For thousands of years, people have understood the importance of loosening up the soil for the best possible results. Times have changed, and people no longer want to waste the time and effort breaking up soil with shovels and spades. The invention of rototillers have come to the rescue. These machines are a godsend when it comes to getting loose, well-tilled soil. There are a number of tillers on the market, large, small, gas and electric. With such a variety available, it’s pretty easy to find one to suit your needs.
Pros and Cons of Rototillers
Like every product on the market, there is good and bad. Rototillers are equipped with strong motors to help break up soil. It greatly cuts down on the time and physical exertion needed when using shovels and other garden tools. Rototillers also cuts down on weeding. When using a tiller, all you have to do rake out dislodged weeds and roots. Some rototillers don’t work well in garden beds. Some people believe that rototillers can upset the soil’s structural damage. This could have the opposite effect and actually increase weeds.
Gas and electric tillers have some pros and cons:
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- Some electric tillers are used with cords, which can restrict tilling area
- Motors with electric tillers start up with a simple plug in
- If you are environmentally conscious, electric is cleaner
- With electric, you don’t have to worry about running out of gas
- Gas tillers generally have more horsepower to penetrate deeper
- Gas tillers can be moved about anywhere
- Gas tillers are more expensive
We looked at some of the tillers currently on the market to see which perform the best. The top-rated tillers include:
Black & Decker CTL36 36-Volt Cordless Electric Front Tine Tiller
This tiller is great for flower beds and vegetable gardens. It has a rotational speed of 210 RPM and can till the most densely packed lawns. If you love to garden and want power and versatility, this tiller is the best.
Measuring at 27.1” x 20.4” x 14.9 inches, this tiller is a great choice for both recreational and serious gardeners. This tiller is cordless and is started with one push. This tiller is adjustable to three different depths. You can also adjust the width to 6 or 10 inches. You can tackle all types of tilling jobs with this tiller, and it is built to last.
Mantis 7225-15-02 2-Cycle Gas-Powered Tiller/Cultivator with Border Edger and Kickstand
If you need a tiller that does a great job with a little bit of fuss, this is the one. This Mantis has a 2-cycle motor and one-push start. One of the best feature is it’s easy to handle by a man or a woman. It works very well in confined spaces and is easy to maneuver. The blades can be set to forward or reverse and can till soils deep as 10 inches.
Earthwise Corded Electric Tiller/Cultivator, Model TC70001
This 8.5 inch cordless tiller has many great features. It is lightweight, easy to transport. It has an 8-inch cutting depth and 10-inch cutting width. This no-hassle, low-maintenance tiller pulverizes soil very quickly. It is versatile, ergonomic an makes your gardening and tilling experience a pleasant one.
Sun Joe TJ603E 16-Inch 12-Amp Electric Tiller and Cultivator
This tiller is very durable and has a powerful 12-amp motor. It cultivates 12-inches wide and 8-inches deep. The 6 steel tines are durable and made for high performance. Soil is effortlessly sliced at 340 RPM. It is very easy to maneuver and easily collapses down to make storage easy. The Sun Joe is definitely the choice for a greener and environmentally cleaner lawn.
If you are in the market for a tiller, these are rated among the best. But do your own research. There are literally hundreds of brands and models available to fit your needs.
