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Scranton, Pa

We purchased the house in October and I added 5 yards of compost and the recommended lime and used a walk behind tiller to incorporate it in our new 2000 sq ft patch. Today I started digging my hole where the mound is going to go and the hardpan was about 5 inches below the surface. I had to use a pick because a spade shovel couldn't break it. Im looking to rent a skid steer or tractor next week to gravel my driveway and make a pad for a 20x16 shed. What attachment would be best to break up the hardpan.

4/5/2017 8:42:27 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

A subsoiler. Just drop it and rip it.

4/5/2017 10:44:10 PM

NE Arkansas

Gonna have to retest the soil if you rip it tho...

4/5/2017 11:14:54 PM

Deer Park WA

Max the mole killing hound ssys rip it, add compost/manure and rip / till it again.
Best for you in 2017!

4/6/2017 12:51:24 AM

Bethlehem CT

Get the bobcat with some forklifts, you can stab those right into the soil and break up the nasty hard pan.

4/6/2017 6:56:33 AM

Bethlehem CT

If you can afford it I would consider bringing in a 12-16" layer of loam and put it right on top of the soil. No need to rip it then. Plus you will have the drainage you need.

4/6/2017 6:58:07 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

BIG Moon is dead on, We had to do that at Jareds, but you will have BIG chunks of solid clay that will be very difficult to break up in a hurry. I wouldnt do it till a fall so freeze thaw can assist in breaking it up. Even with that it took lots of muscle to break it up, but our texture is much better. Been 7 years. Now I find myself using a 18" broadfork, not fun but I feel worth the muscle pull

4/6/2017 10:15:55 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

for todays till. After we did that, one could push a 3/8" x 3 foot rebar down by hand 18" with ease. 7 Years later finds I can only go down about 8 now, so out comes the broadfork at least till this winter.

4/6/2017 11:06:08 AM

South Hero, VT

Definitely get your soil retested if you're adding anything or digging up subsoil.

4/6/2017 12:03:17 PM

Deer Park, WI

Tillage radish is a biological, non-mechanical option to bust up hardpans. better for the soil in the long run.

4/6/2017 5:07:02 PM

i did mine with skid loader last year soft as can be after



http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=252892

4/6/2017 6:37:46 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

If you can get right after it to bust up the chunks real fine before they turn to bricks, go ahead and do it this spring. You won't do well with just 5" of rooting depth. But fall is better if you can't get the chunks worked up. And if you can get the tillage radish planted soon enough before freezing, they help too. They have a little of the disease suppression activity that mustard has. Freezing and thawing helps a lot. That's why farmers around here chisel plow in the fall and not is the spring.

4/6/2017 7:10:45 PM

Buffalo, MN ([email protected])

What type of soil is your hard pan? If I would rip mine more than a foot I would be ripping up gravel in one patch and clay in the other. Just saying you also will always want a bigger shed.

4/6/2017 8:31:28 PM