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Kittanning,Pa

I need to till my plot for next year as of right now its just part of my yard..If I would burn off the grass would this make it easier or not something i want to do

10/23/2012 10:45:28 PM

Hinckley MN

Ideally you want to kill perrenial grasses. that can be done with solarization or herbicides. tilling sod is alot of work unless you have big equipment.

10/23/2012 11:20:53 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

I have always had mixed feeling of burning ground yes it wud make it easer,but i always was afraid to cause of ground hardening(like bricks are made by kilning dirt)&burning out nutrients,but being months before planting& depending on how hot fire gets,i always cover my plots with black plastic for several weeks will kill it to the root,but lets see what other advice you get,wudnt mind knowing more bout ground burning myself

10/23/2012 11:22:06 PM

Mass

Spraying with round up, wont help much if your tilling now, it will kill things, but if you sprayed now and tilled in the spring, everything will be dead and decayed for easier tilling. I spot spray now for where we will plant new tree transpants next spring. We then go in with an auger or by hand and very easily make a hole. Burning probably will only deal with surface material, you still will have live roots of sod to till. My two cents.

10/24/2012 12:32:59 AM

Kittanning,Pa

Is round up the only one or any grass killer work fine for this

10/24/2012 4:31:24 AM

Kittanning,Pa

Never had much luck with round up

10/24/2012 4:31:58 AM

Ohio

Id till it in now, it will break down faster then you think and also helping to adding organic matter to your patch for the next growing season. Ether way your still going to have weeds sprout up here and there next year. Alot of growers grow their personal best in places exactly like your growing in for next year (virgin soil) .

10/24/2012 5:03:30 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

There are a lot of generic glyphosate herbicides that are about the equivalent of roundup. Just don't use one that has any other herbicides added to it.

10/24/2012 8:36:05 AM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Put a sguirt of liguid soap in your poison,it will make it stick to grass blades,spray in the morning so it has the sun all day,most poisons are heat activated,i have only found it to work good in 80 plus weather,wudnt hurt to cover with black plastic for a day or so wich you will be waiting for poison to kill anyways will help heat it up plus keep due from washing it off&grass will have nothing to breathe but poison fumes

10/24/2012 9:16:00 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

I really believe that the best way for you to go about this is by doing what I did. When Tilling a new spot thats full of grass its best to till it the best way you can rake and remove all clumps of grass then allow to sit for oneweek while getting the soil tested. once the soil comes back add all thats needed and give another till. let it sit till the spring then another soil test is done. again add whats needed. you'll always be getting weed seed in your patch no matter what you do to stop it from happening, best to stay on top of it when the seasons young rather then having a big mess to deal with later on.

10/24/2012 10:05:50 AM

Duxbury,Ma.

To late in year to use round-up, mow or burn off debris and get the tiller going and get at it.....then do it again.

10/24/2012 6:40:57 PM

Ontario, Canada.

I'm with Brooks on this. Spray it with roundup wait 48 to 72 hours then til it up.

10/24/2012 7:16:39 PM

Muddy Waters

I never take a tiller to sod I like to use a 12 inch plow.grass gone.

10/24/2012 8:12:52 PM

Kittanning,Pa

Handy can you bring it to PA

10/24/2012 10:44:14 PM

Hinckley MN

Last spring I started a new garden out of sod. I moldboard plowed it, waited 2 weeks, rototilled it, waited 2 weeks, rototilled it again, then did a final rototilling 10 days later and I had almost no grass all season.

If you are using a walk behind tiller, you will need to start shallow and work your way deeper. It ususlly helps to till in perpendicular directions. Till once N-S then til once E-W. if you search the site, there were some good discussions on broadforks last spring. That is another way to get it done.

10/25/2012 11:22:54 AM

Duxbury,Ma.

Its not that difficult, were talking about making dirt.

10/25/2012 5:38:51 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Or the redneck way get a 12 pack&start doing donuts,ye haw

10/25/2012 6:03:27 PM

Kittanning,Pa

thank you guys for the answers

10/25/2012 10:55:43 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Here is what I did...last year took over new part of yard (grass area...mowed it for years) so I simply ordered my compost/manure mix and I covered the grass with 4-6 inches of new soil and let it sit over the fall and winter.

The grass under the soil died and composted and when I tilled in the spring, any remaining clumps and harder packed ares were loosened and mixed with the newer compost and soil.

Brooks is right again, the virgin area where we played soccer, field hockey and other games for years and years....out grew my regular patch that I've been using since 2003.

10/26/2012 12:51:44 PM

nOVA sCOTIA

What about the ph of this new plot? IT has to be very acidic.Lime takes time to work and i don't think it would be ready for the next spring?

10/26/2012 7:58:16 PM

Muddy Waters

LOL yardman!! Sure elamison the 53 Jubilee does about 25 mph.I should be there buy Thanksgiving if they let me on the turnpike.If not see you by Christmas.lol

10/26/2012 8:22:14 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Lol handy,good mental pik of you putn down the inertstate.&ela just scalp with mower,or throw some leaves&burn it off,till plant see wat happens&go from there,gardening is not a overnite thing,u seem enthusiastic so roll with it&learn from there

10/26/2012 9:15:21 PM

Upa Creek, MO

LOL, Yardman. I used to turn over lots of grass in lawns when I was a teen. Not cool now, and I can only hope karma isnt true.

10/26/2012 10:31:07 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Yep cuple torn up yards myself,but want even throw a ciggeratte but now

10/27/2012 11:47:49 AM