I have a very large garden, that needs tidying up. its basically a base. with bit of rubble.

Im not sure if i should rotavate it or throw top soil on.

Any one any ideas?

Fiona

On Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:13:56 -0500, fi0n4
wrote:


I have a very large garden, that needs tidying up. its basically a base.
with bit of rubble.

Im not sure if i should rotavate it or throw top soil on.

Any one any ideas?

To me "rubble" means rocks, stones, and other non-biodegradable
trash... I'd haul all that rubble out first... and if you have to ask
you're much too lazy for gardening.

if i have ask im to lazy for gardening!? ill have you know im flogging my guts out to get this garden done for my children. Its not easy! so please do not call me lazy.

I would just build a raised bed and research square foot gardening.

Rich

fi0n4 wrote:
I have a very large garden, that needs tidying up. its basically a
base. with bit of rubble.

Im not sure if i should rotavate it or throw top soil on.

Any one any ideas?

Fiona

You don't tell us much. There is not to be gaioned by simply churning up
rubble if that is all there is. How do you know what is under the surface?
Have you been all around and dug holes to see? You might be surprised if
you haven't.

The nature of the base and the rubble are important, as is the size of the
plot, your budget and your hopes. "Large" garden could be 1/10 th of an
acre or 10 acres depending on your background. What is growing there now?
What do you want to do there? How much time and money can you afford to put
into this?


David

Basically i can get rid of bits of rubble thats been caused by digging big trees out and really want to level it best i can, 1/6 of the garden i did by digging and turning over, altho it looks well it was hard work. So with me been not knowing much about gardening, for all i know a rotavator would do the trick but i wouldnt just go ahead and do it thats why i asked for advice. all thats growing is grass maybe a few weeds. At the moment im just wanting to get it level as possible and grassed for the children so its safe. oh i taken a concret path from the middle too so they is bits of rubble from there.


Thanks for replying

fi0n4 wrote:
brooklyn1;877181 Wrote:
On Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:13:56 -0500, fi0n4
wrote:
-

I have a very large garden, that needs tidying up. its basically a
base.
with bit of rubble.

Im not sure if i should rotavate it or throw top soil on.

Any one any ideas?-

To me "rubble" means rocks, stones, and other non-biodegradable
trash... I'd haul all that rubble out first... and if you have to ask
you're much too lazy for gardening.


if i have ask im to lazy for gardening!? ill have you know im flogging
my guts out to get this garden done for my children. Its not easy! so
please do not call me lazy.

Don't worry about him. He needs to take the most caustic way of saying
anything, it's his problem nothing to do with you.

David

" I have a very large garden, that needs tidying up. its basically a base.
with bit of rubble.

Im not sure if i should rotavate it or throw top soil on.

Any one any ideas?

Fiona




--
fi0n4


Til it up good! mix in some air, nutrients, fertilizer, and enough bags
of a good topsoil to cover the whole area at least a couple of inches.
Your work will be worth the effort if you put the time in now.

Donna
in WA zone 8/9

In article ,
"Lelandite" wrote:

" I have a very large garden, that needs tidying up. its basically a base.
with bit of rubble.

Im not sure if i should rotavate it or throw top soil on.

Any one any ideas?

Fiona




--
fi0n4


Til it up good! mix in some air, nutrients, fertilizer, and enough bags
of a good topsoil to cover the whole area at least a couple of inches.
Your work will be worth the effort if you put the time in now.

Donna
in WA zone 8/9

Consider Cover crops.

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/covercrop.html

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

Bill who putters wrote:
"Lelandite" wrote:

" I have a very large garden, that needs tidying up. its basically a base.
with bit of rubble.

Im not sure if i should rotavate it or throw top soil on.

Any one any ideas?

Til it up good! mix in some air, nutrients, fertilizer, and enough bags
of a good topsoil to cover the whole area at least a couple of inches.
Your work will be worth the effort if you put the time in now.

Donna
in WA zone 8/9

Consider Cover crops.

Consider raking out the "rubble" or it's all just a waste of time,
effort, and expense... no matter you bury rubble it'll keep working
its way to the surface, and that the soil is tilled/loosened much
faster... after the first year you'll be right back where you started,
only worse.

Thank you x

Lelandite wrote:
" I have a very large garden, that needs tidying up. its basically a
base.
with bit of rubble.

Im not sure if i should rotavate it or throw top soil on.

Any one any ideas?

Fiona




--
fi0n4


Til it up good! mix in some air, nutrients, fertilizer, and enough
bags of a good topsoil to cover the whole area at least a couple of
inches. Your work will be worth the effort if you put the time in now.

Donna
in WA zone 8/9

I don't see that there is enough information to suggest that. There are
situations which fit the description where that would be a waste of effort.

