Tips on Terracing
Don’t let that hillside space go to waste.
Make it into a garden! Learn how to use your
TROY-BILT® tiller to create terraced planting
beds for your flowers and vegetables.
** This project is recommended only for moderately steep hillsides
and soil that does NOT have a high clay content. Very steep hillsides and/or clay soil require retaining walls and special drainage.
What You’ll Need
TROY-BILT® tiller
Garden stakes
Twine
Hanging carpenter’s level
Shovel
Steel rake
Tips on Terracing
STEP
1
Plan your project for the
right time of year.
This project involves moving a lot of dirt,
so it’s important to do it at the right time
of year. In most areas, late spring is the
best time because the ground is soft and
workable, but most of the spring rains are
past so the ground will not be saturated.
STEP
2
Clear the ground.
Since you’re probably starting with unbroken
ground, use your TROY-BILT ® tiller to chop
up any grass and ground cover. You will start
with several passes at a shallow setting,
and work up to the deepest setting. Go over
the ground several times, breaking up the
soil. Remove any remaining clumps of grass
or roots.
STEP
3
Check the lay of the land.
You want your terraces to run straight across
the hillside, so you have to plan your lines.
Start by placing a garden stake at one end of
where you want your first terrace to be. Tie
the twine around the stake, hang the level
on the twine and walk across the hillside to
the other end of the terrace-to-be. Check the
level and adjust your position until your line
is relatively straight. Place a second stake in
the ground at this position.
Repeat this process for the number of
terraces you plan to cut into the hillside.
(Note: Each finished terrace should end up
being approximately 4 feet wide.)
Tips on Terracing
STEP
4
Prepare the terrace bed.
Set your TROY-BILT ® tiller at the deepest
setting. Starting with your highest terrace,
run your tiller from stake to stake across
the hillside. You will need to make several
passes to completely loosen the soil and
break it up into a fine texture so it will be
easier to move.
STEP
5
Build the terraces.
Attach the dozer blade to your TROY-BILT
tiller. Lower the blade and run at a slow
speed to move the loose soil. You will
be moving soil from the top edge of each
terrace to build up the bottom edge. You will
probably need to do some of this work by
hand with a shovel or steel rake. Repeat the
dozing/shoveling process several times until
the terrace is level across its width.
Repeat this process for each terrace,
moving down the hill.
STEP
6
Get gardening!
Add organic matter to your garden terraces,
working it in well with your TROY-BILT
tiller. Then plant your flowers or vegetables
in wide rows, covering the width of each
terrace with plants.