There was a time when gardeners used hoes, shovels and shovels to break up the ground before planting seeds for the year’s bounty of fresh vegetables. The grueling work of loosening the earth led tool makers to design a power tool that would do the same job as a shovel, without blood, sweat or tears.
Say hello to the cutter.
A tiller has become an indispensable tool for homeowners who want to plant multiple rows of flower beds or cultivate large vegetable gardens. Whether you’re looking to reseed your lawn before summer or bring your vegetable garden back from the dead of winter, a tiller is a powerful asset that can quickly do a job that would otherwise take hours by hand.
Manufacturers design power drills in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Therefore, choosing the best cultivator for your needs requires a bit of research.
Behind the mechanics of a rudder
A tiller works on the same mechanical principle as your body when manually using a hoe, shovel or spade. Using a hand tool, dig into the soil and make a twisting motion that loosens the soil. An electric mower contains a set of rotating blades called tines which are mounted in a sturdy casing and effectively perform the same task at a faster rate.
Driven by an electric or gasoline motor, the rudder teeth spin four blades that bend in opposite directions to produce a jerking motion. Toothed blades one and three move toward the knife, while blades two and four move away from the tool. Tines facing away from the cultivator cut through the soil and blades moving closer to the cultivator prevent soil from building up on the blades. Manufacturers who design and manufacture the best cutters ensure that the movement of the teeth is flawless.
Contents
Types of electric mowers
Electric cultivators are divided into three categories based on the size and type of tillage you need to do. Most cultivator manufacturers design at least two types of cultivators.
farmer
Growers do best in small, raised garden beds that contain relatively loose soil. Use these easy-to-use mini cultivators only on soil that is free of rocks and stones. The small size of the cultivators makes it difficult to move over rocky terrain. Lightweight cultivators are a big help if you have limited power to move mini cultivators in tight spaces, such as the tight spaces between rows of vegetables. If your yard is less than six square feet and has no rocks, consider tilling the soil with a tiller.
front tooth cutter
Front tillers are in the middle range of the electric tiller family. Manufacturers train average cultivators by turning tines into the ground. More powerful than tillers, front tillers work much better for cutting hard-packed, rocky areas of a garden. This type of cutter requires experience in handling due to the strong forward movement of the teeth. However, in most home gardens, front tine cultivators are the best option for loosening the soil.
Teeth cutter on the back.
As the heavy hitter in the tiller niche, rear tine tillers work best for loosening large areas of your lawn. Due to the large size of the rear knives, you must have enough space to operate the tool. As the name suggests, a rear cutter is designed with the teeth positioned behind the wheels, which makes the tool easier to use than a front cutter. The best rear cultivators have a reverse gear that backs up in a straight line. If you have a large shed to store a rotary tiller, a rear tiller is the best option for working your large lawn and/or garden. Rear tine cultivators also dig deeper into the ground, helping to eliminate thigh plants and grass roots.
Type of engine
As with most garden tools, you have two engine options when it comes to choosing an electric tiller: gasoline or electric. A gasoline engine does a great job of delivering consistent power, but it obviously requires more maintenance as the engine needs to be cleaned and the oil changed to improve efficiency. Electric motors are generally the best and cleanest option. However, remember that when purchasing a corded electric tiller you should be aware of potential issues with outdoor debris such as tree branches and outdoor furniture, especially when working in rough terrain and unpredictable.
Price
Buying a tiller can make a big dent in your home improvement budget. Buying most cutters not only costs a lot of money, but you also have to consider maintenance costs. Many people choose to rent cultivators once or twice a year when they need them, instead of owning them outright. On the other hand, leasing a tiller may seem like a viable financial option until you add up the costs over several years. Many retailers offer discounts on electric mowers or bundle the power tool in packaging that reduces purchasing costs.
Test
You’ve probably tested a few cars. Car dealerships know that giving you the chance to get behind the wheel increases the likelihood that you’ll make a buying decision. Although it is not as high a price as a car, you have to pay a lot of money for a tiller. For peace of mind when making a purchase decision, look for vendors that allow you to try out an electric tiller. All you have to do is run the tiller a few times over a section of your lawn.
Perhaps the best way to choose a tiller is to consult people you trust. If a friend or neighbor has a tiller that is getting rave reviews, you should consider making the tiller part of your power tool inventory. Word of mouth is still relevant in the age of online search.