I am new to this site and want to till up sod for a garden. I have a 2010 Toro GT2200 that i will use and dont know cost wise and quality/time wise which would be best. I have looked at the brinely plows and also the oem tiller. The tiller is expensive and will have to be shipped, the plow i could pick up at homedepot but i dont know how well they work. I was wundering also about a chisel plow i could make because i got a large one for a full size tractor that is just laying around and i could dissassemble it and make a smaller one for my gt. not sure which direction to go:fing20:
Plow or tiller or what?
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Besides roots and rocks, watch out for water lines and underground utility wires.
If any question, call DIG SAFE. They may be able to help located stuff like that, there.
If any question, call DIG SAFE. They may be able to help located stuff like that, there.
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A tiller will give finished results, plows have their purpose but it depends on what you or the clients expectations are, I ran a plow for years as a kid, I now run Deere tillers, they don't compare on results, not even close. Can you rent a PTO tiller for a few hours?
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Heres a video on tilling. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNZuCi55DSY
Most of the bigger garden in the picture is virgin sod, never plowed.
I tilled the area once each way and that was it, and we had a really nice vegetable garden, it was never plowed just tilled with a 47'' john Deere tiller.:fing32:
Rob
Most of the bigger garden in the picture is virgin sod, never plowed.
I tilled the area once each way and that was it, and we had a really nice vegetable garden, it was never plowed just tilled with a 47'' john Deere tiller.:fing32:
Rob
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Tiller can bite through virgin soil too... just takes 2-3 passes, or some weight put on the tiller to have it sink in good and deep.
If you were to use a plow, you'd use it only once - because once you break up the soil, all you need is to till it in the following seasons...
If you were to use a plow, you'd use it only once - because once you break up the soil, all you need is to till it in the following seasons...
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I have both, and if I was to be tilling "sod", i Would turn it with the plow first then till it a few passes, let it sit for a few days and till it again, to make sure the grass isn't going to come back. I am biased as i down have a harrow or disk though.
On the Cheap, a sleeve hitch, brinly plow, and brinly disk with a few cinder blocks for weight would be best.
Time tested, farmer approved.
On the Cheap, a sleeve hitch, brinly plow, and brinly disk with a few cinder blocks for weight would be best.
Time tested, farmer approved.
Seems the first thing to do would be to kill the sod.
This can be easily done by plowing or tilling shallow in the fall. Just two or three inches deep to expose the roots for winter kill. Once you have the sod killed it's a simple matter to plow deep and work the seedbed down with a disk and spike tooth harrow or going over it a couple times with a tiller.
I use a tiller for nearly everything including cutting sod on new ground.
Either method will work if done properly.
Mike
This can be easily done by plowing or tilling shallow in the fall. Just two or three inches deep to expose the roots for winter kill. Once you have the sod killed it's a simple matter to plow deep and work the seedbed down with a disk and spike tooth harrow or going over it a couple times with a tiller.
I use a tiller for nearly everything including cutting sod on new ground.
Either method will work if done properly.
Mike
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Tiller all the way
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I always plow then till. I've got two gardens now to fall plow, come spring I'll till them and they'll be ready to plant. For now I'd get the plow for your tractor and rent a tiller. If you see that the garden is something you want to keep going, then watch e-bay or etc for a good used tiller for your tractor.
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Thanks for posting this video, Rob.
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My tow behind tiller was very violent and not an enjoyable experience. After 11 hours it finally broke the chain case. Im using a ripper for now but eventually I would like to get a John Deere Hydraulic tiller and run it backwards. I found that going in reverse with my towbehind was quite smooth so Im hoping operating a hydraulic tiller backwards will also be a smooth operation.
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Like others have recommended, I suggest going with a plow first then use the tiller, especially if the ground is hard or may have rocks and roots. IMO,better to find the hard stuff in the ground with a plow then a tiller! Makes the tiller more effective and may save a few of the tines.
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