A method of performing a cultivation operation on a field on which plants are planted in a regular, non-square pattern with the plants in parallel, linear rows with a first transverse distance (x) between adjacent rows in a first direction being smaller than a second transverse distance (y) between adjacent rows in a second direction different from the first direction, with the following steps: operating an agricultural machine over the field in the first direction, the machine connected to a first set of work units with lateral distances between adjacent work units of the first set of work units corresponding to the first distance (x), the work units of the first set of work units positioned between adjacent rows that extend in the first direction and interacting with at least one of the ground between adjacent rows and the plants of at least one of the adjacent rows; characterized by operating the agricultural machine over the field in the second direction with the work units of the first set of the work units positioned between adjacent rows that extend in the second direction and interacting with at least one of the ground between adjacent rows and the plants of at least one of the adjacent rows; wherein due to the first distance (x) between adjacent rows in the first direction being smaller than the second distance (y) between adjacent rows in the second direction, areas between adjacent rows in the second direction cannot be treated with the work units of the first set of the work units during operation of the agricultural machine in the second direction; and wherein the agricultural machine is connected to a second set of work units which are inoperative during operation of the agricultural machine in the first direction and operative during operation of the agricultural machine in the second direction to cover the areas between adjacent rows which cannot be treated with the work units of the first set of the work units during operation of the agricultural machine in the second direction. operating an agricultural machine over the field in the first direction, the machine connected to a first set of work units with lateral distances between adjacent work units of the first set of work units corresponding to the first distance (x), the work units of the first set of work units positioned between adjacent rows that extend in the first direction and interacting with at least one of the ground between adjacent rows and the plants of at least one of the adjacent rows; characterized by operating the agricultural machine over the field in the second direction with the work units of the first set of the work units positioned between adjacent rows that extend in the second direction and interacting with at least one of the ground between adjacent rows and the plants of at least one of the adjacent rows; wherein due to the first distance (x) between adjacent rows in the first direction being smaller than the second distance (y) between adjacent rows in the second direction, areas between adjacent rows in the second direction cannot be treated with the work units of the first set of the work units during operation of the agricultural machine in the second direction; and wherein the agricultural machine is connected to a second set of work units which are inoperative during operation of the agricultural machine in the first direction and operative during operation of the agricultural machine in the second direction to cover the areas between adjacent rows which cannot be treated with the work units of the first set of the work units during operation of the agricultural machine in the second direction.