If you have hard, compact soil it will be difficult to grow anything and work the soil well
Let’s take a look at a tool which will help break up the soil. A tiller
At home, it will be easier to use a front tine tiller. This will give you more maneuverability in tight spaces. But how will you be able to find the right tiller for you? Here are some of the things you’ll want to think about before you make your choice.
How Powerful It Should Be?
One of the most important things to consider is how powerful the tiller will need to be. This will depend on how you intend to use it. For example, some people will want to break up hard soil over a large area.
This will require a bigger, more powerful machine. In other cases, you will want to tend to an established garden bed. This will require a smaller machine.
Portability
When you are choosing your machine, you’ll want to get something that you will be able to move around your garden with ease. How easy it will be to move will often depend on its weight. A small tiller will weigh between 30 to 100 pounds. You should be able to lift and position these yourself.
However, as they get larger, it becomes harder to move. They will be equipped with wheels, but you still need to push them into place. Only use the most appropriate sized tiller for your needs because otherwise you are going to struggle and make your life harder than it needs to be.
Fuel Source
You must understand how the tiller will be powered. There are a few potential options to explore. You might have a two-stroke petrol engine. These tend to be the least popular option. You will need to mix your petrol with a small amount of oil to lubricate the engine. Here’s how a 2 stroke engine works in case you were interested…
The other option to explore is a four-stroke engine which is much more common nowadays. These are run on unleaded petrol. They are still noisy, require regular maintenance and are for larger jobs.
You might be able to find some smaller tillers that run on batteries. These are better for the environment and tend to be quieter. But they won’t be as powerful as two-stroke or four-stoke models.
Accessories
It’s important to consider what accessories will be included with the tiller. This is especially important if you’re purchasing it for a home garden. There are a few potential accessories that you can use. For example, you might be able to find a good accessory for moss raking.
In other cases, you might be able to get an attachment you can use to scarify the lawn. Sometimes, you might be able to get one that can act as a snowblower during the winter months. However, in the UK that is not needed all that often depending on where you live.
Some models will come with a Power Take-Off (PTO) shaft. This lets you use the engine power of the tiller to operate other machinery. This can give you a wider range of accessories that you’ll be able to use. However, this will only be found in the more expensive machines.
Reverse Gear
When you’re using a tiller, it can be difficult to control and move into position. Because of this, you should try to find one that comes with a reverse gear. This will make it easier to back up out of a tight space.
Foldable Handle
The tiller will be a fairly large tool. This, combined with its weight, can make it difficult to store. A foldable handle can be a good way of compacting it down for easy storage. This can make it easier to load onto a truck or push to the back of a workshop.
Adjustable Tine Height and Width
It’s important to make sure that you’ll be able to adjust the height of the tines. This controls how deeply you’ll be digging in the ground. Most models will have a bar in the back of the tiller that will let you control this.
Some people might also want to control the width. This can come in useful if you want to grow rows of plants and want to control how far apart each row is.
You can find some good handy tiller tips from Honda as well which are worth a read.
Warranty
If you’re spending hundreds of pounds on a new piece of equipment, you want some assurance that it will last for a long time. Because of this, you should try to find one that comes with a decent warranty. If something breaks, you’ll be able to get it repaired or replaced.
Cost
Often, you’ll have a limited budget to spend on a tiller. Typically, you’ll need to spend between £200 to £500 to get a decent machine. However, you can end up paying thousands to get a more advanced model. How large and powerful the tiller will need to depend on how you intend to use it.
Conclusion
A tiller can be a great way to break up tough dirt, preparing your garden for your plants. Hopefully, you now have a better idea of what you should look for when shopping for one. If you want some more tips, you can check out this list of front tine tillers.