If you have two acres with a 1000 square foot vegetable garden you may need a good sized tiller to keep the garden soil loose. But a garden less than a 1000 square feet should not be roto-tilled in the spring after the first or second year of having the garden. You break up the soil's structure that the soil creatures have spent the last year building. You cause the soil to compact and not drain as well. Why screw up your soil at the very beginning of the growing season.
We show one below. However, for most of us yardeners, a small gas powered tiller will cover our tilling needs. See below for examples.
Troy-Bilt TB144 26cc 4-Cycle Gas-Powered Cultivator/Tiller with Edger Attachment Kit
- SpringAssist starting system for dramatically reduced starting effort - starts with a slow and steady pull.
- Edger attachment kit included - converts in minutes with no tools required.
- 8-inch patented steel cultivating tines dig, weed and shred for premium soil preperation.
- Adjustable tilling width from 6-inch to 10-1/4-inch, Adjustable tilling depth up to 8-inch
- Non-CARB Compliant/Not For Sale In California
This newly designed 2-in-1 machine cultivates your garden AND makes a crisp bed edge. The versatile design means you can convert it quickly from a cultivator to an edger with no tools. Plus, it is lightweight for easy maneuvering. Thats why it is a favorite of gardeners with small vegetable, flower or herb gardens. Front bumper and border edger attachment included. 2-year limited warranty. U.S.A.
Mantis 7262-00-02 4-Cycle Honda Gas-Powered Tiller/Cultivator
by Mantis
- The 4-cycle engine powered by Honda is powerful, reliable and does not requiring mixing of gas and oil
- Weighs only 24 pounds which makes the Mantis Tiller easy to maneuver, carry and transport
- The compact 9 inch wide design allows you to use the tiller to get in narrow rows and be stored where larger tillers cannot go.
- The patented reversible tines can be used to till down 10 inches or shallow cultivate the top 2 to 3 inches of soil.
- 5 Year consumer warranty on entire tiller including engine, plus a lifetime warranty on tines against breakage.
 engine, this tool is ideal for breaking new ground. View larger. |
 Easy to maneuver and store, this tiller/cultivator makes garden maintenance a breeze. View larger. |
Don't be fooled by the small, compact design of the Mantis Tiller/Cultivator. Though it weighs a mere 24 pounds and has a width of only nine inches, the Mantis is powerful, thanks to its four-cycle, commercial-grade, 25-cc Honda gas engine.
A reliable push-button primer will get you started, but the tines won't move until you squeeze the throttle. Once you've activated the throttle, the patented serpentine tines spin at up to 240 RPM to break through sod--even hard clay--tilling down to a depth of 10 inches.
The Mantis Tiller/Cultivator makes it easy to maintain your garden. Simply reverse the tines to shallow-cultivate depths of up to three inches--it's much faster than using hand tools. And because it tills a nine-inch-wide path, this tool is especially useful in tight spaces and hard-to-reach areas. That's a real advantage for raised-bed gardeners.
Convenient, Versatile, and Durable
The Mantis Tiller/Cultivator features folding handle bars which make it convenient to store in a garage or tool shed.
And with optional attachments (sold separately), the Mantis Tiller/Cultivator can be used beyond the confines of your garden. Its lightweight design and convenient carrying handle make it portable, so adding an accessory such as a border edger or lawn aerator could potentially keep you busy all summer and into the fall.
The tiller/cultivator's durable one-piece cast gear box is designed to last. Additionally, the tines are guaranteed against breakage for the lifetime of the tool.
What's in the Box
Four-cycle gas-powered tiller/cultivator with serpentine tines.
