Tiller on food plot

[thunder86]

Still new to owning a tractor. I picked all this clean, looked better before the leaves fell. My question is how much can my tiller withstand? Tons of rocks, I dig one out to find 5 more.... So I put the guard down so the tiller is barely scraping the ground. Still hits some sticks and rocks in the ground I could not see before. With guard set to barely hit the ground will doing this hurt my tiller at all? Don't think I need to go far for clover to be planted. Just interested in how much these things can take.

 

[poncho62]

Tillers and rocks don't like each other much. You are better to turn the soil first with a plow.
That said, it looks like that spot will have lots of shade. Are you sure you want a garden there?

 

[Diggin It]

What kind of tiller?

I tried to break some rocky ground with my 48" Taylor Pittsburg and didn't get very deep. Had to hit it with a middle buster first, then till, then go over with a landscape rake. Plan is to do that a couple more times before next spring while turning in leaves, grass and other organics.

 

[jeff9366]

It would be helpful to know your location.

It would be helpful to know if you intend to plant both a Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer food plot.

It appears to me lack of direct sunlight will be your greatest handicap.

I suggest planting Clover, which is perennial several years with fertilization and does well in low sunlight conditions. Tilling is not necessary before seeding Clover.

MORE: https://hancockseed.com/collections/clover-seed

 

[thunder86]

Cloudy that day. I have a friend that worked for a forestry I'm going to bring over and select a few "junk" trees to cut down. Just getting it clear and ready first. Doing this in multiple spots.

 

[thunder86]

Southern Indiana is where I'm located at.

 

[Egon]

If you’re planting clover just use diamond harrows. Broadcast the seed and harrow it in.

From the looks of your picture there will also be lots of roots. Rocks and roots will break shear pins or slip the clutch. They will also break tines. If necessary removing tines may make the tilling a little easier.

 

[jeff9366]

Southern Indiana is where I'm located.

I recommend adding your location to your T-B-N PROFILE. Observe your respondents.

 

[Diggin It]

Observe your respondents.

Jeffy meant to say ....

 

[jasonzee]

I use a disc to get the ground ready in my food plot.

 

[jeff9366]

Still new to owning a tractor. Tons of rocks, I dig one out to find 5 more....

A Disc Plow, which is two or three pans from an Offset Disc, may be what you need for plowing that rocky ground. Disc Plows roll over rocks which would stop or trigger Draft Control when pulling a moldboard plow. Short learning curve relative to moldboard plows.

Monroe Tufline is the sole manufacturer of new Disc Plows for compact tractors I am aware of. Monroe Tufline implements are top quality.

There are a lot of acceptably heavy old Ford Dearborn Disc Plows out there.

Tufline – Well Built, Performance Driven Implements

monroetufline.com

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Cheapo tiller won't take rocks but a GOOD one will...

Good ones are expensive, so most don't buy them.

SR

 

[oosik]

I don't have exceptionally rocky ground. Just enough to be a PITA. First with my moldboard plow then my small disk.

 

[JohnnyMX]

I'm in upstate NY and trying to get some small areas worked up. Some were ok, but the rest have been quite rocky. The tiller is good until it isn't and a rock is wedged or massive root. I also was told/"sold" a reverse tine tiller by my dealer, but for an unbroken plot area with rocks I would have gone with a forward tine now that I know the difference. I feel like that guy screwed me on that one and probably had it sitting around or something. It works GREAT on previously tilled areas however.

I ended up getting a field cultivator by Fred Cain (9 point) and work the ground with that to bring the rocks up. I then rake off the huge tiller killing stuff and go from there.

 

[oosik]

Generally speaking - reverse tillers work better and will dig deeper in harder ground. If you have lots of rocks - you may need a different implement. In rocky soil this will help. Start with a very shallow pass - make multiple passes going a little deeper each time. Forward motion - as slow as possible.

 

[zzvyb6]

Raise the flap / door up so the tines will kick the rocks up and out. Worst scenario is if a rock gets jammed in the teeth and won't pass under the cross shaft and bends it. Straighten it with a fence post when you remove the killer rock.

 

[Williy]

why not get one of these rock rakes or what ever they are called
and get all the rocks out then try tilling. You drag it behind you with
your tractor and and it gathers all the rocks it has fingers for this

willy

 

[nybirdman]

I am in Northern NY;rock capital of the world.It is impossible to remove "all" the rocks.My farm has been in use for at least 150 years and we have miles of rock fences and plenty of piles.
My Bush-Hog branded tiller finally broke a chain after 16 years of hard work.It has a slip clutch(serviced every year).Leave the discharge flap fully open and have at it.I work about ten acres a year for foot plots.

 

[Williy]

if you got piles you better see a doctor

willy