Tiller will a tiller do this, pls see pics (or what will)

[aardvark]

I've made huge amount of progress clearing my property since I bought my BX23 in September 04. For some background, when I bought my house, the previous owner had let the property go, and it basically looked like a jungle. When I walked out of the house, if I got more than 20 ft away, all I could see was the roof of the house. It was not possible to travel across the property in a straight line in any direction, and once away from the house, one could really only see about 5-10 feet in any direction. Anyway, on to the real question.

I have alot of debris still on the ground. I've raked up some of it, but the landscape rake drags alot of dirt along as well, which adds time to the cleanup process. Rather than rake everything, and then box blade, would it be possible to till all the debris into the ground, and then box blade? The debris at this point is mostly twigs and weeds and small sticks less than 1" diameter. There are some larger pieces left, but I plan on picking those up. I'm not done with the property yet. I've attached some pics to show what I'm trying to do. I'm somewhat sure it will work, but I've never actually used a tiller before, and figured I'd ask before spending a grand.

This pic has some weeds I want to till down. See the bottom of the pic.

 

[aardvark]

Here's a pic of the leaves and twigs.

 

[aardvark]

More leaves and twigs

 

[aardvark]

larger view of twigs and leaves in cleared area

 

[aardvark]

I also plan on bringing in some loads of topsoil to spread around after or during the tilling. I'm going to sod around the house and then plant grass seed around the ouside of the sod.

 

[ronjhall]

Sure it will. You may have to make more that one pass to get depth you want. Trees will have roots though out cleared area.

 

[zipp669]

No do not till it if you will be sodding it.
Tilling will make it to soft to walk on after it is sodded, especially when it is wet. And you will be needing to water the sod.
Also if you will be sodding make sure there is going to be plenty of sunlight or the bluegrass sod will die for lack of sun.
I would just pull it all into a pile like you are, then haul in the topsoil and grade & spread it then sod. by the end of this year is you are sodding this spring you will want to aerate it then overseed it with some cr fescue & perrenial rye and maybe a little bluegrass.
It looks as though you have plenty of trees so you may have probs with the shade later on. so the crf & pr will help solve this some. Do not overseed with tt tall fescue.

 

[Holzster]

I don't see anyting wrong with tilling it as long as you (like Zip said) do not sod it untill you roll it with a weight. all that tilling will do is add organic matirial to the soil.

 

[Egon]

Think I'd till several times several weeks apart and then harrow.

Use the black dirt for the sodded areas and till it well. Then harrow it well. This will help level and smooth as well as compact the soil.

Till in different directions to help level the area.

Leaving time between tillings allows seeds to sprout that you can kill with the next tilling.

Good planting!

Egon

 

[DannyD]

Nice progress. One thing about tilling all that into the ground. What about the seeds from the weeds etc that you are tilling in. Need to consider if they will in fact be "planted" by your tilling them in. Can you burn in your area? If so starting a burn pile THEN tilling what is left in may be better. At least any seeds at that point will not be coming up thru your sodding or planting.

I knew a contractor once that when they seeded a yard would first wet down the straw.......all of it, wait a week then put down the seed and straw. Wetting it down supposedly let any seeds from the weeds start but not grow, therefore not "planting" themselves in his new lawn.

just a thought though