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When it comes to garden tools, a rotary tiller is one of the biggest investments you can make. The cost of a tiller can range in price from $40 to several hundred dollars, depending on the type you choose.

Tillers are essential for making light work of soil preparation. Anyone who has ever prepared a garden manually can tell you it is back-breaking work. Rotary tillers allow you to easily loosen and aerate the soil without the grueling labor. Gardens of any size can benefit from the use of a tiller, but it is important that you choose the one that is right for your situation.

Types of Tillers

There are three basic types of tillers: front tine, rear tine, and mini tillers. They can range in size from 8 inches to 2 feet wide, and come in many different horsepower ranges, usually 1-8. The higher the horsepower, obviously, the more power you'll have. The type you choose will depend on the size of your garden and your soil type.

Front Tine

Front tine tillers have tines that rotate forward. This tends to move the machine forward when tilling. These tillers will require a little more muscle to use. With wheels in the back, however, these tillers are easy to push. A garden of less than 5000 square feet would benefit from a front tine tiller. Front tine tillers are best for medium jobs and softer soils. If you have a tough soil like clay, a rear tine tiller would be a better choice.

Rear Tine

Rear tine tillers are heavier machines and they have more options. Depending on the type of tiller you get, the tines can rotate forward, backward, or be reversible between the two. With these tillers, the motor pulls it forward. These are less labor-intensive, and are great for breaking up hard soils. If you have a garden larger than 5000 square feet, rear tine tillers are recommended.

Mini Tillers

Sometimes called mini-cultivators, these tillers are the miniature version of the front tine tillers. These work well in smaller gardens, usually less than 1000 square feet. They are light-weight and ease enough to move, but are not powerful enough to handle tough soils.

Cost

The cost of a tiller may also be a factor in your decision. While rear tine tillers are easy to use and good for all types of soil, they are also the highest-priced. Front tine tillers are less expensive, but if you have heavy soils, they are not as effective. They would still work, but you would be expending a lot of unnecessary energy to use them. If cost is a factor for you and you don't expect to be using it enough to justify the cost, you may want to consider renting instead. You can still get the power you need to make your work easier without the big expense. This will give you time to save for a quality tiller that will benefit your garden.

In the long run, tillers are a great investment for any garden, large or small. By lessening the workload on the preparation, you will have more time to care for your growing plants. Plus, the soil will be lighter and more aerated than with manual tilling. Lighter, more balance soil leads to stronger, healthier plants, and that is what any gardener is looking for.

Learn more about this author, Jenna Marshall.
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