10 Best Garden Tillers in 2021

Are you an avid gardener? Are you ready to prepare your soil for springtime? Then it is time to start tilling.

As spring arrives, your grass starts to grow, making your yard a beautiful green landscape. However, if you have issues with your lawn, it could be because of the problems the soil may have underneath the grass. A lawn needs air and water to grow, and when your soil becomes compact, it leads to thatching and your grass starts to die. Gardners need to keep their lawn aerated during spring and summer in order for their lawn to be healthy.

A tiller is the best tool for aerating your lawn. A freshly tilled lawn can be so satisfying, but only if you are tilling with the right garden tiller, using the wrong garden tiller can make the process of tilling stressful and frustrating. It doesn’t have to be like that. Tilling can be a straightforward and enjoyable task if you have the best garden tiller that suits your needs. They ensure your grass gets the air, water and nutrients it needs to flourish throughout the growing season. A tiller is not a common gardening tool, so a lot of people have never seen this machine in use, but with this guide, we will tell you everything you need to know about the selecting, buying and operation of these machines.

There are different garden tillers available, and to find the right one, you need to know its features and if it is best suited for your garden.

GARDEN TILLER BUYER’S GUIDE

TYPES OF TILLERS

There are three types of tillers available; the first one is a manual tool that resembles a garden spade or fork. It is about the same size and weight as a hammer and requires you to manually till the soil.

The second type is an electric machine. These tillers are battery-powered or gas-powered, and they are much stronger at aerating and cultivating than the manual tiller if you own a large lawn where a manual tool won’t be sufficient enough then these machines would probably be best for you.

ELECTRIC TILLER: the electric tiller is excellent for small gardens. You don’t have to worry about running out of gas with an electric tiller, but you need to work near a power outlet or have a long extension cord. Electric tillers are not as powerful as gas-powered tillers, but this is not a problem if you have a small garden.

GAS TILLERS: A gas tiller is extremely strong. They are great for tilling large areas or if you are breaking new ground. Gas tillers are more powerful than electric tillers, and they can handle rocks, weed and compacted soil with so much ease. However, they have a downside; they are harder to push and manoeuvre. Your entire body will definitely get a workout, so be prepared to sweat. Gas tillers also come with more maintenance task.

The third type of tiller is the ride behind tiller that you can attach to the back of a tractor or seated lawn mower. They are great for a large expanse of land or farms during the planting season.

TINE

There are the front tine tillers and the rear tine tillers. It is crucial to decide on which one will best serve your purpose. Front tine tillers are usually gas-powered and are useful when it comes to tilling large areas with hard soil. A front tine tiller does not cut as deeply as a rear tine tiller; they are easy to push, which makes them suitable for gardens that do not need regular tillage.

Rear tine tillers cut more deeply into the soil, they are powerful but also the biggest and heaviest, which makes them suitable for tilling hard soil or heavy clay soil. They are self-propelled, so all you have to do os walk behind or beside them and steer the machine as it does its job. Its features make it ideal for tilling large plots of land.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN PURCHASING A GOOD GARDEN TILLER

Garden tillers come with different features. Choosing the right features for your tiller depends on your lawn size. Here are some of the features you should look out for when purchasing a garden tiller.

POWER SOURCE

Gas-powered tillers offer gardeners with power, but they are noisy and too much for an average garden or lawn. They require oil and fuel to work and also have more emissions. If you have a larger lawn and want to purchase a gas-powered tiller, then you need to decide between a 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine. They are usually expensive.

Electric tillers are either corded or cordless, which makes them convenient. The corded tillers are lightweight and user-friendly, but the cord might get in your way while you are tilling. The battery-powered cordless tillers have a higher degree of user-friendly operation, but they need recharging, so you only have limited work time.

ADJUSTABLE CUTTING DEPTH AND WIDTH

Garden tillers come with models that offer both adjustable and fixed cutting depths. It is best if you go for an adjustable model. An adjustable model lets you choose the cutting depth that best suits your terrain. If you are tilling a large area, then a wide garden tiller will help you do the work faster, but a tiller with a narrow width will be suitable to use in small spaces such as between garden rows and in raised garden beds.

DUAL ROTATING TINES

Some models of tillers offer dual rotating tine; they are suitable for large gardens and lawns, the dual tines give the machine extra cutting power which will help you till faster. Not all models offer this feature, so ensure you check the product description before you purchase one.

COUNTER ROTATING TINES

There are models of tillers that come with counter-rotating tines. The counter-rotating tine helps the machine to dig deeper and gives you a powerful cutting depth.

SIZE OF YOUR LAWN

The size of your lawn or garden is the most crucial factor to consider when selecting a tiller. A small garden or flower bed needs a cultivator or a front line tiller, or you might even find a manual tiller that gives you the best value. But if you own a large estate or farm, then a rear-tine tiller would be best for you.

TYPE OF SOIL

The type of soil in your garden is also an important consideration. If you have a regular soil in your garden and lawn, then a basic front-tine tiller is best for you. But if you have rocky or sandy soil, then you require the use of a manual or rear tine tiller before planting.

BUDGET

Your budget is also an important factor. A tiller is not an expensive machine, but they vary in price, from $100 to $3000. It is best to find a tiller that is within your price range and does not sacrifice efficiency for economics.

WARRANTY

The best garden tillers usually provide good value for money as long as they last many years. But everything eventually breaks down; it is best to choose a brand that has a good warranty, this is so that if there is any breakdown that isn’t your fault, then your warranty covers it. It is common to find a 2 to 3-year warranty but some manufacturers offer five years.

When purchasing a tiller, it is best to choose one that matches your gardening needs. It would be pointless to buy a ride behind tiller when you have a small garden.

Let’s take a look at the list.

Different manufacturers produce different models of garden tillers. We have done our research and have come up with this list of the best garden tillers and their detailed comparison. This guide will help you choose the best garden tiller for your needs.