Clay, how dry before cutting into it?

[Snowman9000]

I have a thread going about culverts. In general, I'm hoping to cut some swales in my yard to manage water. Not just along the drive, but also near two buildings. My dirt is heavy with Illinois clay. It is currently soggy. I thought hey, it's soft, this would be a good time to put the box scraper on and cut a swale.

I tried a practice run behind the barn. No good. It's too gummy. You can tell I'm not a farmer.

But if I wait till summer, it's like concrete. Will the box scraper teeth tear it up when it's like that? I suppose they will. Or is it a three bears thing, and I have to find it when it's just right?

 

[bp fick]

I have a thread going about culverts. In general, I'm hoping to cut some swales in my yard to manage water. Not just along the drive, but also near two buildings. My dirt is heavy with Illinois clay. It is currently soggy. I thought hey, it's soft, this would be a good time to put the box scraper on and cut a swale.

I tried a practice run behind the barn. No good. It's too gummy. You can tell I'm not a farmer.

But if I wait till summer, it's like concrete. Will the box scraper teeth tear it up when it's like that? I suppose they will. Or is it a three bears thing, and I have to find it when it's just right?

Shovel method. Walk out there once a week and test it with an old fashioned shovel. If the clay "smucks" onto the hand shovel, it is too wet. If it begins to dig like dirt, it is just right. If it had turned concrete, you've likely procrastinated during a few weeks of hot baking weather and it is now concrete. Clay will only be "perfect" for a relatively short window of opportunity. Such is its nature. Timing is everything. Ask Goldilocks.

 

[AchingBack]

When you can drop a handful of clay from waist high, and it falls apart when hitting the ground, the time is right for working the soil.

 

[Ken45101]

The ripper teeth will probably cut into it when it's dry and hard although it's much better if you catch it earlier.

We put in a pole barn last summer. I had the contractor use his bulldozer to do the final grade on the cut behind it. He had to use the corner of the blade to cut into the clay, the flat blade just slid across it. But I've never been unable to cut using the ripper teeth on a box blade.

Isn't clay fun? :laughing:

Ken