Methods for breaking rough ground?

I'm trying to clear some ground for a garden next spring but have only hand tools. I was wondering if any of you know some methods of making this easier.

The plan right now is raking leaves and burning them to clear weeds and grass. The ground is really thick with stalks of small tree like plants, grass, briars and blackberry's.

Any of you ever tried this or have other suggestions?

 

have you considered flattening everything, solarizing it with a plastic sheet, and plopping a raised bed right on top? A few layers of cardboard should keep the weeds from coming through.

 

Where are you?

Take out the stumps with a mattock.

I turn my soil with a shovel.

creating a new garden in the mountains

 

this is dilli not hhb but...

if the ground is real bad use a maddox or an ice pick to break away the roots etc then go after it with a shovel and hoe and rakes etc...

if it is too tough of soil consider looking into lasagna gardening. I have made a few beds using that method in hard to dig areas and works well

 

i think you need to find away to lifet the ground and sift it around to break it up

 

Thanks everyone, i have a lot more ideas now.

I live in Southeast Oklahoma too btw.

 

First off don't try to till it when it's bone dry. A pick maddock is a must. And just rough it out the first go around. After you've roughed it with the maddock use a shovel or fork and turn the first layer with mulch/compost. Let it rest until after another rain and go at it again.

 

the "garden claw" is awsome for this type of thing

 

um no they aint.. not for clay soil with roots.. im sure they are great for muck land loam or soil thats been used for a long time but they are worthless for what the OP is talking about..

 

yeah you're right hhb, I have no idea what I'm talking about....I actually have shares in the garden claw company that's the only reason I was endorsing it

 

The tractor rental section at the local hardware store?

 

Earthworms and sprinklers. About 6 months before you need the land.

Put some cornmeal in a hand cranked lawn fertilizer spreader and feed them once a week or so.

They'll make swiss cheese of the earth and the worm castings enrich the soil.

The small trees and bushes will have to be yanked out.



x

 

anyone ever try mulching the ground beforehand? it keeps the soil moist and all the critters can work all the way to the top.

xexon that cornmeal idea is awesome. it cracked my mind open a little wider. thanks.

 

have you tried TNT

 

I have to small gardens both 20'x 100' I use a mattack and a shovel to turn them. I use the mattack to go through once a week to loosen the top layer so what rain we get here in Chattanooga Tn soaks in real well. I mulch real heavy in the winter then come febuary I start turn it all under. Makes much better crops