JUBILEE1953
Bronze Member
Can I use a middle buster aka a potato plow to break the ground up. Then go right to the rototiller. Do I even need to run the 2 bottom plow through it?
Tiller skip the plow?
- Thread starter JUBILEE1953
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gwdixon
Elite Member
Yes, that will work fine. In fact, plowing (depending on how it is done) will require tilling several times to get everything back to level.
If you have a box scraper with tines (scarifiers) that works very well too and can even work the soil a bit deeper depending on the weight of the scraper, condition of the soil, and how the tines are set. It also doesn't leave deep gouges like a middle buster or plow can do.
A plow's main use is to turn the soil over and bury the foliage to decay and act as fertilizer. Rototilling after plowing will bring some of the foliage back to the top and defeat the purpose.
If you have a box scraper with tines (scarifiers) that works very well too and can even work the soil a bit deeper depending on the weight of the scraper, condition of the soil, and how the tines are set. It also doesn't leave deep gouges like a middle buster or plow can do.
A plow's main use is to turn the soil over and bury the foliage to decay and act as fertilizer. Rototilling after plowing will bring some of the foliage back to the top and defeat the purpose.
farmeratheart
Platinum Member
That's why it's a good idea to plow in the fall to let the overturned organic matter decay all winter. Then, in the spring go over with rototiller. The best of both worlds !
Wyobuckaroo
Platinum Member
If you are not starting out with sod, that is the area has been plowed at least once before, I would think your middle buster would be enough.
And if you have a PTO driven tiller (you lucky dog) that should do.
If I were in your situation, with my ground at least, I would just use my home made middle buster (on the right) and make lots and lots of passes. Maybe make a checker board type of plow pattern to begin with. It will take some seat time, but keep you from having to buy that particular implement.
With my tractor in my ground, I can pull this home made middle buster 14" deep.
Your situation may be different.
Good luck
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And if you have a PTO driven tiller (you lucky dog) that should do.
If I were in your situation, with my ground at least, I would just use my home made middle buster (on the right) and make lots and lots of passes. Maybe make a checker board type of plow pattern to begin with. It will take some seat time, but keep you from having to buy that particular implement.
With my tractor in my ground, I can pull this home made middle buster 14" deep.
Your situation may be different.
Good luck
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OP
JUBILEE1953
Bronze Member
My issue is that I'm not sure if the land has ever been plowed. Rock's and root's etc. might be an issue, and It would be alot less expensive to ruin a middle buster than it would be to damage my 2 bottom plow.
TripleR
Super Star Member
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The last time I used my rototiller, I did as GWDixon said and ran my box blade scarifers deep then criss crossed and rotot-tilled; worked fine. I haven't used one od our breaking plows in some time, but when I did I finished with a disk and spike tooth harrow.
oldnslo
Super Member
How much grass or weeds etc. is there? My experience with tillers is that grass and vines tend to wrap around them Vs getting chopped up. Like others have said a plow will bury them.
savageactor7
Platinum Member
^yup, basically that's what we did and it worked out fine. If you cut the grass down it wont wrap around the tines.
Don87
Elite Member
Yes you can. And if you haven't tilled the ground before, I would recommend it.
