Tillers

Use a tiller to get your garden soil ready for planting.

When you want to establish a new garden area, a power tiller helps you get the soil in shape. A tiller makes quick work of creating loose and fluffy soil. It's also ideal for tilling in compost ahead of planting. Considerable thought goes into choosing the right garden tiller. You can use mini tillers or cultivators to dig out weeds along rows of plants without damaging roots.

A front-tine rototiller is a bigger, more powerful machine. The tines turn, propelling it forward. Upper body strength is key in operating a front-tine tiller. Rear-tine tillers are easier to operate. Wheels turn via engine power. These machines are heavy so it takes strength to operate them. But they can break ground in clay soil or soil containing rocks and roots. When you have a large garden to prepare, a powerful tiller makes sense. If all you want to do is keep your existing beds in shape, then a small garden cultivator will serve you well.