What Is a Rotary Tiller and How Is It Used in Gardening?

Whether you are replanting your garden from last year, or have decided to put in a new garden, a rotary tiller is ideal to get that seedbed tilled into the perfect texture for planting. Let&#;s take a look at what a rotary tiller is and what it can be used for.

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What is a Rotary Tiller?

A rotary tiller, which is also known as a rototiller, power tiller, rotavator, rotary hoe, or rotary plow, is a motorized cultivator. It works the soil by means of rotating tines or blades, and is either self-propelled or drawn as an attachment behind either a two-wheel tractor or four-wheel tractor. A rotary tiller is an implement that utilizes its set of curved tines that are attached to a rotating shaft to dig into soil and turn it into a seedbed that&#;s ready for planting.

What is a Rotary Tiller Used For?

A rotary tiller is a piece of equipment used for both primary and secondary tillage for cultivating soil. Small, self-propelled rotary tillers are typically used for domestic gardens. When they are attached to two-wheel or even four-wheel tractors, rotary tillers are utilized on farms. Additionally, rotary tillers have also been used for cleaning the exterior of oilfield pipes and preparing the ground for road construction. A tractor-mounted rotary tiller is a great tool for breaking down soil in an existing garden or turning a piece of land into a new garden space.

Prepping Your Garden

Rotary tillers are used for primary tillage, as well as secondary tillage, where users break up clods and prepare the soil for planting. Next, they can also be used for cultivation while the crop is growing. If the vegetation is heavy, it is helpful to make a single pass and then wait until after the next rain before tilling again. This process helps to break down your vegetation. Primary tillage requires slow speed, but you may use a higher gear for secondary tillage. It&#;s important to run your tiller at full engine rpm and then shift gears up or down as necessary.

Cultivating Your Garden

Tillers are effective when it comes to cultivating your crops. The cultivation is usually done at a higher ground speed than what you would use for primary or secondary tillage. Using a very shallow depth setting when cultivating will help you avoid damaging crop roots. 

Growing and Incorporating Organic Matter

Rotary tillers can help you to incorporate cover crops and green manure crops, which contribute to the health of your garden soil. Additionally, you can improve structure and tilth of your soil by incorporating vegetation and compost. Planting cover crops is also a possibility. Once the seedbed is prepared, you can then broadcast the seed and run the tiller over the soil at high speed and a minimum depth, which will help to cover the seeds. Tillers are the most effective tool for covering larger seeds, such as peas. Small cover crop seeds &#; like ryegrass &#; might be covered too deeply with a tiller. Raking or dragging will be more effective for these smaller seeds.

Middlebusting

Wide sweeps, also known as middlebusters, are the most useful accessory for your tiller. A middlebuster attaches to the rear of the tiller, allowing you to dig a more shallow furrow. Two passes with a middlebuster throws up a raised bed, which can be important in certain areas. Then, you can level the top of that raised bed to plant your crops. 

Trenching

Tillers also have uses outside of gardens. One example of another use is digging ditches or trenches. Start by running the tiller over the ditch line to loosen the soil. Once this first step is complete, you will want to shovel out the loosened soil and repeat until you reach your desired depth.

Considerations for Using a Rotary Tiller

Now that we understand what a rotary tiller is, let&#;s take a look at some of the things to learn and remember when it comes to gardening with one.

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Attachments

Different kinds of tillers can be fitted with attachments to do jobs other than gardening. Some small, hand-held tiller models can utilize dethatching tines or rotary brushes. Some larger rear-tine tillers can handle snow/dirt blades or middle busters. You can also have the entire tiller assembly replaced with sicklebar mowers, shredders/grinders, or even generators.

Adjusting the Working Depth

The working depth of a rotary tiller can be increased or decreased by adjusting the skid shoes. Typically, larger tillers come with a deeper maximum cutting depth. When working with a rotary tiller in a large vegetable garden, operators should try to not cut much deeper than 6 inches down.

Considering Working Width

When looking to purchase a rotary tiller, operators should always keep the width of their tractor&#;s rear tires in mind. The tiller should be at least as wide as the rear tractor tire base, otherwise, some parts of the garden may go un-tilled. When tilling the garden, operators should be sure to overlap with each pass.

Using a Rotary Tiller in a New Garden

When creating a new garden, operators should first plow the soil in the fall and let it sit through the winter. Then, in the spring, a rotary tiller should be used to go through the soil multiple times, or until the soil is turned about 4 to 6 inches deep and there are no large soil clods left behind. It&#;s important for operators to start slowly and not go too deep &#; tilling too fast will likely leave un-tilled portions of soil behind.

