Preparing yard for trees

[forgeblast]

For my Tree plantings i have done this. the fall before planting spray a 15'x15' grid on the ground using round up (or whatever spacing you need) plant the tree where the grid meets, put in tree tubes and stakes, then using the round up spray a 6' diamater circle around the tree.
No tubes the voles and deer will eat the trees. My thoughts on tilling it would be that you will stir up a ton of weed seed and have erosion problems and then when you try to maintain it your going to compact the soil and may have issues.
By keeping the grass you can still mow it until the trees take over, or you can let the grass just go. If you do go the till way, put down some ground cover like clover, wildflowers, etc to hold your soil.

 

[Mean Jean]

Maybe I'm not putting enough onus on errosion.
I've seen a few properties near by who have gone the route I am considering.
I should ask them about errosion.

I decided against the plow, atleast against buying it this weekend.
I will try the local auctions.

I do have a cultivator.
I will sharpen the points real nice, add some weight, then run up and down the rows until the grass is scraped out.
Clear the rippings with the loader, then till.

Thanks for the advise gents, I will keep you up to speed.

 

[yelbike]

Hi Mean Jean, I'm doing the same project basically.50'x 1500' around the property. I live by Deaons corner east of Winnipeg. After some research on the net and speaking to some local farmers, I also decided to till for my trees.
My neighbour came by with his 450hp tractor with a real disc, past a few times to break things up for me. He couldn't reach all the spots without running over my house.:laughing:

Anyways I tried tilling with my dads jd 647 tiller, after bouncing the crap out of it going as slow as I could. The chain broke Lucky it was only one link a quick trip to princess auto:thumbsup: and dads back up and running.
On a trip to the US I picked up a brand new JD 647 tiller and 60" King kutter from TSC in Grand Forks.

When I got home I tried my new shiny green tiller same results as my dads beat up tiller. Then I tried my crappy looking brand new King Kutter tiller that was a little rusty from sitting at the store all summer. OMG I did 10', got off the tractor and check the soil I could not believe it. It puts the JD to shame. I did the rest of the yard in no time. I might take a total of 2-3 to get the job done.

I sold the tiller to a "greenie" for the same thing I was into it for!:thumbsup:


Anyways my advice pick up the tiller from TSC you will not regret it.:lickingon't worry to much about removing the sod so much just till it.

JD should be ashamed that an "inferior" king kutter brand what cost me almost 1000$ less totally out performed their product.:ashamed: