Craftsman C459-62102, Operator'S Manual

Page: 16 / 72

16
OPERATION
1
2
3
12" UnTilleD
1
rePeaT
DoWnhill
UPhill
Figure 22
Tilling on a Slope
1. Till only on moderate slopes, never on steep ground where the
footing is difficult.
2. Tilling up and down slopes is recommended over terracing. Tilling
vertically on a slope allows maximum planting area and also
leaves room for cultivating.
NOTE
: When tilling on slopes, be sure the correct oil level is main-
tained in the engine (check every one-half hour of operation). The
incline of the slope will cause the oil to slant away from its normal
level and this can starve engine parts of required lubrication. Keep the
motor oil level at the full point at all times.
Tilling Up and Down a Slope
1. To keep soil erosion to a minimum, be sure to add enough organic
matter to the soil so that it has good moistureholding texture and
try to avoid leaving footprints or wheel marks.
2. When tilling vertically, try to make the first pass uphill as the tiller
digs more deeply going uphill than it does downhill. In soft soil or
weeds, you may have to lift the handlebars slightly while going up-
hill. When going downhill, overlap the first pass by about one-half
the width of the tiller.
Terrace gardening
1. To create a terrace, start at the top of the slope and work down
Go back and forth across the first row. See Figure 22.
2. Each succeeding lower terrace is started by walking below the
terrace you are preparing. For added stability of the tiller, always
keep the uphill wheel in the soft, newly tilled soil. Do not till the
last 12” or more of the downhill outside edge of each terrace. This
untilled strip helps prevent the terraces from breaking apart and
washing downhill. It also provides a walking path between the
rows.