Small Lightly wooded area cleared to grass. Till or no till?
Cinnamonstick 11
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
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Cinnamonstick 11
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoRelated Discussions
What is 'tilling'
Comments (14)I was amazed at what Europeans did with small amounts of land--sometimes with NO Land but lots of containers and windowboxes. Even the smallest, humble house had beautiful flowers. I contrast this with the current American suburban trend of completely utilitarian, non-flowering, plastic-looking greenery for landscaping. If it doesn't flower, it isn't in my garden (yard)! I don't till with a machine either--it's my exercise. Beats paying a gym! I believe that if gas cost what it costs Brits we would ALL till by hand (except large farms, of course). As for composting and amending--as you would guess, every possible soil type is found in this country so it would be unwise to answer one way. In my area, it's red clay. I amend by composting, manure and compost tea as that is the best way to achieve the perfect balance of PH. My question for you. I read that the Queen likes gardens very much. Does she actually dig in the dirt? Has anyone photographed her doing this? I realize you don't know her personally (something Brits say Americans seem as though they believe), but perhaps you have seen this discussed in your media....See MoreTilling/Slit Seeding - Starting from Scratch
Comments (3)if you till it, you will have to till it so many times you will wish you never started. what happens is the tilled dirt settles unevenly and leaves it real bumpy. you can roll it after tilling to compact it back down, but then that defeats the purpose! how big an area you talking about here? if it is a few hundred up to maybe 10,000 sq ft i would till it and work in soil amendments at the same time. (i know, i just said tilling is bad but this is what I would do) bigger than that i just cut down the existing dead stuff as low as i could and overseed....See MoreTo till or not till, that's the question
Comments (29)Ya, but it's more fun! I guess that my main arguement about that would be that first- composting is aimed at decomposition of OM. Cultivating fungi in the soil is aimed at a variety of other goals which do include use of nutrient in OM, but also include water retention (for the sake of water retention rather than continuing decomp alone), mining minerals from incorporated soil (a much different process than decomp of OM), establishment of symbiotic relationship with plants, and a number of other things that we're still just discovering. While I agree that tilling is not a "nuclear option" that ultimately destroys all fungi never to be seen again, I also think that tilling is not exactly conducive to establishing the myc fungi necessary. An example- I have clover and other more interesting legumes growing in my yard. The myc fungi have formed strong associations with the roots of these plants. This makes these fungi stronger and dominant. Tilling in certain other OM, as well as the clover etc. would create an opportunity for bacterial domination as well as for other fungi to get a foothold. I like MY myc fungi. Bacteria and fungi are thought to impact the pH level of the soil very differently. Not only do I want to manage a fungal dominant soil, but I have specific fungal species that took years to really flourish....See Moreunder 3 weeks till Memphis Area Plant Swap 1.5
Comments (23)None of my berry bushes or fig trees have gone dormant yet, So I'll have no cuttings, but I do have some well rooted 1 year fig plants that need to get into the ground sometime between going dormant and bud burst in spring. If they can be over wintered in a unheated garage or attic that would be best. unfortunately the tags were lost long ago, so I can't tell you the exact variety, but if I have them they are good tasting and suited to our growing season. I can easily mail dormant cutting later in the winter or you can get them rooted in the spring. I do have some viable seeds from some wonderful melon I got from the Amish in Three Oak's/Ethridge, TN it's not quite a honeydew and not quite a cantaloupe, but it's _way_ yummie! I'm interested in anything that is edible or fermentable. Esp. looking for any fruit/veggie seeds, of course. BREAK Judy, is that crabapple a fruiting variety? And is it self fertile? Jackie, might be intersted in a Sweet Potato vine My darling spousal unit, Karen is interested in anything "pretty" and low maintenance for the flower beds in front of the house. BREAK If anybody want to bring anything, I'll be happy to toss it on the griddle. from fruits/berries(preferably home grown) to put in the pancakes, to eggs, bacon, sausage, potato, etc etc. you bring it I can cook it! and we could always use something to drink since it's kid of early in the day to drink my "juice"....See MoreCinnamonstick 11
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