Adjusting the Tailgate

The tailgate on rotary tillers can be adjusted to match the soil type the operator wishes to leave behind. A more open tailgate allows larger clods to come out and will leave behind a coarse soil.

Rotary Tiller Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Difference Between a Rotary Tiller and a Hoe?

A rotary tiller and a hoe are both gardening tools used to break up and loosen soil, but their differences lie in the type of environment they are used in. For example, a rotary tiller is a power tool that uses rotating blades to break up soil and is most commonly used on larger landscapes to prepare seed beds for planting. On the other hand, a hoe is a hand tool that is typically used in smaller gardens, or for tasks that require more precision than a rotary.

What is the Best Time of Year to Use a Rotary Tiller? 

Spring is the best time of year to use a rotary tiller. That said, rotary tillers can also be used in the fall to help turn over your garden and prepare it for winter. 

How Do I Maintain my Rotary Tiller? 

Properly maintaining a rotary tiller involves cleaning it after every use, sharpening the tines regularly, as well as maintaining oil levels and changing it as needed. 

Final Thoughts

Operators should be sure to always consult their Operator&#;s Manual before using the rotary tiller. Visit this page or contact your local John Deere dealer for more information about Frontier rotary tillers or other gardening equipment.

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What You Should Know About Rotary Tillers - March 5,
Jeff Schalau, Associate Agent, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County

Rotary tillers make gardening medium to large areas easier to manage and save labor when preparing soil for planting. The largest rotary tillers are rear-tined, self-propelled models. Medium sized front-tined models are also popular with hobby gardeners. Lightweight cultivators have also grown in popularity in recent years. Each has relative advantages and disadvantages depending on the gardening situation and needs of the owner.

The original rotary tiller was invented by Arthur Clifford Howard of New South Wales, Australia. Using various pieces from farm machinery, he rigged a drive from his father&#;s steam tractor engine to the shaft of a one-way notched disc cultivator. He found that the ground could be tilled without the soil-packing that occurred with normal plowing. He called this device a rotary hoe. Later it became trademarked as the &#;Rotovator&#; (also one of the longest palidromes of the English language).

The first rotary tillers in the U.S. were imported from Germany and Switzerland in the s. While the name &#;rototiller&#; was being used at that time, they were also called &#;boden frasen&#; or earth grinder. These were relatively large, heavy machines designed for four to ten acre farms. These machines had cast iron engines, steel tires, and rear mounted tines.

In choosing a rotary tiller, you should consider how often it will be used, size of the garden area, strength of the operator, and budget. These and other factors will help you choose the right design and combination of features. If you prepare garden soil once per year, you should consider renting a rotary tiller. This may also provide the opportunity to assess whether or not you should consider purchasing one. If you garden on a small scale, a smaller rotary tiller or power cultivator may be more appropriate.

Rear-tine tillers have changed very little since the s and are still that standard for many small farms in developing countries. They usually have 8 hp (or larger) 4-cycle gasoline powered engines and are self-propelled. The tines rotate in the opposite direction of the wheels and they till to a depth of 8 to 10 inches. They are less demanding of the operator than other models and some advertise one handed operation. They have forward and reverse gears often having multiple gears to vary travel speed. There are also smaller &#;hobbyist&#; models. They range in price from $550 to $3,000. There are even more expensive versions called two-wheel tractors that can be fitted with a range of farm implements, but cost considerably more money.

Front-tine (sometimes called mid-tine) tillers have forward rotating tines mounted in front of or just beneath the engine. These work well in small gardens and, depending on the strength of the operator, can do as good a job at tilling as rear-tined models. They require some upper body strength because the operator needs to hold the machine back while the tines are turning forward. They usually have 4-cycle engines and wheels that help move the tiller from place to place. They can till soil an inch or so deeper that the rear-tine models and range in price from $300 to $800.

Lightweight cultivators are essentially mini-versions of the front-tined rotary tiller with less power. They are handy for incorporating amendments into soil and light weeding within established garden beds but can't break up rocky, uncultivated soils. They are usually powered by 2-cycle engine which require you to mix gasoline with 2-cycle oil (like chainsaws and line trimmers). There are also 4-cycle versions available. They are lightweight (about 20 lbs.) and must be carried from place to place. They usually weigh about 20 lbs and range in price from $350 to $500.

Rotary tillers are often available used. These usually cost much less than a new model. If you are unsure about how to assess a used machine, bring a knowledgeable friend along and test the tiller before purchasing. Whatever your rotary tilling needs, there is a model to fit your needs and budget.

The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension has publications and information on gardening and pest control. If you have other gardening questions, call the Master Gardener line in the Cottonwood office at 646- ext. 14 or us at and be sure to include your address and number. Find past Backyard Gardener columns or submit column ideas at the Backyard Gardener web site: http://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/.

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