The debate over whether you should till or not till your garden can be a hot one. But the answer isn't always straightforward. Steve & Brian have the pros and cons for each method to help you decide. #hobbyfarm #garden #homestead
We buy spent hay from a dairy farmer to cover one of our gardens in the fall and just plant right in it without tilling. Easiest gardening we have ever done. Another garden is one we allow to go to seed. We enjoy the ease of all the volunteers and the jungle-feel all around. We have seating areas in it and plant seeds in patches where we pulled out weeds by hand. Glad we sold the tiller twenty years ago.
Do you find that the hay generates more weeds the next season? I have used straw and found it breaks down nicely but doesn't have as many weed seeds as hay. Any thoughts?
We tilled for the first few years but now we use a broad fork tool to loosen up and aerate the ground every Spring. Also, as we get older, we are putting in more raised beds which are simpler and pretty effective for weed control. Thank you guys for another great and interesting discussion....
Living in southern Minnesota for over half a century, I thought all dirt was coal black. I've been spoiled in my gardening. However, coming from a long line of gardeners, my earliest gardening memories were of my dad "tilling" our two big gardens in town with a pitchfork. As an adult with my own garden I decided to be rash and have one foot firmly with the Jetsons and bought a brand new Troybuilt 8 horse tiller which has served us faithfully for 30 years now. As all the kids grew big and moved out, my garden has shrunk accordingly and I employ a happy blend of till, no till, raised bed, and container gardening. Take the best ideas for your ground, and your stage in life and sciatica! I am hopefully old and wise enough to be non-partisan. Just get out there and grow some food and beauty! Make your Eden just that; yours. Thanks gentlemen for a great show!
You're branching out😊. Thanks for this history. Years ago when farmers plowed, there'd be hundreds of seagulls following. As the years went by, there'd be less and less. Nothing to eat so the gulls wouldn't bother flying inland. You seldom see a plowed field anymore. They use other methods of breaking the soil surface for planting. This video was very informative with the pros and cons. All no till videos I've seen don't. I'm mindful of the soil in my garden and do all weeding by hand but for those row crops like carrots, the tiller come out in spring. Thanks again.
Thanks hobby farm guys! I do no till, but did not think about the pests and diseases. Had a tomato disease last year, now I wonder if it will be back this year.
When my husband hears the intro “BAUCH”, he says from the next room, “New Hobby Farm Guys video!” Thank you again for another excellent video. I just love your research and historic information!” Good “food” for thought. Another couple good shirts. You should sell Hobby Farm Guys t-shirts.
I’ve been no till for three years and loving it! Have found free compost along with making my own. Free cardboard from my local dollar general, love no hoeing or weeding!
I moved back to my family farm, which is in the southern High Plains. I am setting up my personal use guard on unbroken prairie land. I have to till. The Prairie grasses that are here along with all of the weed seeds, make growing anything rather difficult. My decision has been to till until I no longer have to till then to go more towards a no till gardening practice. Common sense should be the basis of decision-making.
Makes sense to me. I live in NW Georgia and tilled every year until the clay based soil was amended enough to handle only broad forking every fall and Spring. I still grow a winter cover of rye once in a while and till it in though