David

"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
Lelandite wrote:
" I have a very large garden, that needs tidying up. its basically a
base.
with bit of rubble.

Im not sure if i should rotavate it or throw top soil on.

Any one any ideas?

Fiona




--
fi0n4


Til it up good! mix in some air, nutrients, fertilizer, and enough
bags of a good topsoil to cover the whole area at least a couple of
inches. Your work will be worth the effort if you put the time in now.

Donna
in WA zone 8/9

I don't see that there is enough information to suggest that. There are
situations which fit the description where that would be a waste of effort.

David

She states she has a "base". I'd still go for the works. My gardens have
always liked the little extra's I give them....both flower and veggie. You
should see my bosenberries right now....can't wait until summer.

Donna
in WA

In article ,
"Lelandite" wrote:

"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
Lelandite wrote:
" I have a very large garden, that needs tidying up. its basically a
base.
with bit of rubble.

Im not sure if i should rotavate it or throw top soil on.

Any one any ideas?

Fiona




--
fi0n4


Til it up good! mix in some air, nutrients, fertilizer, and enough
bags of a good topsoil to cover the whole area at least a couple of
inches. Your work will be worth the effort if you put the time in now.

Donna
in WA zone 8/9

I don't see that there is enough information to suggest that. There are
situations which fit the description where that would be a waste of effort.

David

She states she has a "base". I'd still go for the works. My gardens have
always liked the little extra's I give them....both flower and veggie. You
should see my bosenberries right now....can't wait until summer.

Donna
in WA

I just ask that you look at 3 web sites.

(1)
http://www.plantea.com/no-tilling.htm
You may want to look at Lowenfels book:
"Teaming with Microbes"
http://www.amazon.com/Teaming-Microb...l/dp/088192777
5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266037779&sr=1-1
and probably available at your local library.

(2)
http://www.mdvaden.com/double_digging.shtml
The first, and last, dig isn't necessary, but it speeds things up
dramatically. (see below)

(3)
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organ.../Lasagna-Garde
ning.aspx
--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100119/...ting_activists
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/1/19/headlines

"Wildbilly" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Lelandite" wrote:

"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...
Lelandite wrote:
" I have a very large garden, that needs tidying up. its basically a
base.
with bit of rubble.

Im not sure if i should rotavate it or throw top soil on.

Any one any ideas?

Fiona




--
fi0n4


Til it up good! mix in some air, nutrients, fertilizer, and enough
bags of a good topsoil to cover the whole area at least a couple of
inches. Your work will be worth the effort if you put the time in now.

Donna
in WA zone 8/9

I don't see that there is enough information to suggest that. There are
situations which fit the description where that would be a waste of effort.

David

She states she has a "base". I'd still go for the works. My gardens have
always liked the little extra's I give them....both flower and veggie. You
should see my bosenberries right now....can't wait until summer.

Donna
in WA

I just ask that you look at 3 web sites.

(1)
http://www.plantea.com/no-tilling.htm
You may want to look at Lowenfels book:
"Teaming with Microbes"
http://www.amazon.com/Teaming-Microb...l/dp/088192777
5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266037779&sr=1-1
and probably available at your local library.

the link did not work.


(2)
http://www.mdvaden.com/double_digging.shtml
The first, and last, dig isn't necessary, but it speeds things up
dramatically. (see below)

My "soil" is sand. A neighbor dug down 8 feet to put in his
septic tank....still 100 % sand. I used a mini tiller for both my
flower and veggie gardens: 1st to turn over the soil and to get it
loosen to the depth I needed (then was the time to pull out any
rocks/rubbage/garbage prior owners threw out). Then I
supplimented with bags of chicken manure with a topping of loam.
True, tiller's are not always necessary but why not use one
instead of one's back? And I'm wondering just when God may
call back this land I'm living on. The rubbage also contained
clams shells.

(3)
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organ.../Lasagna-Garde
ning.aspx

actually kinda of wishywashy on the subject and I expect more then that from
MotherEarthNews. But I'm sure the author of the article was still paid the
same even if it had been a substantial reading. I've found that their magazine
has gone done in substance, value and inspiration since the 70's.

One thing I did do last Fall: I asked my neighbor if I could rake up all his
huge maple leaves. After he got up off the ground from the shook, he told
me I could rake all I wanted. Dumped literally loads of the dead leaves on
my flower garden. Then asked another neighbor down the road if she could
spare a couple wheel barrels of road apples. Heck, she loaded the barrels
up and delivered she was so happy to find a local place to dump.

The road apples went on top of the leaves. From the flowers I see just now
waking up, they're happy. The garden still needs work but that will come at a
later date. I have about 200 little flower seedlings just waiting for it to
warm
up past the danger zone of frost.

Donna
in WA


"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100119/...ting_activists
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/1/19/headlines