Garden tillers are not recommended for all types of gardens. Modern gardening methods cite disturbance of soil layers, destruction of earthworm nests and opening the soil to potential erosion as good reasons not to till the soil. With that said, sometimes tilling is essential to remove the sod, destroy the weeds and disturb earth layers to plant a good garden. When this need arises, the gardener has the choice of getting out those hand tools and putting in some sweat equity or investing in a garden tiller or plow. Garden tillers work well for small, backyard gardens and for periodic touch-ups for larger gardens. They come in various types: gas powered, battery powered, or corded electric. They can have the tines in front or in back. Some are large, heavy duty machines while others are lighter machines that are well suited to small jobs.

When it comes to garden tillers, “best” is somewhat dependent upon the job. Garden tillers come in a variety of styles and sizes. They can be powered in different ways. When selecting a tiller for use in your garden, consider the ways in which you will use it, and consider who will start and run it. Many farm youngsters will be happy to explain that it might look easy to run a tiller but they can be far more difficult to manage than a lawn mower – and a much bigger disaster if they get out of hand! More than one young gardener has surveyed the damage to growing plants caused by a run-away tiller!

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Tillers can be difficult to Operate

Tillers dig into the earth, and that takes some power to manage. They must have reasonably sharp tines in order to bite into hard ground and turn it up. Therefore, it takes a little skill to operate a garden rototiller. The key is, of course, to press down on the handles and to then let the rotating tines slowly dig into the earth. The user must then avoid letting the machine dig in too deep, allowing it to move forward by taking slow bites of the earth.

Tillers Are Not Always the Complete Answer

Tillers are a handy tool when you have a lot of area where the soil needs broken up. They are handy for turning under green manure crops, mixing in compost or improving the tilth of hard baked clay soils. However, they do not till as deeply as a standard plow, nor are they designed to act as a breaking plow on new soil. Tillers are problematical in soil that has a lot of rocks or tree roots. In such soils, you can expect to do a lot of stopping and starting while you pick the obstructions out of the tines. They do not corner cleanly. If you want a nice, tidy corner, there is a very good chance that you will need to finish up the job with a mattock and shovel.

Tillers Do Reduce Labor

With that said, a good tiller can reduce the labor of getting a garden ready to plant and keeping the weeds out from between traditional rows. Heavy duty tillers can dig down in the earth, breaking it up and improving friability. Smaller tillers can be used in flower beds or even between formal rows of crops to reduce weeds and to allow moisture penetration. The tiller that is best for you and your garden will depend, in part, on the size and type of garden.

Different Types of Garden Tillers

Gas Powered Tillers

Gas powered tillers are typically larger, heavier models that are suited to gardens that are too large to make hand-digging practical but not sufficiently large enough to make purchasing or renting a tractor a good economic choice. The gasoline motors can be difficult to start, although some come with electric or windup starter features. Some models have attachments for marking rows or similar specialized applications.

Battery Powered Tillers

Battery powered tillers are easier to start and run more quietly than the gas-powered tillers. However, they share some characteristics with battery powered lawn mowers, which includes a short run time and reduced power. In spite of improvements in power storage vs. battery size, having enough battery power is still a trade-off between longevity and battery weight.

Corded Electric Tillers

You will have little or no power restriction with a corded electric tiller, and it will be easy to start. However, you do have that electrical power cord umbilical with which to cope. Corded tillers are nice, however, for work in flower beds, around patios or in small gardens that are near the house. You just need to be very careful not to catch the cord in the tines.

Selecting the Best Brand of Tiller

There are many excellent brands from which to select your tiller. The one you choose might be based on a brand that you know, or you might consider reviews – such as the ones that follow.

Choosing the Best Garden Tiller for Your Job

Which tiller is the best? That really depends upon the job. The BCS Tiller is a good choice for those big jobs. For dainty little flower beds, you might like the Sun Joe or Scotts. Our personal favorite pick is the Husqvarna FT900 front-tine, gas powered tiller. It isn’t as much of a workhorse as the BCS, but it isn’t as heavy either. It doesn’t corner as nice as the smaller cultivators, but it can get in there and take care of spring or fall bed preparation. It is more sturdy than the smaller models, as well and can till deeper. All of them are good tillers. But each has merits for different jobs.