Avoid Tilling Soggy, Wet Soil; Preparing Seedbeds; Cultivating; Tilling On Slopes - Champion Power Equipment 100379 Manuel De L'opérateur

100379 - FRONT TiNE TiLLER

Avoid Tilling Soggy, Wet Soil

Tilling wet soil often results in large, hard clumps of soil that can
interfere with planting. If time permits, wait a day or two after
heavy rains to allow the soil to dry before tilling. Test soil by
squeezing it into a ball. If it compresses too easily, it is too wet to
till.

Preparing Seedbeds

When preparing a seedbed, go over the same path twice in the
first row, then overlap one-half the tiller width on the rest of the
passes. When finished in one direction, make a second pass at
a right angle. Overlap each pass for best results (in very hard
ground, it may take three or four passes to thoroughly pulverize
the soil.)
If the garden size will not permit lengthwise and then crosswise
tilling, then overlap the first passes by one-half a tiller width,
followed by successive passes at one quarter width.

Cultivating

With planning, you can allow enough room between rows to
cultivate. Leave room for the hood width, plus enough extra room
for future plant growth.

Tilling on Slopes

Read the following recommendations before tilling 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.
2. We recommend tilling up and down slopes rather than
terracing. Tilling vertically on a slope allows maximum
planting area and also leaves room for cultivating.
IMPORTANT: When tilling on slopes, be sure the correct oil
level is maintained in the engine (check every one-half hour of
operation). The incline of the slope will cause the oil to slant away
from its normal level and this can starve engine parts of required
lubrication. Keep the motor oil level at the full point at all times!

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 personal injury.
WARNiNG
Tilling up and Down Slopes (Vertical Tilling)
To keep soil erosion to a minimum, be sure to add enough organic
matter to the soil so that it has good moisture-holding texture and
try to avoid leaving footprints or wheel marks.
When tilling vertically, try to make the first pass uphill as the tiller
digs more deeply going uphill than it does downhill. In soft soil or
weeds, you may have to lift the handlebars slightly while going
uphill. When going downhill, overlap the first pass by about one-
half the width of the tiller.
Tilling across Slopes Without using Terraces (horizontal
Tilling)
If vertical or terracing gardening aren't practical for you, then you
can till laterally across a slope. We don't recommend this method
as it can create unsure footing and invites soil erosion.
As in terrace gardening, start at the top of the slope and overlap
the first pass by half the width of the tiller. For added stability of
the tiller, always keep the uphill wheel in the soft, newly tilled soil.
Terrace Gardening
– When a slope is too steep or too short for vertical tilling, it may
be necessary to till across the slope and create terraced rows.
Terraces are rows that are cut into the side of a slope, creating
a narrow, but flat area on which to plant.
– On a long slope, you can make several terraces, one below the
other.
– Terraces should be only 2-to-3 ft. (60-90 cm) wide. Digging
too far into the side of the slope will expose poor subsoil that is
unproductive for plants.
– To create a terrace, start at the top of the slope and work
down. Go back and forth across the first row.
– Each succeeding lower terrace is started by walking below
the terrace you're preparing. For added stability of the tiller,
always keep the uphill wheel in the soft, newly tilled soil.
Do not till the last 12 in. (30 cm) or more of the downhill
outside edge of each terrace. This untilled strip helps prevents
the terraces from breaking apart and washing downhill. It also
provides a walking path between rows.

Clearing the Tines

The tines have a self-clearing action which eliminates most
tangling of debris in the tines. However, occasionally dry grass,
stringy stalks or tough vines may become tangled. Follow these
procedures to help avoid tangling and to clean the tines, if
necessary.
– To reduce tangling, set the depth regulator deep enough to get
maximum "chopping" action as the tines chop the material
against the ground. Also, try to till under crop residues or cover
crops while they are green, moist and tender.
20
TiLLiNG TiPS AND TECHNiQUES