A Different Approach to Tilling the Garden

[ContainerTed]

First of all, you can see how dry things have been here. Too many 90+ temps on consecutive days - 19.

When it came to tilling, I tried something different this year. My Yard Machine Tiller cuts a 22 inch wide planting row on each pass. This year I only tilled the part where I intended to plant, leaving the remainder to develop a cover crop and serve as a place to walk that "ain't so muddy". My DW gave me a lot of "encouragement" to find a way of reducing garden mud showing up at the house - Lots of "encouragement".

So far, it seems to be a good idea. But, I want to hear from any of you that have done something similar - Pros and Cons about it. It really has reduced the Mud on the footwear, even though the rain has been very scarce around here. A lot of my neighbors have commented about how "neat" the garden looks.

Also, the last picture shows a good use for those old-used canning lids. I drill a small hole in the edge and insert a piece of string with a knot in it. Then hang some string between the tomato poles and tie the lids on to swing in the wind. Has kept the birds out since I put them in.