What are the signs of rototilling when it's too wet?

[rossn]

I have soil that is about 60% sand, 20% clay, 20% silt. The soil is mostly dry on top, but 3-5" down damp...

If I start tilling it, how will I know if is too damp? If you say something like 'it clods up', can you give an idea of the size of the clods when I should call off the tilling?

Thanks!

 

[5030]

When it wads up on the tines... It's too wet.

 

[jaxs]

Just gas it and go,we will never know the difference.
Your experience tilling your soil at various moisture levels is worth more than our wags when we have no hands on experience with it.

 

[rossn]

When it wads up on the tines... It's too wet.

Thanks - can you describe what you'd call wadding up? Is this just a slight build up on the tines, or big clods starting to connect the tines?

 

[4570Man]

I’ve roto tilled dirt with water running across it. It drys faster that way. But you’ll have to do it again when it is dry because it locks together hard when you till it wet.

 

[oosik]

My experience. After tilling the soil should be loose, fluffy, very soft. I've tilled when it was too wet. Just had to wait until it dried and till again. My soil type - lots of organics - silt - volcanic ash.

When its too wet - the soil does not break apart into loose material. The tines will form clods. My clods would not attach to the tines but just lie there on the surface. The entire soil structure can turn to clods.

You are going to have to do some tilling - to see what you get.

 

[jaxs]

If tractor tires become mired in mud it's to wet. If you can't see the tiller for dust it's too dry. Finding ambient temperature and wind direction just right can be more allusive.

 

[grsthegreat]

sorry…had to do it

 

[Yander]

I stick a shovel in the ground and pull out a shovel full and check the bottom dirt for moisture. If the dirt 5 inches down packs into a tight mud ball when you squeeze it, its too wet. If is stick together but it crumbles a part easily, it is tillable. Always works.

As has been said though, if you till it too wet you can hit it again later. If you till it too wet and you know it is too wet, do not plant anything in it until you have tilled it after it dries out. If you don't till it again nothing will come up because it will create a hard crust after it dries.

 

[Yander]

View attachment 855738



sorry…had to do it

That's a bad day right there.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I usually till our clay soil that's amended with cut grass 2 or 3 times before planting. Eventually the clods break down.

 

[5030]

View attachment 855738



sorry…had to do it

Glad I don't have to wash that mud ball... Farmers tend to get themselves in pickles. That is a pickle.

 

[5030]

I never put grass clippings in the garden because the clippings rob the N from the soil and they stink too. When my wife raised draft horses, I used to use the manure in the garden and then spent the entire growing season pulling weeds. Don't do that anymore. I'll first till it and then broadcast 28 granulated urea and then till it again, let it sit for a week and plant it. This year I'm planting roundup ready sweet corn so any weeds that come up, the roundup will handle. Cou8ple weeks and I'll be spraying my hayfields with DEF. I buy it on sale when expired for cheap and spray it on my alfalfa fields. Just bought a full 350 gallon IBC tote of expired DEf for 100 bucks. Better than pouring it down the drain. DEF as a foliar inoculant really makes alfalfa grow. I cut it down to about 20% with water btw. Still smells like cat pee anyway.

Been doing that ever since DEF came on the scene. No point in spending 50 bucks plus per sack of 28 granulated when I can get expired DEF for just about nothing. I'm cheap.

I do put 28 granulated on the garden however. The timed release clay coated prils work real well for vegetables.

I'll admit I've tilled to wet in the past as well but don't take long for the tiller tines to get 'wadded up' and me putting it in the barn for another day.

 

[Drstrangeglove]

I have seen dad use the tiller to push him through the garden. It was too wet to till that day.

 

[Williy]

IMHO with the dry on top and wet below by going slow would
think it would mix well and you would be ok with slow tilling

willy

 

[Mr. Orange]

You’ll definitely know if it’s too wet.
Trust me.

 

[ruffdog]

I stick a shovel in the ground and pull out a shovel full and check the bottom dirt for moisture. If the dirt 5 inches down packs into a tight mud ball when you squeeze it, its too wet. If is stick together but it crumbles a part easily, it is tillable. Always works.

^^This.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I never put grass clippings in the garden because the clippings rob the N from the soil and they stink too. When my wife raised draft horses, I used to use the manure in the garden and then spent the entire growing season pulling weeds. Don't do that anymore. I'll first till it and then broadcast 28 granulated urea and then till it again, let it sit for a week and plant it. This year I'm planting roundup ready sweet corn so any weeds that come up, the roundup will handle. Cou8ple weeks and I'll be spraying my hayfields with DEF. I buy it on sale when expired for cheap and spray it on my alfalfa fields. Just bought a full 350 gallon IBC tote of expired DEf for 100 bucks. Better than pouring it down the drain. DEF as a foliar inoculant really makes alfalfa grow. I cut it down to about 20% with water btw. Still smells like cat pee anyway.

Been doing that ever since DEF came on the scene. No point in spending 50 bucks plus per sack of 28 granulated when I can get expired DEF for just about nothing. I'm cheap.

I do put 28 granulated on the garden however. The timed release clay coated prils work real well for vegetables.

I'll admit I've tilled to wet in the past as well but don't take long for the tiller tines to get 'wadded up' and me putting it in the barn for another day.

How do grass clippings rob nitrogen? This is what I've read.

Fresh grass clippings include about 4 percent nitrogen. This means that in any given year, grass clippings leftover from mowing the lawn can account for almost 2 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn.

Can You Mix Grass Clippings Into Soil?​

Adding grass clippings to your garden can be a great way to improve the health of your plants and soil. Grass clippings are high in nitrogen, which is essential for plant growth. By adding them to your garden, you will also reduce the need for fertilizer or pesticides.

Remember to water the lawn first before adding the grass clippings – this will ensure they don’t become wet and muddy when mixed with soil. Mixing grass clippings into your soil is a great way to add nutrients and help improve the soil’s texture and moisture retention. If you’re looking to get creative with your garden, adding grass clippings is a great way to do it!

 

[mcfarmall]

Wood mulch, chips, sawdust will all rob N from the soil as well.

 

[workinonit]

I never put grass clippings in the garden because the clippings rob the N from the soil and they stink too. When my wife raised draft horses, I used to use the manure in the garden and then spent the entire growing season pulling weeds. Don't do that anymore. I'll first till it and then broadcast 28 granulated urea and then till it again, let it sit for a week and plant it. This year I'm planting roundup ready sweet corn so any weeds that come up, the roundup will handle. Cou8ple weeks and I'll be spraying my hayfields with DEF. I buy it on sale when expired for cheap and spray it on my alfalfa fields. Just bought a full 350 gallon IBC tote of expired DEf for 100 bucks. Better than pouring it down the drain. DEF as a foliar inoculant really makes alfalfa grow. I cut it down to about 20% with water btw. Still smells like cat pee anyway.

Been doing that ever since DEF came on the scene. No point in spending 50 bucks plus per sack of 28 granulated when I can get expired DEF for just about nothing. I'm cheap.

I do put 28 granulated on the garden however. The timed release clay coated prils work real well for vegetables.

I'll admit I've tilled to wet in the past as well but don't take long for the tiller tines to get 'wadded up' and me putting it in the barn for another day.

What is the roundup ready corn you are planting?