tilling thick fescue grass

[sticky]

I have thick matted fescue that hasn't been mowed or hayed in 3 or 4 years. I was wondering if I could take a 72 inch roto tiller at it with a 50 hp tractor to make a fire break so I could burn it.

 

[RonR]

I think I'd bush hog it first and let it dry way out. If its really tall, tilling it first, it will ball up around your tiller shaft to the point your tines won't cut.

My two cents.
ron

 

[Bob_Skurka]

sticky, why not just cut it and burn it? The farmer across the creek from me burns his field every other year. He does a controlled burn, but he just burns away. I guess I'd till it AFTER it was burned.

 

[RalphVa]

I tilled my thick fescue with my Gravely rotary plow when I turned it for my garden about 5 years ago. Got lots of grass wrapped around the plow shaft and all, but it continued to work. Don't think a regular rototiller has enough clearance between tines, tines and shaft, etc. though. I agree with the other poster that you'd get the tiller all balled up.

Ralph

 

[kensfarm]

Best to bush-hog it first.. it's no fun spending an hour cutting off wrapped grass around the tiller.