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Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Anyone have any good tips on determining when soil is too wet...or dry enough...to till it without hurting the soil structure, or just being too messy?

10/25/2007 9:48:47 AM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

Jordan

It really depends on the texture of your soil, or in other words, whether you have sand or clay. Sand is much more forgiving than clay. If the soil will hold together when squeezed it is likely too wet

John

10/25/2007 9:52:39 AM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Yeah, I suppose that makes sense. Will have to wait a little longer. We are supposed to get more rain today and tomorrow, perhaps the weatherman is wrong...I can only hope. Thanks.

10/25/2007 10:04:14 AM

Midwest

Jordan: John is right. I had tilled my patch in April when the soil was looking dry on top. I used a tiller with 8in tines. I didn't think about the sub-soil which was much wetter, not mud, but just wet enough to clump on my shoes. The end result was not good. I did manage to incorporate all my leaves but, I created a clumpy, hard (like concrete) texture. After the soil dried more, I ended up using a shovel to dig the entire patch and break up those giant clumps into little clumps. I suggest digging to see if the sub-soil is dry enough.
Greg

10/26/2007 1:23:55 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

You can get away with a lot more in the fall than you can in the spring. If you plow a piece of ground in the fall that is a bit on the wet side, the frost will cover up a multitude of sins. However, rototillers can still do a lot of damage in the fall on wets soils.
The old timers that have clay soil will tell you there is only one day in the spring to work the field. A day early, too wet, a day late too dry!

10/27/2007 12:06:13 AM

Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

I second that for the clay. Been tilling for years and it goes from wet to dry in what seems like hours!

You could try a small patch and see what happens. You will know very quickly if it is too wet.

10/29/2007 2:08:38 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

So between frost, winter wheat, and spring tilling, it shouldnt be a big deal if its a little damp down a few inches? I am having 20 yards of 2 year old manure brought in for 2700 square feet, plus 4 truckloads of leaves per 1300 square feet. I am afraid that if I dont get the wheat planted soon, it will be too late.

If the wheat doesnt grow fully now, wont it start speeding up in spring a few weeks before I till and fill in some more?

10/29/2007 8:29:15 PM

Midwest

I'm just curious, are you going to till in the manure and leaves before you plant the wheat? I suppose this is a no-brainer but, I am planting winter rye and vetch tomorrow AM without tilling in the leaves. I wish I could but the leaves are still on the trees!

10/30/2007 10:12:49 PM

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Yes, till it all in, then plant the seeds, then rake lightly.

11/1/2007 11:05:17 AM