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Massachusetts

I need to till in some manure, compost, etc. soon and had a few questions...
1. Can I till right now, or is the ground too frozen in MA?
2. Do I need two tillings (one to loosen up the new, unplanted ground and one to till in ammendments) Or one (just lay the stuff on top of the ground and till it under?)

Thanks!
Jamie

3/17/2006 11:08:11 AM

Syracuse, NY

i almost think that if your manure is well-aged and not going anywhere TOOOOOOOO soon, for the sake of not having to till the soil a second time and possibly wreck the day for a lot of earthworms, perhaps you could wait until about a week or so before you are actually going to plant out---but, if the soil is really wet and mushy, i have read recently that it is quite bad for the soil structure (Tremor) if you do it at that time. and it is easy to get a tractor or tiller stuck and is harder to apply amendments if you are in a foot deep pile of muck! well, mine must have been REALLY bad last year then!
i would wait until the soil is obviously ready to be worked if at all possible, throw-down my amendments (Gypsum, Molasses, corn meal, or whatever) and put the manure on top of that (it will be easier to apply amendments before the manure is in the weigh) and till it all in , at once, anytime after that...i do not think there is really a BAD time to add the manure and the amendments, once spring is sprung, but it should all be done a week or two before the plants get out there, for everything to try to balance-out before your 845, 842 and of course your 1354 hit the dirt, lol...GOOD LUCK--ERIC
AND NOW, THE EXPERTS' REPLIES:

3/17/2006 11:49:40 AM

Massachusetts

Thanks Eric. Sounds good. The soil seems quite dry, and if the soil would have time to balance out, I probably will wait, as long as a lot of rain isn't in the forecast.

3/18/2006 3:35:26 PM