Erosion control

15 years ago

I have started to play with the no-till idea this year.

I planted Elbon Rye last fall. I tilled some into the soil, some I just cut with a line trimmer and left the above knee high rye lay on top of the soil. I dug planting holes to place my plants, no amendments at all.

The area looks great, its the only spot in my garden that has not eroded from the massive amount of rain we have had.

Larry

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

joellenh
15 years ago
Sweet Larry!

I was so hoping to see you at the fling.

I am so glad that the Elbon is doing something other than just being a huge pain in your butt!!!

Jo
Okiedawn OK Zone 7
15 years ago
Larry,

I think no-till works although I would imagine it is initially hard to make the big change from your prior method to no-till. It is great that the no-till area did not erode.

Jo,

Was your Elbon rye a huge pain? More of a pain than nematodes? Just curious.

Some years I overseed our lawn grass with rye grass so we'll have green grass all winter long, and if any of that rye grass gets in my garden or in my flower beds and I don't pull it out while it is young, it is a huge pain in the butt too!

Dawn
Related Professionals
Birmingham Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Branson Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Amherst Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Lewiston Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Ithaca Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Oklahoma City Landscape Contractors · Memphis Landscape Contractors · New Braunfels Landscape Contractors · Anniston Landscape Contractors · Hartford Landscape Contractors · Manchester Landscape Contractors · Milwaukee Landscape Contractors · Wausau Landscape Contractors · Wilmington Accessory Dwelling Units · Fayetteville Accessory Dwelling Units
joellenh
15 years ago
No! I hacked down my elbon when it was manageable (under a foot) and turned it under.

Unsure if it has made a difference.

I have two nematode resistant bush beans planted that are VERY VERY small and stunted. Unsure if I got the correct variety. Teeny yellow sad looking HURT plants.

The tomatoes... am watching. I solarized, planted Elbon, added crab shells and organic matter...and I am crossing my fingers!

Jo
slowpoke_gardener
Original Author
15 years ago
Jo,

I would liked to have been at the fling but too family medical issues this year. I hope things will be better next year.

The rye was not as big of a problem as it has been in the past. One thing that helped was having Troy Bilt Horse to till it in with. My other tiller is a counter rotating tine tiller that does not handle the massive roots of the rye well.

Dawn,

I think I am going to like the no till method, but I have not figured just how I can mulch, have a cover crop and not till either.

My plans now are to make a tool I can pull across the garden and cut a groove to plant the rye in. I cant pull a tool like that by hand, I hope DW will heal well enough to drive the lawn mower as I hold the tool much like a plow. My gardens are 25 feet wide so I can toss a rope across to hook to the mower and pull the plow type tool across without packing the soil with the mower.

There are a lot of unknowns right now, I will just have to experiment and see what works best for me.

Larry