Using a Garden Tiller

Have you ever struggled with a shovel turning dirt over in preparation for planting? This process can time consuming and back breaking. There is an easier way to get this done. You can use a garden tiller. Garden tillers use sharp metal tines to break up the top six inches of soil making planting much easier.

If you haven’t used a tiller before, the process can be a little tricky at first. Here is a step by step guide to help you on your way.

1.       Start by Preparing Your Garden- While a garden tiller can make preparing your garden for planting much easier, a little preparation is critical. Remove any weeds, plants and grasses from the area. Your garden tiller won’t remove weeds and will simply chop them into pieces. This can leave your garden with a weed infestation rather quickly. Also pick up any stray rocks sitting around the area.

2.       Let the Soil Dry- Tilling works best on fairly dry soil. Do not water right before you use your tiller or you will find yourself struggling with mud and not making any progress. Wait at least one day, more if possible, after you water before you use your tiller.

3.       Break Up Large Chunks of Dirt- If there are any large dirt clods in your garden, break them into smaller pieces using a shovel.

4.       Map Out Sprinkler Lines- Your garden tiller can damage underground sprinkler lines. If you have in ground sprinklers, make sure that you know exactly where they are to keep from damaging them. It is a good idea to mark these lines using small flags or markers.

5.       Prepare Your Tiller- Examine the tiller to make sure that there are no obstructions in the tines. The tines should be free from foreign objects and not broken, cracked or loose. If you have a gas garden tiller make sure that you fill the tank. If you will be using an electric tiller, plug it into an outlet using an extension cord if necessary.

6.       Start Turning the Soil- Place your tiller in the corner of your garden area and move systematically throughout the area. You should move slowly through the dirt waiting until the soil is fully broken up to move the tiller to the next area. If you have a front tine tiller, you will need to manually hold the tiller back until the soil in section is finely broken up. While you can go over an area more than once, you should try to break the soil up the first time around as it will save time. Stay away from the edges of the garden bed to keep from getting soil in your grass and other areas. Also steer clear of plants as their root systems can extend several feet from the plant.

7.       Do Not Force the Tiller- If you encounter any large clumps of soil while working make sure that you use a shovel to break them up. Do not force the tiller and if it is having difficulty breaking up the soil in a section , consider using a shovel. Do not push the tiller deeper in the soil than it naturally goes. A tiller can only be used on the top six to eight inches of soil.

8.       Examine and Rework if Necessary- Once you have finished tilling the entire area look over it. If you see any large chunks or areas that need more work, go over them again with the tiller. Working in a systematic fashion will help to reduce missed areas.

9.       Rake and Prepare the Soil for Planting- Using a rake even out the soil in the garden. You are now ready to plant. Clean your tiller and put it away.

We  researched a number of garden tillers and found that the Mantis Electric Tiller/Cultivator is one of the best tillers on the market for the home garden.

  • It has a powerful electric motor  that starts just by plugging the unit in and pulling the trigger.
  • It’s easy to carry as it weighs only 21 pounds
  • The powerful electric motor provides  is an environmentally friendly alternative to gas powered tillers, but it gives you the same tilling performance
  • Because of its compact design the Mantis tiller can get into tight spaces. and it is doesn’t require a lot of space for storage
  • The patented reversible tines can till down to 10 inches or shallow cultivate the top 2 to 3 inches of soil

If you are looking for an electric home garden tiller then read our review of the Mantis Tiller.

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