Discussion Board - Clearing small area for garden How to

Right now the garden area is somewhat cleared of the bigger trees and has several small bush trees like dogwood left for me to pull. The ground is full of running vines and pricker type weeds.

What is the best way to pull a stump that is about 6-8 inch diameter and sits only 5 inches above ground? Next time should I cut higher off the ground?

To "farm" this garden I have a 1944 Farmall A with a McCormick Deering A-91 Plow attached.

Yesterday I tooled around a bit with the plow which made various piles of the vines/bark and dirt.

What I figured out is that I need a longer cleared distance to operate the plow so I have to do some more clearing of trees and bark.

What else should I be doing to get ready for spring planting?

I have locust logs ready to be made into fence posts which will form the garden fence.
The reason I posted this question is that I read another guys experience plowing his 1 acre field (mine is way less then an acre) and the mistakes he made were helped by asking here.

Thanks
Al Fitch

A second thought: if this plot is in the middle of a woodlot already, then how good will the sun shine into it? You need full sunlight for nearly all day for most garden plants to grow.

Next week I have a forester coming in to give me a management plan which might inlcude clearing those locust trees for whatever reason.

I think I have pretty much received the message that stumping with this tractor (or most others I suppose) is not a smart idea. I wouldn't have thought of that if it were not for this forum.

I guess I'm looking at bringing in some top soil or moving it from some other part of my property to be able to get a seedbed next spring. This I CAN do with my Farmall A and my wagon! :)

Al

For the roots & trash, it's pretty hard on your tires too. A neighbor cleared out 20 acres, and got an old JD tractor & 2 or 3 bottom plow, & had steel wheels for the tractor - used that to work it up for a year. Until the stuff died & chopped up a bit & the big chunks could get cleared out. Now adays I'd use a cheap chisel plow that wouldn't bother me to bend if it stck on something...

If burning is allowed, you can use a barrel filled with tree trash over each stump & burn the stump out. Probably not too big a job for a 1/2 acre.

I too was wondering about the shade on your garden patch, hope that works out for you.

--->Paul

Works better with some types of trees (root systems), not so good with others...

--->Paul

Thanks.

--->Paul