cutting a terrace across a hill side

[terracedorchard]

I am slowly building a terraced orchard along a very steep hill side. I have used a rented mini excavator - but that forces me to work 8 to 10 hours a day to get my monies worth and running one of those for 8 to 10 hours is just too much work!

So i am setting up my bcs 852 with tiller to do the job or a part of it at least. This way anytime i want an afternoons exercise i can crank up the tiller and make 50 feet of terrace or something.

Here are few ideas i had - any of them make sense? - any better ideas?

1. rotate the handles and put the tiller in front. put the wheels on a flat area..till the slope - which levels out the ground/cuts a bank then move forward doing this. 2nd pass would be with a dozer blade to push some of the dirt over the edge to widen the terrace. Repeat this several times and i have a nice terrace.

2. keep teh tiller in back..but take the uphill wheel off the tractor (please dont laugh..just thinking and typing here) The tractor would then sit at about level even when sitting on the side of the hill. Drive it forward with the tiller leveling out the hill /cutting a bench. At the end of the run turn around, put the wheel back on then till on the way back with more dirt creating a wider bench.

The soil (packed gravel, clay and such..not much organics) where i am working has a strange characteristic..it creates incredibly steep banks and is super stable..lots of little sharp rocks hold it together! roads and terraces cut 50 years ago with banks of 60 to 90% are still standing with about zero erosion. So if i can build them..they will be stable..there is no doubt

 

[woodlandfarms]

Uhmmm.. wha? Get a bulldozer. I have seen terracing done here in LA with a track hoe (excavator) and it seems to work quite well. I think the dozer, though, unless this is super steep. Your other ideas might work, but you are in the one bad step and you are over the edge. Too risky in my opinion.

 

[terracedorchard]

yes, that is the fastest/best solution...agreed. Except for the cost it is the right way to do it! Thanks for the response

 

[Egon]

The tiller may not be the right machine. Dozer, excavator or front end artIculated loader would work well.

About steepness? Any chance the cut slope will be to steep and unstable?

Will you start at the bottom or top of the side hill cause it may affect the way you make the terraces.

Note: in Europe there is equipment designed to work side slopes.

 

[terracedorchard]

- a dozer or excavator would indeed be the right tools except..i only want the terraces to be 4 feet wide (to minimize the cut). i have cut 600 or 700 feet of terraces with a mini excavator and it worked well -but was getting pricey - all has to be done at once if i hire someone or DIY and rent.

- I have started with a bcs 852 tiller and it is going pretty well..much slower but much less expensive and i can do it all at my own pace..4 hours when i have the timt or am in the mood to get dirty.

-the hills are very steep BUT the cut slopes i have done in the last few years and the ones done 50 years ago are incredibly stable. The "soil" is a mix of clay and sharp little rocks/mud stone which supports near vertical slopes with zero problems.

-i am doing mainly one LONG terrace - like 1/4 mile long then switch back. So only a few switch backs...which makes everything much easier.

- I will have to check out the ideas/European solutions since the bcs tractor/tiller is from italy..they may have a solution...THANKS!

 

[slowzuki]

An old small dozer would work pretty well - around here an old small dozer is about 2500$.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I would agree where slow is going. You should purchase, then sell once completed. your sale price will match your purchase price unless you march hundreds of hours or many years on the machine. And we are talking a used one. Heck, ask your rental house if they would sell you the machine that you have been renting.

 

[EddieWalker]

Not knowing how steep the angle is, I would be hesitant to try to move dirt with your tiller method. You can give it a try and let us know how it works, but I think it's not going to be very productive at all. What is the dozer blade that you mentioned? Is it an attachment for your tractor?

A small dozer is terrible at digging dirt. Only thing they are good for is finish work and spread already loose soil. Buying an old, worn out one for a small amount of money means you will be spending a lot of time and money fixing it just to keep it running only to be frustrated at how useless it is at digging.

The excavator is your best tool for the job. If it was too slow, then you need a bigger one. What some people don't realize is that for twice the money in getting a bigger machine, you can do four times the work. The difference is significant!!!!

Can you buy a backhoe attachment for your tractor?

Instead of renting, a lot of people buy a low hour machine that they use for as long as they need it, then sell it for close to what they paid for it. Dollar wise, it's cheaper then renting and you don't have to worry about killing yourself to get it all done at once. The drawback is being out the money to buy it until you sell it, and any repairs that you might have to make.

Good luck
Eddie

 

[ferrari99]

Why couldn't you till it, then make a plate that goes between the blade and tractor that tilts the blade so when the tractor is on a slope the blade is level (you could make it adjustable). Then run your blade across to level it out. Just a thought.

 

[slowzuki]

I agree with the hassle of old dozer in terms of repairs. In terms of digging, if the rototiller will turn the soil easy, a small dozer cutting terraces works fine. Thats what was used for old logging roads on sidehills around here. You only are cutting with half the blade and if you hook you get pushed into the bank not over the side. As long as the roots and rocks aren't too big its fine.

I've done some of this with a big hydraulic 6 way blade on my tractor and while it isn't as fast as an excavator it works and is faster than a backhoe in loose soil. If there are big rocks/roots of course the excavator or backhoe works circles around the blade.

A small dozer is terrible at digging dirt. Only thing they are good for is finish work and spread already loose soil. Buying an old, worn out one for a small amount of money means you will be spending a lot of time and money fixing it just to keep it running only to be frustrated at how useless it is at digging.
Eddie