choosing a tiller

Choose a tiller that matches your needs and your soils. Or consider renting a tiller, instead of buying one...

Renting Vs. buying a tiller

Today, renting a powerful tiller can cost you about, say, $50-$70 per day. On the other hand, a powerful tiller can cost you more than $1,000 (buying a good mini-tiller can cost you something between $300 and $500).

Take into account these values, and the type of garden jobs and soils you have, when choosing.

The type of tiller: electric vs. gas-powered

The dimension of your garden is critical when choosing a tiller: in gardens with less than, say, 1000 sq feet, involving soft soils, mini-cultivators are often the best choice.

Small cordless mini-tillers only make sense for small needs and soft soils, and for flowerbeds and other not too demanding jobs.

For not so small needs, a corded electric tiller or a small 4-stroke gas-powered tiller is often the best option.

For homeowners with hard, clay-like soils, and for larger needs and yards, a heavy-duty gas-powered tiller with high horsepower is the best option. Power output is critical on larger gardens with heavy soils.

See:
Electric vs. Gas-Powered Tillers
Mini-tillers (cultivators)

Front tine tillers vs. rear-tine tillers

The tines of front-tine tillers are located underneath the engine... in front of the wheels. They are often referred to as mini-cultivators, and work best on easy soils.

Rear-tine tillers are typically stronger and best suited for larger needs and larger yards. Their digging tines - located behind the wheels – provide better digging power. Some rear-tine tillers – both the rotating tines and the counter rotating tines – let reverse the digging direction for a better performance.

Prices and power output

Prices of tillers are largely associated with their power output.

Small electric tillers (battery powered mini-tillers) are inexpensive: prices of $200 to $300 are common. Good electric-corded mini-tillers and two-stroke gas-powered mini-tillers are costlY: $300-$400.

Small gas-powered cultivators (mini-tillers) – with a horsepower around 1.5 HP – can cost you something in the range of $300-$400. A 2-3 HP cultivator can cost you twice these prices… 5.5-8 HP tillers will cost $1700-$2000 at least.

Obviously, prices also depend on other features, like maneuverability and the number of speeds or the reach of the tines (the more expensive models can have 20-inch rear tines).

4-cycle engines and energy efficiency

In case of gas-powered tillers, prefer – for energy savings, easier maintenance and for environmental reasons – new units equipped with four-stroke engines.

In USA, prefer tillers with CARB (California Air Resources Board-certified) compliant engines.

Self-propelled tillers

Mini-tillers and medium-powered tillers aren’t self-propelled forward. They tend to bounce around when moving forward.

The best and more expensive tillers offer several forward speeds and one reverse… allowing more power at a comfortable pace. Their design helps them to dig in without bouncing significantly, decreasing strain on the body of the operator and improving performance.

Other features you should consider

The best tillers have easy to operate controls and let you adjust the depth of the tines (to control how deep they work into the soil).

Tillers with overhead valve (OHV) engines have also advantages.

A higher number of speeds add versatility and power to a tiller (basic-cheaper units have just one single speed forward, while typical powerful and expensive tillers have three forward and one reverse speed).