Section 5— operation16
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
the footing is difficult. Review the safety rules in the Safe
Operation Practices Section.
2. It is recommended to till up and down the slopes rather
than terracing. Tilling vertically on a slope allows maximum
planting area and also leaves room for cultivating.
NOTE: When tilling on slopes, be sure the correct oil level is
maintained in the engine. Check the oil level 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 the required lubrication. Keep the engine
oil level at the full point at all times.
Tilling up and down slopes:
• 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.
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 feet 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 as shown in
Figure 5-9.
1
2
3
12" UNTILLED
1
REPEAT
DOWNHILL
UPHILL
Figure 5-9
• 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” or more of the downhill outside
edge of each terrace. This untilled strip helps to prevent the
terraces from breaking apart and washing downhill. It also
provides a walking path between rows.
Tilling across slopes without using terraces:
• If vertical or terracing gardening aren’t practical for you,
then you can till laterally across a slope. We don’t really
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.
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