Troy-Bilt 12210 Super Bronco Owner's Manual page 15

TILLING TIPS & TECHNIQUES (cont.)
Powercomposting simply meanstilling underand burying in the soil all mannerof
organic mattersuch as crop residues,leaves,grass clippings and cover crops. This
materialwill decomposeduring the non-growing seasonand add importantnatural nutri-
ents to the soil.
Thefirst placeto begin is with crop residues such as leftovervines, stalks,stems and
roots. Powercompost these crop residuesas soon asthey finish bearing. The sooner
this is done,the better, astender greenmatter is easierto till under. Usethe deepest
depth regulatorsetting possiblewithout causing the engineto labor or the tiller to jump
ahead.
Standingcornstalksof reasonableheightcan be powercomposted. Pushingover (but
not uprooting) cornstalkswill often make it easierto chop up the stalks. Keepthe tines
clear of excessivetangling by "fishtailing" or frequentlyusing reverse. Make several
passes,then return a few days laterto finish off any remainingstubble.
When power composting,do not keep
the Depth Regulator Lever at a deep
setting if the tiller jumps or bucks.
Ifjumping or buckingoccurs, movethe
Depth Regulator Lever down to a
shallow setting and then slowly
increase the tilling depth on later
lasses.
Failure to follow this warning could
result in personalinjury.
After tilling undercrop residues,add more organic mattersuch as leaves,grass clippings and evenkitchenscraps. Whentilled into the
soil, this organic matterwill decomposeand add evenmore important nutrientsto the soil.
After powercomposting,you maywant to planta "greenmanure" cover crop to protectthe soil during the off-season. You simply
grow a crop of clover, alfalfa,buckwheat,peas,beans,ryegrass, grain, or kaleand then till it intothe soil prior to the plantingseason.
Read the following recommendations before tilling on slopes:
If you must garden on a moderate slope, please follow two very important
guidelines:
I. Till only on moderate slopes, never on steep ground where footing is difficult
(reviewsafety rulesin Section I: Safetyof this manual).
2. We recommendtilling up and down slopes rather than terracing. Tilling vertically
on a slopeallows maximum plantingarea andalso leavesroom for cultivating.
IMPORTANT:When tilling on slopes, be sure the correct oil level is maintained in
the engine (checkevery one-half hour of operation). The incline of the slope will
cause the oil to slant awayfrom its normal leveland this can starveengine parts of
required lubrication. Keepthe motor oil levelat the full point at all times!
Tilling Up and DownSlopes(Vertical Tilling)
• To keepsoil erosion to a minimum, be sure to add enough organic matter to the
soil so that it hasgood moisture-holdingtextureand try to avoidleavingfootprints
or wheel marks.
• When tilling vertically, try to make the first pass uphill as the tiller digs more
deeplygoing uphill than it does downhill. In soft soil or weeds,you may haveto
lift the handlebarsslightly while going uphill. When going downhill, overlapthe
first passby about one-halfthe width of the tiller.
Do not operate tiller on a slope too
steep for safe operation. Till slowly
and be sure you have good footing.
Never permit tiller to freewheel down
slopes. Failure to follow this warning
could result in personalinjury.
Tilling AcrossSlopesWithout Using
Terraces (HorizontalTilling)
• If vertical or terracing gardening aren't
practicalfor you, then you can till laterally
across a slope. We don't recommendthis
method as it can create unsurefooting and
invitessoil erosion.
• As in terrace gardening,start at the top of
the slope and overlapthe first pass by half
the width of the tiller. For addedstability of
the tiller, alwayskeepthe uphill wheel in the
soft, newlytilled soil.
Terrace Gardening
• Whena slope is too steep or too short for vertical tilling, it may be necessaryto till across the slope and create terracedrows. Ter-
racesare rows that are cut into the side of a slope, creatinga narrow, but flat areaon which to plant.
• On a long slope, you can makeseveralterraces,one belowthe other.
• Terracesshould be only 240-3 feet wide. Diggingtoo far into the side of the slope will exposepoor subsoil that is unproductivefor
plants.