Terrace Gardening
•
To create a terrace, start at the top of the slope and work down Go back and
forth across the first row. See Figure 20.
1
3
12" UNTILLE D
1
REPEAT
DOWNHILL
•
Each succeeding lower terrace is started by walking below the terrace you
are preparing. For added stability of the tiller, always keep the uphill wheel
in the soft, newly tilled soil. Do not till the last 12" or more of the downhill
outside edge of each terrace. This untilled strip helps prevent the terraces
from breaking apart and washing downhill. It also provides a walking path
between the rows.
UPHILL
Figure 20
OPERATION
Loading and Unloading the Tiller
Loading and unloading the tiller into a vehicle is potentially hazardous and
doing so is not recommended unless absolutely necessary, as this could
result in personal injury or property damage.
If you must load or unload the tiller, follow the guidelines given below:
•
Before loading or unloading the tiller, stop the engine, wait for all parts to stop
moving, disconnect the spark plug wire and let the engine and muffler cool.
2
•
The tiller is too heavy and bulky to be safely lifted by one person. Two or
more people should share the load.
•
Use sturdy ramps and manually — with the engine shut off — roll the tiller
into and out of the vehicle. Two or more people are needed to do this.
•
The ramps must be strong enough to support the combined weight of the
tiller and any handlers. The ramps should provide good traction to prevent
slipping; they should also have side rails to guide the tiller along the ramps;
and they should have a locking device to secure them to the vehicle.
•
The handlers should wear sturdy footwear that will help to prevent slipping.
•
Position the loading vehicle so that the ramp angle is as flat as possible (the
less incline to the ramp, the better). Turn the vehicle's engine off and apply
the parking brake.
•
When going up the ramps, stand in the normal operating position and push
the tiller ahead of you. Have a person at each side to turn the wheels.
•
When going down the ramps, walk backward with the tiller following you.
Keep alert for any obstacles behind you. Position a person at each wheel to
control the speed of the tiller. Never go down the ramps tiller-first, as the
tiller could tip forward.
•
Place wooden blocks on the downhill side of the wheels if you need to stop
the tiller from rolling down the ramp. Also, use the blocks to temporarily
keep the tiller in place on the ramps (if necessary), and to chock the wheels
in place after the tiller is in the vehicle.
•
After loading the tiller, prevent it from rolling chocking the wheels with
blocks and securely tie the tiller down.
15
WARNING