As the weather starts to warm up in the spring, I love going out in the garden. It’s the only time that I actually enjoy weeding. Spring is my favorite time of year. I love seeing everything green up and start growing and the smell of the damp spring earth.
Before you’ll get to see that new green growth in a vegetable garden, though, you’ll need to start planting. Unless you’re doing a no-till garden, that means getting out there and working the soil up. By far the easiest way to do that is with a tiller.
When selecting a new tiller to work up a garden in the spring, the size of your garden space is going to determine what type of tiller you need. For a large vegetable garden, a large or mid-size tiller will be the best choice. Gardens with heavy, hard-to-work soil are also best suited for larger, more powerful tillers. For working the soil in small garden areas or weeding around established plants, small tillers or cultivators are a better option. Small tillers are also lightweight and easier to store and use.
Cultivator Attachments for Multi-Tools
If you have a small garden, then a mini tiller or cultivator may be a good choice for you. They’re small and maneuverable enough to use in raised beds, narrow gardens, or to weed around plants once the garden is growing. If you’re trying to use them to work up a mid-size or larger garden, though, it’ll take a long time.
Both STIHL and Echo multi-tool systems offer cultivator attachments. If you plan to purchase multiple tools (such as a trimmer, blower, and cultivator), then a STIHL Kombi or Echo Pro-Attachment Series (PAS) system can save money. They’re also easier to store and maintain since there’s only one powerhead to care for. Echo’s PAS Tiller/Cultivator attachment has a 6 1/2-inch tilling swath for small garden beds, tight spaces, and hard-to-reach areas. STIHL’s BF-KM Mini-Cultivator is similar in size. They’re also great for mixing in soil amendments like compost.
Small-Space Garden Tillers
You can also get mini tillers that are small and compact but have more of a traditional tiller shape than the multi-tool cultivator attachments. They’re good for working the soil in the spring for gardens of about 1,000 square feet or less. For larger gardens, you’ll probably want a larger tiller so the job will go more quickly.
The Echo TC-210 Tiller is a lightweight, highly portable option. It weighs 21.6 pounds and tills a 9-inch-wide swath. It is powered by a 21.2 cc Power Boost Vortex engine with an electronic ignition for easy starting. A kickstand makes storage easy and prevents the tiller from falling over when not in use.
A more versatile option is the Honda FG110 Tiller, a powerful mini-tiller with an easy-starting 25cc Honda GX25 engine. The tilling swath can be adjusted from 9 inches to 6 inches by removing the two outer tines. An engine guard also functions as a handle to increase portability. This tiller can be run with either a drag bar or wheels. With the drag bar, the tiller weighs 24.9 pounds. With wheels, it weighs 26.8 pounds.
Mid-Size Garden Tillers
Mid-size tillers are designed for working larger planting beds than mini tillers. Tillers in the mid-size range are good for gardens between about 1,000 and 10,000 square feet. They typically have the tilling tines mounted on the front or mid-section of the tiller. If have a good-sized garden and only want one tiller, these can be a versatile option.
Honda offers some of the best tillers available. Their F220 Mid-Tine Tiller is adjustable to match the size of your tilling job. You can change the tilling swath from 21-inches to 12-inches. This tiller weighs 53 pounds and runs on a 57cc Honda GXV57 engine. The heavy-duty handle folds for easy storage and a retractable transport wheel makes this tiller easy to move when not in use. The adjustable depth bar allows the operator to control how deep the tiller is working the soil and the speed of the tiller.
Large Tillers for Big Gardens
For large gardens or mid-size gardens with hard-to-work soil, you’ll want a larger and more powerful tiller. Large tillers work soil more quickly since the wide tilling width covers more ground at once. You might want to do what my dad does and have a large tiller for working the garden soil in the spring and a mini cultivator for weeding between rows during the growing season.
The Honda FC600 Mid-Tine tiller offers a 26-inch tilling width. The commercial-grade, 163 cc Honda GX160 engine starts easily and is highly fuel efficient. Other commercial-grade features include a reinforced handlebar, tine axle seal guards, and a corrosion-resistant muffler. Tines are staggered to minimize vibration and reduce operator fatigue. Though the tiller weighs 126 pounds, a retractable transport wheel makes it easy to move. Side disks, to keep the tiller aligned and protect plants, come standard with this tiller.
Honda’s FRC800 Rear-Tine tiller is powerful enough to handle the most demanding garden work. It weighs 265 pounds. The commercial-grade 270cc Honda GX240 engine offers durability, low emissions, and easy starting. This tiller is self-propelled, with three forward speeds and one reverse. A heavy-duty debris shield mounted over the rear tines protects the operator from dirt and debris kicked up by the tiller. Side tine shields allow for safe tilling close to fences and plants.
Looking For a New Tiller?
If you’re looking for a new tiller this spring, make sure you purchase one from a reliable manufacturer such as Honda, STIHL, or Echo. And remember: when you buy one of these tillers from an authorized dealer like Richardson Saw, you’ll be purchasing from equipment experts who can answer any questions you have and help you find the perfect tiller for your needs. We also service what we sell, so you can bring the tiller here for maintenance and repair as needed.
