From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Colorado

what's the easiest and most effective way to turn an established grass yard into a pumpkin patch? Is there a machine that can be used to rip up a yard?

1/2/2009 8:04:33 PM

Puyallup, WA

If you have enough room to maneuver, you disk it, then plow it, then disk it again. Add your ammendments and then rototill. Finally, I run a field cultivator through to loosen the hard pan created by the rototiller.

1/2/2009 8:09:30 PM

Puyallup, WA

BTW....if you have access to a sub-soiler, you can rip up the soil before plowing.

1/2/2009 8:11:21 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

1st I would spray the area with Round Up. Wait 2 weeks then do as above. My Ferrari 72S takes a yard and turns it into a garden in one pass.

1/2/2009 8:21:20 PM

Puyallup, WA

Good point, Shannon!

1/2/2009 8:26:52 PM

Midway, UT

I changed some landscaping a few years back and removed a section of grass in the process. I watered the area the day prior so the soil would be soft and moist but not wet and then dug out the area with a shovel. I discarded all of that top sod/dirt because it had so many roots in it. I then rototilled the area. Worked pretty well but it wasn't an overally large area.

1/2/2009 10:20:40 PM

Picton,ON ([email protected])

I would also strongly suggest the Roundup, however you don't need to wait two weeks. The days is all you need. The grass will still be green, but its is dead, it just dosn't know it yet.

John

1/3/2009 12:54:02 AM

Bethlehem CT

If you are preparing a year in advance, I would smother the grass with hay,leaves,clippings etc. By next spring the worms will have broken down the sod, and the remaining organic matter will till in.

1/3/2009 8:18:31 AM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

You could probably smother out the grass and warm up the soil by spreading out black plastic and weighting it down with rocks, bricks, etc. Otherwise, Roundup or generic glyphosate will give you a good kill.

1/3/2009 11:07:51 AM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Clear plastic will heat the soil more. Black absorbs and blocks .

1/3/2009 11:37:38 AM

Bloomington, IN

I've had success smothering grass with black plastic. I spread it out in early February and it was dead by April, though the sooner you spread it out the better.

1/3/2009 2:09:53 PM

Colorado

pete turn it with a shovel and then till that under

1/3/2009 2:52:24 PM

Colorado

oops forgot,then spray with green paint so the homeowners association doesnt notice

1/3/2009 2:53:43 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

Pete, I do this alot for my clients, A sod cutter will cut two inches of sod. roll it up and put in truck and take it to dump.
If you do this CALL me I can help you do this I have a truck and trailer to haul it.

1/3/2009 3:05:38 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

I know you are in the business CCW, but I wonder why you'd want to waste the top 2 inches of prime soil and OM?

Turn it and till it like cojoe suggested or do what Stan and Shannon suggested if you can move your fence.

1/3/2009 6:06:26 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

North Shore Boyz, The top two inches of soil is the max the sod cutter will take out. I think pete's soild is like mine hard clay. so two inches of clay would make room for new soil and om.

but your right good soil is like a good wine should be savered and not wasted. so I drink lots of good cheap beer fast and in good quanity. lol

1/3/2009 6:09:09 PM

Colorado

thanks for the replies... we looked at buying an acre of land out in east longmont this weekend... would be perfect for growing pumpkins. but I don't think it is going to work out for many reasons. So Joe, I think you are right- its time to get out the green spray paint!

1/3/2009 6:44:35 PM

Boulder County Colorado USA planet Earth

Pete there is some land south of you at a neighbors house that just has grass. Condemn that land for agriculture purpose. If the land theivers in boulder can steel 12 ft of someones land then you should be able to do it too. lol

Just kidding.

1/5/2009 12:17:01 PM