Tilling the earth

[Standard lengthy]

In my first food plot ever I used a hand rototiller tiller to break up up some prairie sod. It worked poorly at best and now 4 weeks later my clover mix is about an inch tall and not very dense. Is it a ground tilling issue or something else?

 

[BuckSutherland]

Did u spray the ground and kill the living sod before you went in with the tiller?? That is the best way to do it, but even then the first year or so will be rough. Also, I would assume the ground may have been wet or at least tacky?? You end up making clods and as a result get poor seed to soil contact. You should always try to avoid tillage, and especially primary tillage when the soil is wet. You make a disaster for yourself. Tell us more about what exactly you did.

And if you didnt kill the grass chemically I bet its coming back like crazy already??

 

[Standard lengthy]

I used plenty of roundup. The soil was damp in spots but it just seemed like my tiller could not break through.

 

[BuckSutherland]

How long between spraying and tilling?

And was it dead when you were tilling?

 

[Standard lengthy]

Two weeks. Dead as a doornail

 

[BuckSutherland]

Its really a multi year deal to get it going. There is just so much material out there that it takes some time to break it down. Watch this it might help a little.

And what Stuart suggest to plant radishes would really help to burrow it open and get some pores into the soil.

 

[MoLandOwner]

In my first food plot ever I used a hand rototiller tiller to break up up some prairie sod. It worked poorly at best and now 4 weeks later my clover mix is about an inch tall and not very dense. Is it a ground tilling issue or something else?

I can't tell you how many times I have had customers call me with the same results. There is so much more to growing food plots or any crop, than spraying, rototilling and planting some seed. And even doing everything right does not assure success. I know, I have had enough weather related failures in my life time. Hope you get it figured out. Did you do any soil testing? Add any P or K? Lime? Plant the seed to deep? Is the location wet? maybe we could help more once knowing a few more things!

 

[Standard lengthy]

I can't tell you how many times I have had customers call me with the same results. There is so much more to growing food plots or any crop, than spraying, rototilling and planting some seed. And even doing everything right does not assure success. I know, I have had enough weather related failures in my life time. Hope you get it figured out. Did you do any soil testing? Add any P or K? Lime? Plant the seed to deep? Is the location wet? maybe we could help more once knowing a few more things!

Soil test came back great, needed nothing. Soil is clay on a slight hill so not wet. Raked in the seed by hand and packed it by rolling a half filled 55gl drum over it.

 

[BuckSutherland]

SO did you soil sample and then till it up?? Find it real hard to believe that you dont need any N.

 

[Standard lengthy]

I was also suprised. The lady at the seed store said don't f#$k with it. She swore like a sailor, but I trust her judgment

 

[sandbur]

About ten years ago, I sprayed a spot that had not been tilled for probably 60 years and then took a grub hoe to it. I swore I was hitting rock, but it was only big bluestem roots.

 

[foggy]

About ten years ago, I sprayed a spot that had not been tilled for probably 60 years and then took a grub hoe to it. I swore I was hitting rock, but it was only big bluestem roots.

ar you sure you wernt working in your basement?? :)

 

[MoLandOwner]

Soil test came back great, needed nothing. Soil is clay on a slight hill so not wet. Raked in the seed by hand and packed it by rolling a half filled 55gl drum over it.

Post your soil test on here. We need to see what a perfect soil test looks like.

 

[Standard lengthy]

I took a picture of it but the file size is too large. I will send it to anyone who wants it.

 

[sandbur]

You must be older than I am (50) :eek:

Re-size the pic (free...Pixresizer) or use an online pic source like photobucket or shutterfly and then post the results.

Or use Paint. It took me awhile to catch on to this, also.

 

[sandbur]

ar you sure you wernt working in your basement?? :)

Well I do think it sounded like I hit some rock when I bumped by head on the floor joist above me.

In all truth those big blue root clumps were huge and perhaps they were holding some gravel.

 

[NT179]

Reed canary root clumps are the same.You need to sharpen your shovel like a fillet knife to cut through them.

 

[MoLandOwner]

I took a picture of it but the file size is too large. I will send it to anyone who wants it.

Someone get a picture of it and post it. I have never seen a soil test in any state that did not need something. This will be a first for me!

You have bought the perfect ground son!

 

[Standard lengthy]

I am a Luddite. here is the sample

 

[Standard lengthy]

Its from Grafton WI