Terry Coombs wrote:
....
Mmmm , I don't think smothering is going to work on this one . This is
ground that not too long ago was hardwood forest . The trees were cut before
we got it 11 years ago , an oval clearing roughly 75' X 200' . It currently
has some wild grasses and mostly blackberries on it .

ah, i thought it was already back to a field that was
mowed once in a while. blackberries are a different story.
i'm assuming that since you already did a part of this
that you have something to knock them back (brush hog or
some other chopper/mower)?


I tilled up part of it
last year , and the results were *VERY* encouraging . The part closest to
the trees on the uphill side weren't so much , but plants farther out into
the clearing were amazing . I'll be doubling the size this year . And
tilling the hay from the henhouse into the part I broke last year , after
it's aged a bit . I'm really excited about this year !

i'm glad to see someone excited about gardening and
having a bigger garden.

has the hay been added already?

i would not till the hay into the previous garden.
what does that accomplish? is there anything growing
in that soil that will be able to use those nutrients
that quickly? if not, you're effectively wasting a
long term nutrient source for no purpose.

if instead, you scatter a small amount on the surface
and lightly rake it in, then you can plant into that
and you'll be fine. after planting a plot mulch around
using the rest and that will be an excellent longer term
soil nutrient source. as the rains come along they'll
stimulate the worms and other soil creatures to break
down the top mulch and since the rains also stimulate
the plants to grow then they are getting the nutrients
when they can actually use them. much less work and
better for the soil community.


songbird