What equipment would you use?

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02-19-2018, 12:37 AM
janedoe

What equipment would you use?

I want to dig a rectangle in a hay field 1 foot deep, 10 feet long and 3 feet wide. The idea is to get all of the hay out, roots and all. This has been a huge problem since I started gardening down there. I have an 18" heavy duty tiller and a lightweight 9" tiller. My local Home Depot also has a trencher for rent for a reasonable price for a day. There's also a sod cutter for rent. I have never used either of these. It's not worth it to me to rent a Bobcat.

What would you use? Any of these things? All of them? Something else?

Thank you.
02-19-2018, 05:40 AM
SunDance

Well....

I'd eliminate the lightweight tiller and the sod cutter and the trencher. That leaves the heavyduty tiller....which was my first thought anyway.
02-19-2018, 06:10 AM
janedoe

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunDance

Well....

I'd eliminate the lightweight tiller and the sod cutter and the trencher. That leaves the heavyduty tiller....which was my first thought anyway.

Just keep hitting it over and over then dig it out? I thought that might be the way to go but wanted to make sure there wasn't something that could make it easier.

This hay is kicking my butt.
02-19-2018, 08:07 AM
jertom

Got any neighbors that own a backhoe and would do you a favor? Small job for that.
02-19-2018, 08:44 AM
SunDance

Quote:

Originally Posted by janedoe

Just keep hitting it over and over then dig it out? I thought that might be the way to go but wanted to make sure there wasn't something that could make it easier.

This hay is kicking my butt.

Back and forth.

Are you planning on putting some sort of underground edging in to keep the hay from just taking over again? You want to stop future root spread.
02-19-2018, 05:23 PM
janedoe

Quote:

Originally Posted by jertom

Got any neighbors that own a backhoe and would do you a favor? Small job for that.

No. My neighbors are more into recreational equipment. ATVs, dirt bikes, etc. I could definitely rent from a place down the street but it's $300 for the day and I don't know how to operate the thing so there would be a learning curve.
02-19-2018, 05:27 PM
janedoe

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunDance

Back and forth.

Are you planning on putting some sort of underground edging in to keep the hay from just taking over again? You want to stop future root spread.

It's going to be a large hugelkultur, bigger than I've done before. I was going to line it with rotting logs. I also have two 4' x 250' chemical free kraft paper rolls for weed suppression that I got on clearance last year so I could put that down first.
02-19-2018, 08:35 PM
POPTOP

I would use the big tiller. Couple of passes and dig out the dirt. Couple of more passes, dig out the dirt. Rinse and repeat. Then you're not battling going deep all at once. Can you get ahold of any old tin roofing for the sides. You would have to be very careful about the top, would need to be folded over as it's very sharp. Or bury deep enough that you can use a timber at the very top or some other type of edging. Line the bottom with the kraft paper. The more holes the tin has on the lower side the better so drainage. The upper 4 inches or so would need to be solid to help with root suppression from the hay. Douse the cut edge of the cut well with vinegar to start a kill zone.
02-20-2018, 01:06 AM
janedoe

Quote:

Originally Posted by POPTOP

I would use the big tiller. Couple of passes and dig out the dirt. Couple of more passes, dig out the dirt. Rinse and repeat. Then you're not battling going deep all at once. Can you get ahold of any old tin roofing for the sides. You would have to be very careful about the top, would need to be folded over as it's very sharp. Or bury deep enough that you can use a timber at the very top or some other type of edging. Line the bottom with the kraft paper. The more holes the tin has on the lower side the better so drainage. The upper 4 inches or so would need to be solid to help with root suppression from the hay. Douse the cut edge of the cut well with vinegar to start a kill zone.

Great idea with the vinegar! Don't know where I can get tin but will definitely keep an eye out. I have a lot of other random wood materials that I will check into. My husband is pretty hard core about untreated wood and this is his discard pile so that might work.