Garden tilling is among the first and most crucial land preparation activities, to make it favorable for the growth of your succulents or flowers.
Young and weak plants need pampering and attention, just like a child needs an accommodating environment to develop. That is what tiling is all about.
You need a garden tiller to get the full potential from the soils and the plants.
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#1: Mantis 7250-00-02 3-Speed Electric Tiller/Cultivator
For gardeners that want convenience, and power when preparing the land for the vegetables or flowers, the Mantis 7250-00-02 3-Speed Electric Tiller/Cultivator is among the best options, but what is it that makes the tiller a top of the range machine?
Well, if it isn’t easy to plug, and start functionality, then it is the powerful electric motor. Organic gardening goes hand in hand with clean energy tools, and the electric tiller pretty much fulfils this goal – it has zero emissions, making it eco-friendly.
The tiller can easily match the power of gas tillers but with the benefit of cleaner energy.
- Easy to use electric tiller – you plug and use
- A zero emission tiller
- At only 21lbs, the tiller is easy to manoeuvre and carry
- Can match the power of gas tillers
- Has a compact design to go into those small spaces other tillers may have a hard time
- Reversible tines that can go as deep as three inches
- A bit pricey but effective
- Contains plastic parts that may not be durable
- Requires the replacement of brushes
#2: Earthwise TC70016 16-Inch 13.5-Amp Corded Electric Tiller/Cultivator
If you are looking for a cheap, convenient, easy to use and effective solution to take care of your land, then this tiller may be your best bet. It features a powerful 13.5 amp motor to easily and effectively till the land, in the same way that a gas tiller would.
It comes with six adjustable tines for efficiency. And to make it comfortable to use, the machine comes with an ergonomic handle. It is also lightweight for easier carrying and maneuver.
- Has a powerful 13.5 amp motor for efficiency
- Six adjustable tines to fulfil your tilling needs
- Features an ergonomic handle for efficiency
- A lightweight machine
- It is easy to store; takes minimal space
- Quiet working
- Maybe a bit heavy for some people
- Can bounce when using on hard clay
#3: VonHaus 12.5-Inch 7 Amp Front Tine Garden Electric Tiller Lawn Cultivator
The good thing about electric tillers is that they are easy to use, and maintain. VonHaus tiller pretty much has all the features and power that as a gardener, you will find useful. The tiller has a powerful engine that easily handles the garden soil.
The four steel tines are robust and sufficiently durable to handle the task at hand. These tines are sharp and capable of going as deep as 8.6 inches deep. The tiller comes with a safety cut off to prevent blade damage.
- Has powerful engine to handle the task at hand
- It is easy to use – you only plug in and start the engine
- It has four, powerful steel tines
- Can go as deep as 8.6 inches deep into the soil
- Has two ergonomic handles for maneuverability and comfort
- May not be powerful enough for hard soils
- The handle not durable and may break after a period of use
#4: Snow Joe Sun Joe TJ603E 16-Inch 12-Amp Electric Tiller and Cultivator
The tilling depth and width determine how quickly, and efficiently you prepare the land, and this tiller isn’t too bad on that aspect. It cultivates eight inches deep, and 16 inches diameter. Sometimes the hard ground and the rocks on the surface can take a toll on the blades, but the tiller has durable steel tines.
- Has a 12-amp motor for tiling strength
- Eight-inch deep and 16 inches wide tilling
- Durable steel tines
- The tiller is easy to store – the handles easily fold
- Adjustable wheels for effectiveness
- Has no fume
- May not handle obstacles in the soil well
- The tiller may have trouble handling tough ground surfaces
What is a Garden Tiller?
As the name indicates, garden tillers are land preparation tools. Garden tillers help make the soils ready for the new planting season. But one of the most common questions is whether tillers are the same thing with cultivators.
Tillers are a bit more heavy-duty than cultivators. Typically, tillers are ideal when breaking new ground – land never tilled – but cultivators are best for garden maintenance.
Gas tiller comes in various varieties, which underscores the beauty of the free market.
Electric: with the electric powered, issues of running out of gas when you are in the middle of something are but in the past. Electric tillers are ideal for small gardens and are easy to use. They do not have any harmful effects on the environment and are an excellent option for those tracking greenhouse gas emissions. Electric tillers are easy to maintain and cost less than their gas counterparts.
However, they will need a long extension cord and are not as powerful as the gas-powered tillers.
Gas: these tillers are best for relatively large gardening spaces. Gas-powered tillers have some packed power to break unused land. They easily handle thick weed, compacted soils, and rocks.
Unfortunately, they are not as cheap as the electric garden tillers. They are not also easy to maneuver and will need some muscle and breaking of sweat. And unlike their electric counterparts, the gas-powered tillers require a significant lot of maintenance – you know, changing the oil, cleaning the spark plugs among others.
The Difference between the Front Tine and Rear Tine Tillers
One of the most important decisions that you need to make is whether you need a front tiller or a rear tiller, depending on your needs. In the majority of cases, the rear tillers are more powerful and cut more deeply than their counterparts, and so is your best bet when breaking new ground.
The front may not pack as much of a punch but are a good option when preparing land with loosened dirt. They are easy to use when dealing with land that doesn’t require hard tillage; they are good when dealing with often used gardening spaces.
Why a Garden Tiller is Important
Tilling may be among the most expensive exercises but the most essential. Loose soils allow easier nutrient and water uptake by the roots to sustain growth. It enhances soil drainage to prevent the plants from choking from too much water – drowning in other words.
Tilling aids in adding and mixing the soil with organic matter, and other necessary nutrients. Gardeners use lime, compost manure, fertilisers, peat moss, coarse sand and leaves to break up the hard soil and tiling enhances the mixing of these important components.
Weeds can sometimes prove a significant problem for gardeners as they steal the nutrients and water that your tomatoes need to thrive. Tilling helps put these weeds down, to allow your favourite plants unlimited access to the nutrients you feed them. However, you will need to pick the fallen weed, to ensure their roots are not still in the ground – these plants can really be stubborn.
Safety Measures when Using Garden Tillers
Manual tillers may not pose much of a safety risk if you keep your foot off the path of the sharp edges, but their motorised counterparts can be if you fail to utilise proper safety measures.
As a basic precaution, always make sure that there are no water, gas or power lines running in the piece of land you are preparing to till. Wear the necessary safety gear before you can take the motorised variety out for some land tilling.
Closed-toe shoes will do a decent job in keeping your toes and foot from the tiller. Also make sure to have an eye and ear protection, as well as gloves for adequate protection – you can never be too careful when using machines. We tend to wear loose fitting clothes when the weather is hot, but that should never be the case when using a motorised garden tiller.
Never leave the garden tillers unattended or let the children operate it, no matter how much they want to help. Exercise extra caution when tilling near obstacles, and fences.
For efficiency, and more so, safety, familiarise yourself with the controls and read the manufacturers’ manual (example here) carefully. Avoid the temptation of changing the controls when the garden tiller is in use.
Conclusion
A garden tiller helps prepare the land for planting. There are many tiller options out there, but the above are some of the best. If you are among those that want nothing but the best, then the Mantis Electric Tiller/Cultivator is pretty much your thing.
The 21lb tiller is lightweight and easy to maneuver – think of all those small spaces in the garden that it can handle. Power is not an issue as it can easily match the gas varieties but in a cleaner way than their gas counterparts.