Digger advice

HI Everyone.

Ive just taken on a new plot. I needs grass killing, and then digging. Its to big to do manually and I was going to have to hire a digger, but that would cost a lot so I thought I might buy a second hand machine.

What would you go for. Its a big enough plot for a mini digger, and very hard soil, stony and grass ridden, so I need help to break into a suitable plot to grow stuff!

Any thoughts most welcome!
SIMON

 

A mini digger is not a cultivation tool more something for excavating and moving soil. A second hand mini digger would set you back �£3000 plus!

Strim off undergrowth and spray the whole plot with roundup, let everything die off. Hire a cultivator powered through the rear wheels (not a rotovator powered by the tines). Camon make the best cultivators, you can sometimes get them on ebay but probably not worth it.

In the past I have always hired cultivators from HSS hire, �£99 for the day but you can do a huge area. You pay a bit more with hss being a national company but the machines are always clean and in good conditions and you get instructions.

Your other option is if acess alows to pay a farmer to plough or power harrow it. Once youve cultivated it I would let any buried weed seeds emerge and spray again.

[ 14. October 2007, 11:26 PM: Message edited by: Pro Gard ]

 

Many thanks... I can see what you mean and thanks for the idea re cultivator not rotovator.. I didnt realise the difference. ! Im conscious Im gonna spend min �£500 on hire tho...over mixed days.. i have at least five days worth of hire I guess. and if i buy gear I can always sell for a similar price when done?

 

There is a nice camon one on ebay at the moment, might be worth a look. Five days.... sound like a nice big plot, should be worth the efort.

 

ive also taken on a new plot covered in grass.
this is wot im planning to do

turf off half the plot.
but im goning to lay the taken off turf over the other half, grass side downwards and cover with thick black plastick sheets.

this should not only get rid of the grass but will also mulch in very well the battle has started.
if all goes well that should give me half a plot to get going and the other half for late inthe year stuff

 

ok ive just been up my plot and ive gotta modify wot ive said above.
as i found moving great lumps of turf to the other end very hard work

so the new plan
cut and turf strips about 2foot long and a spade wide fold then over as you go making a bed 4foot wide. a 12 year old daughter to help pull the turfs over realy helps.

and yes a good quality sharp spade also realy helps
i like my new spade that i purchased today

 

now i can do pickys this is wot ive done

this picky should self explain my above post

 

Youll find it a lot easier to lift the turf if you strim the grass down.