To successfully maintain your vegetable garden and carefully prepare the land for future planting or lawn, the tiller is a powerful ally. Practical, fast and above all comfortable, it allows you to prepare your garden without the constraint of the spade and the pickaxe, that is to say more easily and more quickly. Nevertheless, it is not always easy to find the right model. Let’s take stock to better guide you in your choice.
What is the tiller used for?
The tiller is a device used to plow the soil of the vegetable patch or the garden and to crumble it to a certain depth. Thus, he prepares the ground in order to plant the future vegetable crop, plants or lawn. It is also a practical tool for weeding your garden without constraint and while respecting the soil and its natural humidity through favorable aeration of the soil.
The tiller is often confused with the power hoe, which is another gardening device. It must be said that it fulfills the same missions, but its level of performance is not as high. It is a lighter and more manageable tool fitted with cutters which allow the soil to be turned over and mixed. Nevertheless, the tiller is a machine that works more deeply and with more precision. Equipped with two wide wheels and equipped with several speeds, it is heavier, but also more efficient than the tiller. It is therefore the most recommended device for maintaining larger areas requiring intensive plowing.
How to choose your tiller?
To choose the right tiller for your needs, here are the criteria we recommend you take into account.
The surface to be prepared
The tiller must be sized according to the surface to be worked. Turn to a model adapted to the surface to be covered and the desired plowing depth to choose the number of strawberries needed. For example, for more than 1,000 m² to be treated 50 to 80 cm deep, 6 strawberries are ideal.
The depth to plow
Most models allow the soil to be turned to a depth of 15 to 60 cm. Select your tiller taking this criterion into account in order to properly prepare your soil. Also think about its possible irregularities and its nature, because certain types of soil need to be more aerated than others.
The power
For areas of less than 1,000 m², a 3 HP power tiller will be sufficient. It is indeed very useful for beautifying a garden and for superficial plowing of a vegetable patch. For more than 1,000 m², opt for a 5 to 8 HP model, which is more suitable for large vegetable gardens and soil work requiring optimal results.
The cost
The tiller is a machine that is relatively expensive, especially because of its performance. This is the reason why it is not recommended for small gardens which can make do with a motor hoe, which is less expensive (100 to 500 euros on average), but less efficient. Count at least 600 euros to be sure to invest in a quality tiller.
The different elements of the tiller
To choose the right tiller, we recommend that you pay attention to the following three elements:
- The plough : this piece is used to dig furrows in the ground. It can be single blade, double blade (reversible plow) or tilting blade (vineyard plough). The single blade makes it possible to dig a single furrow in one direction and is sufficient for small areas. The double blade and the tilting blade make two furrows and plow in both directions. These models are recommended for plowing medium and large areas with greater comfort and speed.
- The rear flap : this optional shutter is recommended to perfect your finishes and to protect you from splashes of earth, stones and various debris.
- Forward and reverse : all tillers are of course equipped with a forward function, but reverse is not automatic. However, it is a very comfortable option, since it saves you a lot of difficult U-turns and it is also a great help in case of blocking against an obstacle. It is a function that involves an additional cost, but whose comfort in use is undeniable.