Breaking ground on a new garden

cmhyland · Feb 21, 2013

Good morning guys,
I'll be breaking ground on a new garden this year... most likely in early April.

The location is currently a field, but we did have a garden in the space 12 years ago.
My thought is measure the thickness of the sod mat and set the tiller for that depth. I'll run over the space
breaking up the sod, and use my landscape rake to rake it off.

Next step would be to till and make soil ammendments as needed.

Is there a better way to do this? I don't own a plow or harrows, so I'm trying to work with the tool I have.

Regards,
Chris

sam5570 · Feb 21, 2013

Chris do you have a pto tiller or walk behind. i have allways found that if you plow early before it quits freezing, get the ground turned over let it freeze good then when you till or disc the sod will break up nicely, plus i have always heard it kill's alot of the insects living in the soil.

cmhyland · Feb 21, 2013

sam5570 said:
Chris do you have a pto tiller or walk behind. i have allways found that if you plow early before it quits freezing, get the ground turned over let it freeze good then when you till or disc the sod will break up nicely, plus i have always heard it kill's alot of the insects living in the soil.

Hi Sam,
I have a 60" PTO tiller. So are you saying to till lets say 3 inches when 3 inches is thawed and below that is frozen?

Thanks,
Chris

sam5570 · Feb 21, 2013

no Chris what we do here is the ground is not froze to bad now, a couple of warm days it will be thawed. i have a 2 bottom plow i plow it up now let it alone and hope it gets a hard freeze or 2 on it then i don't till it till i get ready to plant. hope i made sence. oh yeah i will plow about 10 inches deep

Western · Feb 21, 2013

Chris, how tall is the grass? You may benefit from just tilling it in as soon as possible and give the sod some time to degrade, then till it a couple more times before you plant. If it isn't an aggressive type grass, like Bermuda we have here. I think your dirt will benefit from the additional nutrients. May make the first planting a bit tougher (that's why I'd start ASAP) , but done early enough as Sam mentioned, I think you save a step and build up your soil.

Gunny · Feb 21, 2013

I'd go with Western, just till it all under. It probably would have been better if you'd tilled it up late last fall the first time, but between now and late April, you'll have time to get it all worked in. I've never pulled the sod off a garden spot, but I have run into some tough tilling in sod, just take it slow the first time, then hit it a little more aggressively each time after that.

cmhyland · Feb 21, 2013

Western said:
Chris, how tall is the grass? You may benefit from just tilling it in as soon as possible and give the sod some time to degrade, then till it a couple more times before you plant. If it isn't an aggressive type grass, like Bermuda we have here. I think your dirt will benefit from the additional nutrients. May make the first planting a bit tougher (that's why I'd start ASAP) , but done early enough as Sam mentioned, I think you save a step and build up your soil.

Thanks Dennis,

I might be able to get a first tilling in by the end of March. Up here we'll be putting seed in the beds by early to mid May, and transplanting our seedling after the the full moon in May. I suspet I coulf get the area tilled end of March early April and let it set....

Thanks,
Chris

cmhyland · Feb 21, 2013

Gunny said:
I'd go with Western, just till it all under. It probably would have been better if you'd tilled it up late last fall the first time, but between now and late April, you'll have time to get it all worked in. I've never pulled the sod off a garden spot, but I have run into some tough tilling in sod, just take it slow the first time, then hit it a little more aggressively each time after that.

Thanks Gunny,
Just got the tiller two weeks ago .... The grass is a standard field grass... Rye maybe... I'll also be working in some well composted horse manure.... so I think we'll be in good shape.

Thanks,
Chris

Ed of all trades · Feb 21, 2013

The more organic matter you have in your soil the better, up to a point, that most never get close to. So why remove the grass it will help your soil to be closer to the pretty black loam everyone wants to see in their garden. Add all the organic matter you can to your garden, tilling in the grass is simular to sheet composting.