Troy-Bilt Colt FT, Operator'S Manual

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8 S
ection
4— c
ontrolS
& o
peration
Using the Tiller
Your tiller is designed for seed bed preparation,
cultivating, furrowing and mulching.
Tilling Procedure
When tilling, leave approximately 8” of untilled soil
between the first and second tilling paths, then make
the third path between the first and second. See
Figure 4-5.
1 2 3 4 5
Figure 4-5
In some soils, the desired depth is obtained the
first time over the garden. In other soils, the desired
depth is obtained by going over the garden two or
three times. Passes should be made across the length
and width of the garden alternately. Rocks which are
turned up should be removed from the garden area.
Cultivating Procedures
For cultivating, a 2-3” depth is desirable. The tine
width can be reduced to 13” by removing the outer
tines completely from the tiller. See the Maintenance
& Adjustments Section for instructions on removing
the tines.
When laying out plant rows, be sure to allow enough
width to permit cultivation between the rows. In
growing corn or similar crops, check-row planting
will permit cross cultivation and practically eliminate
hand hoeing. See Figure 4-6.
Figure 4-6
Other Uses
The tiller has many uses other than tilling and
cultivating a garden. One of these is the preparation
of lawn area for seeding. The tiller will prepare a deep
seed bed which will be free of hard untilled spots,
allowing a better stand of grass to grow. The tiller
is very useful for loosening hard soil for excavation
with a shovel; no tedious handwork will be necessary.
Your tiller may be used for mixing compost in the
pile or for mixing it with the soil in your garden. This
should be done after the soil has been broken to the
full working depth. The compost should be worked
in to a depth of 6-7”. This may be done by working
the length of the garden and then by making
separate passes across its width. The addition of
decayed organic matter will substantially increase
the fertility of your garden. For proper decaying
action, fertilizer should be applied and worked in
with the mulch materials. Breaking up leaves and
straw and mixing it with several inches of soil allows
proper aeration of the plant root system and retards
the growth of weeds.