Troy-Bilt Tuffy 630B Operator'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-growingseasonand add importantnatural nutri-
ents to the soil.
Thefirst placeto begin is with crop residuessuch as leftovervines, stalks,stems and
roots. Powercompost these crop residuesas soonas they finish bearing. Thesooner
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" o r frequentlyusing reverse. Makeseveral
passes,then return a few days laterto finish off any remainingstubble.
When power composting, do not keep
the Depth Regulator Lever at a deep
settingif the tiller jumps or bucks.
If jumping or buckingoccurs, movethe
Depth Regulator Lever down to a
shallow setting and then slowly
increase the tilling depth on later
passes.
Failure to follow this warning could
result in personalinjury.
After tilling undercrop residues,add moreorganic 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 "green manure"cover crop to protectthe soil during the off-season. You simply
grow a crop of clover, alfalfa,buckwheat,peas,beans,ryegrass, grain, or kaleandthen till it intothe soil prior to the plantingseason.
Read the following recommendationsbeforetilling on slopes:
If you must garden on a moderate slope, please follow two very important
guidelines:
1. Till only on moderate slopes, never on steep ground where footing is difficult
(review safety rulesin Section 1: Safetyof this manual).
2. We recommendtilling up and down slopes ratherthan terracing. Tilling vertically
on a slopeallows maximum plantingareaand also leavesroom for cultivating.
IMPORTANT: When tilling on slopes, be sure the correct oil level is maintainedin
the engine (check every one-half hour of operation). The incline of the slope will
cause the oil to slant away from its normal leveland this can starveengine parts of
requiredlubrication. Keepthe motor oil levelat the full pointat 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 avoid leavingfootprints
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 necessary to till acrossthe slope and createterraced rows. Ter-
racesare rows that are cut into the side of a slope, creatinga narrow, butfiat area on which to plant.
• Ona long slope, you can makeseveralterraces,one belowthe other.
• Terracesshould be only 2-to-3 feet wide. Diggingtoo far into the side of the slope will exposepoor subsoil that is unproductivefor
plants.