That'll never happen no more.....

Wasn't sure where to post this as I can't find a vegetable garden forum, so I'll post it here. I'm a firm believer in going through life saying "no, I don't think I'll ever do that again", particularly when it comes to gardening, but I also would rather have someone else have screwed up before me and tell me what not to do. So, in that spirit....

I've always heard and read about putting in a cover crop during the winter to turn under in the spring and provide organic matter for the soil, and always thought it was a great idea. So, I sewed winter rye in the part of the vegetable garden that was fallow and decided it was now time to turn it under - major mistake.

The root mass is so thick that I can't turn it under with a fork and it is too thick to till under with a Mantis tiller as the roots and blades completely choke the tiller, so I am going to have to manually dig up and turn under the rye. Even then, it's probably going to take a while for the rye to decay sufficiently before I can use the small tiller.

Anyone have a better idea?

Hmm..if it is very tall can you mow it first? I do that when my clover gets very high, mow first then till.
Other than that do you have a neighbor with a bigger tiller? Or with a tractor that can come plow it for you? (Not familiar with how big your garden is.) I've never used a Mantis but thought they were very small and good for using in loose dirt, close quarters, and for cultivating with. Sounds like if none of the above are options maybe you should just go rent a Troybilt and see if that helps. (In the future I'd recommend clover...it doesn't have the massive root system. Still don't know if your Mantis would turn it tho.)
Interested in hearing what you end up doing!

Horseshoe, it's a raised bed (two railroad ties thick). I was wondering if even a large tiller would work - this stuff is thick! I guess I'll rent one and give it a try. Thanks.

I'm wondering why you sowed the rye - that's a tough little plant. But like you said..........!!

I think if you cover the patch with black plastic for a while you might save yourself a lot of work. This may take time tho, and if you don't want to wait maybe you'll just have to start digging. If it comes to that, why not remove the mass and make a compost pile? After it rots you can put it back. I can see where you would have preferred to learn from someone else's mistake on this one. And in that spirit I will try to remember it for my Do Not Do list.

Would it be terrible to just spray it with Round-Up?? After it dies in a few days it shouldn't be so tough. And then you can plant after 3 days. Don't know if it would help with the roots tho.

Copperbaron, I feel your pain! The irony - we tried our best to get a good stand of winter rye when we had to sow a temporary lawn in the fall. (This was many years and several homes ago.) That rye grew so sparse and wimpy, we had NO grass to speak of until spring came and we could get some Bermuda sod in place. It sounds like you might have had some good soil to start with (ours was the typical result of new construction: lots of clay and not much else.)

You might try crimson clover next year. Others swear by crown vetch, but I've pulled my share of that stuff out of lawns over the years; I'm a little gunshy about planting it on purpose, LOL.

Thanks for all the suggestions/advice - the biggest problem is the roots which roundup would not solve. The reason why I chose rye is because I had a bag of it left over from when we put the pond in and used it to help in erosion.

It has taken off because it's planted in, well, the vegetable garden where I put a lot of effort into preparing the soil. I'll try renting the big tiller and see what happens and let folks know what happens in case they want to try something similar. I need to do something quickly as it is time to start planting things like carrots, peas, spinach, etc. With this weather, I could just about plant tomatoes right now.

Good luck Copperbaron...hopefully the tiller will do you justice. (If not it sounds like get the shovel out and double-dig...ugh! Oh my aching back!) (Not sure I'd use Round-up in your veggie patch so hope you won't consider it there.) Was also wondering if you planted perennial rye, if so it may come back on ya.
I'm gonna watch this thread...am curious to see how ya do.

Once the plants die, though, the roots get kind of crispy along with the topgrowth and are much easier to dig through. At least that's what I found with the areas we used Round-Up on prior to working them. You could give it a week or so after killing it, maybe combine the herbicide plus black plastic to speed the rotting?

Ohhhh my......I really feel for you, but a least you opened my eyes as what to tell DH NOT to use...and for that I thank you!

"eyes"

Oh Cooperbaron, I feel for you. Too bad we all dont live closer, we could have one big wrok out at your place, bring our own shovels and just got at it for a day...with all of us doing it, not only would we get it done, we would all have a million laughs.
Good luck to on your endevour.
I was thinking about putting in a cover crop too, but the time got away from me and I didnt, finally I just went out and covered it.
I agree with shoe about the round up though, try for an alternative.

I'll be thinking about you working in that mess.

Weekend update - this just in. I thought that one thing that would help would be to trim the rye down to the bed. I couldn't use a weedeater as grass would have ended up everywhere except in the beds, which is why I planted it in the first place. So, I got out my manual hedge clippers and started whacking. A short time later, I realized this was going to take all weekend. So, I got my electric hedge clipper and tried that - much better progress and it would have been even easier if I had a larger electric (or better yet, gas powered) hedge clipper.

I have cut it all down and am letting it dry out over the week. Then I'll give it a go with the Mantis one more time this next weekend. If it still clogs, I'll rent one of the big tillers. FYI, this is really a lot of organic matter going back into the bed. Will continue updates for those interested.

Keep 'em coming......we all can use the knowledge that your are garnering for us......:o)

"eyes"

What a "nightmare" CB,feel for ya' If it were me,I'd lower my lawnmower to the lowest setting(drop the blade down)and "butch it" Then use the BIG tiller'''' IMHO,keep us all posted please' Sis'

I had done the same and I had a mantis tiller like a dummy I sold it before I moved to florida. I cut the grass and tilled a little at a time had to keep cleaning the tines but got the job done its hard work been there
Pete