12
S
ection
4— c
ontrolS
& o
peration
•
When cultivating — breaking up the surface
soil around plants to help destroy weeds —
use very shallow depth settings to prevent
injury to plants whose roots often grow
close to the surface. If needed, lift up on the
handlebars slightly to prevent the tines from
digging too deeply. Cultivating on a regular
basis not only eliminates weeds, it also loosens
and aerates the soil for better moisture
absorption and faster plant growth.
Avoid Tilling Wet, Soggy Soil
•
Tilling wet soil often results in large, hard
clumps of soil that can interfere with planting.
If time permits, wait a day or two after heavy
rains to allow the soil to dry before tilling.
Test the soil by squeezing it into a ball. If it
compresses too easily, it is too wet to till.
Avoid Making Footprints
•
When possible, walk on the untilled side of the
tiller to avoid making footprints in the freshly
tilled soil. See Figure 4-4. Footprints cause soil
compaction that can hamper root penetration
and contribute to soil erosion. They can also
“plant” unwanted weed seeds back into the
newly tilled soil.
Suggested Tilling Patterns
•
When preparing a seedbed, go over the same
path twice in the first row, then overlap one-
half the tiller width on the rest of the passes.
See Figure 4-12.
Figure 4-12
•
When finished in one direction, make a second
pass at a right angle . See Figure 4-13. Overlap
each pass for best results. In very hard ground
it may take three or four passes to thoroughly
pulverize the soil.
Figure 4-13
•
If the garden size will not permit lengthwise
and then crosswise tilling, then overlap the
first passes by 1⁄2 a tiller width, followed by
successive passes at 1⁄⁄4 width. See Figure 4-14.
1
2
3
Figure 4-14
•
With planning, you can allow enough room
between rows to cultivate. Leave room for the
hood width, plus enough extra room for future
plant growth. See Figure 4-15.
Figure 4-15
Tilling on Slopes
If you must garden on sloping ground, please follow
two very important guidelines:
1.
Till only on moderate slopes, never on steep
inclines where footing is difficult. Review the
safety rules in the Safe Operation Practices
section.
2.
It is recommend that you till up and down
slopes rather than 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 maintained in the engine
(check every 1⁄2 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
engine oil level at the full point at all times.
Tilling up and down slopes:
•
To keep soil erosion to a minimum, be sure to
add enough organic matter to the soil so that
it has good moisture holding texture and try
to avoid leaving footprints or wheel marks.
•
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 uphill. When going
downhill, overlap the first pass by about 1⁄2 the
width of the tiller.
NOTE:
For the best results, use the HIGH belt
range and SLOW wheel speed lever position.
See Changing Speed Belts in this section for
more information on changing to high range.
Terrace Gardening:
•
When a slope is too steep or too short for
vertical tilling, it may be necessary to till across
the slope and create terraced rows. Terraces
are rows that are cut into the side of a slope,
creating a narrow, but flat area on which to
plant.
•
On a long slope, you can make several
terraces, one below the other.
•
Terraces should be only 2-to-3 feet wide.
Digging too far into the side of the slope will
expose poor subsoil that is unproductive for
plants.
•
To create a terrace, start at the top of the slope
and work down. Go back and forth across the
first row. See Figure 4-16.
1
2
3
12" UNTILLED
1
REPEAT
DOWNHILL
UPHILL
Figure 4-16
•
Each succeeding lower terrace is started by
walking below the terrace you’re 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 prevents the terraces from breaking
apart and washing downhill. It also provides a
walking path between rows.
Tilling across slopes without terracing:
•
If vertical or terracing gardening aren’t
practical for you, then you can till laterally
across a slope. We don’t really recommend this
method as it can create unsure footing and
invites soil erosion.
•
Study the terrain to make certain the slope is
not too Steep for safe tilling. If possible, make
terraced rows or till vertically.