gasoline-powered tillers (CULTIVATORS)

Typical gas tillers demand the mixing of oil and gas and are noisy and fuel-inefficient. But there are now some fuel-efficient and more environmentally-friendly models, using four-stroke engines that don't demand the mixing of oil and gas. They are largely preferable to the older two-stroke. They run cleaner, producing fewer emissions.

Energy efficient 4 stroke units

If the tilling tasks in your garden are large enough to justify a powerful gas tiller - and your project doesn’t involve renting a tiller - prefer a modern unit with a four stroke engine.

If you live in USA, prefer a 4-stroke unit compliant with the CARB (California Air Resources Board-certified) or the EPA 50-state norms. They will be easier to maintain (no mixing of oil and gas), will pollute less, and will ensure a smooth and quite running.

Tough tilling jobs

Gas-Powered Tillers Gas powered tillers are tough-jobs machines, with typically large horsepower.

A good gas-powered tiller can fully break down, aerate and prepare the soils (even heavy and clay soils) with a single pass. Rocks, roots or hard weed in the soil aren’t a truly problem for the best models.

If that isn’t your case, if you have a soft soil, and you don’t need a large horsepower or don’t have large tilling needs, look for alternatives: electric units, mini-tillers...

Alternatives

For smaller jobs, electric tillers or even gas-powered mini-tillers (4 stroke models) are good alternatives to large-power gas tillers.

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

Manufacturers

Troy-Bilt, Bolens/MTD, Craftsman, Honda, Yard Machines or Ryobi are well known tilling manufacturers, with excellent models.

Prices

Prices of gas powered tillers vary a lot. Medium and large powered tillers are relatively expensive machines, above the $1,000. The Honda prices, for instance, start at $700-$800 and go up to $2,200, with two models with prices between these extremes.

Just take into account your needs. Mini-tillers (including 4 stroke gas-powered units) are much more inexpensive. Prices around $300 - $450 are common.