I first mowed it really short, but the tiller would get so balled up with roots. Anyway, I know I'll get my future plots sorted out eventually, just looking to speed it up a little. I was also considering getting the sub soiler. Hanging out on the ground, picking out stuff wrapped around the tines of a tiller isn't much fun.

 

[jcraftenworth]

Hrm, I was wondering that. Thanks guys. For my existing garden plot I first mowed it really short, but the tiller would get so balled up with roots. Anyway, I know I'll get my future plots sorted out eventually, just looking to speed it up a little. I was also considering getting the sub soiler. Hanging out on the ground, picking out stuff wrapped around the tines of a tiller isn't much fun.

plow is relativly cheap, compared to the rotary plow. but get the weight hanger accessory you shall need it (same for subsoiler). Subsoiler isn't going to wipe any weeds out, it'll kill some, damage others, they'll re-root and come back. Plowing is great because everything on top goes to the bottoms and dies and fertilizes the soil more. Often we say "keep it black with a tiller for a year, then garden it." If you moldboard plow, you really can plant the first year because you've reversed the soil.

 

[Sonny580]

I second the moldboard plow!---Turn it over THEN chop it up with the tiller, waiting a week or so in between tillings and then plant!--May have weeds, but keep cultivated and or sprayed and garden will happen!!! lol!!! thanks; sonny580

 

[ottawarob]

Weight hanger arrived by UPS yesterday. Trying to avoid tillage as much as possible, but I can definitely see getting a plow. It's cheap, and these roots are something else.

 

[jcraftenworth]

Weight hanger arrived by UPS yesterday. Trying to avoid tillage as much as possible, but I can definitely see getting a plow. It's cheap, and these roots are something else.

the only other methods are a straw chopper/blower, put it down so thick it blocks sunlight and kills vegetation...or big silage tarps, leave em down until it kills what's underneath. Actually you might be able to seed a mulching cover crop and use that crimping tool joel sells to crimp and kill your weeds...timing is everything. That also creates a thick mulch that kills what is underneath.

 

[Sonny580]

Goldenrod will come blasting right thru mulch!!--the kind we have around here could go right thru a tarp!! lol!!--oh!--and no tillage equals no crop!!---That's the way it works around this area! thanks; sonny580

 

[jcraftenworth]

I think those silage tarps are pretty heavy duty. Blocking the light is pretty effective, put it down in the early spring and by the time you want to work it, it's probably ready to go.

Mow it close to the ground before you drop the tarp on it, that should weaken the plant and make the tarp go down tight. Block light and moisture and airflow! It's deadly to plants.

 

[NibbanaFarm]

Here's one I rigged up. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/2-wheeled-tractors/340570-disk-harrow-sulky.html?highlight=

I wanted to expand the garden and had some really heavy sod to chop up. (The tiller wasn't going through that sod.) So I needed a lot of weight. It worked pretty good but I had to go back and forth over it a number of times. And I repeated that a couple/few days in a row. It got the job done. I also use it for working manure into the soil and killing weeds. I've had that same experience of weeds spooling around the tiller tines to the point where it took me almost an hour to get them off and had to disassemble part of the tiller cover. Bad mistake.

If you use the disc harrow a few times, it will knock the weeds back enough so that they don't clog the tiller. Maybe three times over a period of a week. I did end up buying a rotary plow but the disc did work pretty well and as I say, I still use it for weed control and manure in the spring.

Last year I did no till for the first time. I put manure down in the spring and disced it a few times until the weeds were getting tired and starting to get chopped up. Then I just used the tiller with my transport wheel to till about an inch or two deep to just cultivate the surface. It worked out well. I grew a lot of food. I did deep till where I planted carrots and parsnips though.