Plants are picky; they only grow under particular conditions. Soil is one of the most important factors when it comes to a plant’s survival – if the soil is too hard or if it doesn’t have enough nutrients and aeration, it’ll be extremely difficult for the roots to grow, and almost impossible for the plant to thrive.
Tilling your garden is one way to ensure that your plants have the best possible soil and growing conditions. However, tilling manually can be a laborious process.
Mechanical tillers are designed to make tilling your garden less demanding and faster. They also yield a much more consistent till. There are two main types of tillers; front tine tillers and rear tine tillers. But how are they different? And how do you determine which option is more suited to your garden?
Tillers – What Are They?
Tilling is the process of digging, breaking down, and turning over the soil so that it’s mixed and aerated. This allows you to provide your plants with optimal growth conditions. Gas-powered and electric tillers make tilling much easier and less taxing.
Tillers are machines that consist of blades (called tines) that curve in opposite directions. The tines dig into the ground to loosen and mix the soil. Most tillers have a motor that is powered by gas or electricity. But what specifically are tillers used for?
Loosening Up the Soil
Soil that’s too dense can often hinder plant growth. This is because the movement of oxygen and water is obstructed.
Furthermore, denser soil is more resistant to growing roots. This means that the roots won’t be able to support the plant and keep it upright. Dense soil makes it hard for the roots to spread, and prevents them from reaching deep into the soil where they can get water and nutrients.
A tiller turns dense soil into looser and more porous soil, which is ideal for planting.
Dealing With Weeds
Weeds are often difficult to deal with. Unless you deal with the underlying roots and sprouting seeds, you could spend hours tearing out weeds only to end up with new ones less than a week later.
Using a tiller ensures that the roots and seeds below the surface are torn out. This helps to get rid of any unwanted plants or weeds.
Nutrient and Water Redistribution
Plants absorb and eventually deplete the nutrients and water in the soil. Accompanied by a change in pH levels, this might lead to infertile soil. Weather can over-exhaust the nutrients in the topsoil as well.
However, soil that’s further underground tends to be less affected. This makes it much more fertile. A tiller can be used either to bring this lower soil to the surface or mix nutrients into the barren soil.
Front Tine Tillers
Front tine tillers have their tines at the front of the machine. They have a rather simple and compact design.
The design of the front tine tiller allows it to dig into the earth, rotate, and pull the rest of the machine forward. The wheel placement balances the tiller and makes it easier for the tines to pull the rest of the machine.
Front tine tillers are most commonly used by homeowners and gardeners. They can be used for composting, soil preparation, and weeding. Front tine tillers are better suited to smaller gardens, as well as gardens that have already been tilled before.
Rear Tine Tillers
In contrast with front tine tillers, rear tine tillers have the tines located behind the engine, toward the rear of the machine. They’re often much larger than front tine tillers and are much bulkier in comparison.
Rear tine tillers are typically used to cover larger areas. Apart from regular tilling, they can be used for removing old or dead plants and cultivation. The rear-tine tillers are extremely thorough because of the counter rotation of their tines.
Because they’re larger and more robust, rear tine tillers are usually used by professional gardeners who deal with community gardens, as well as farmers. They’re perfect for dealing with soil that hasn’t been tilled previously.
Differences Between Front and Rear Tine Tillers
Let’s break down exactly how front tine and rear tine tillers differ from each other. Some of the factors we’ll be discussing have a big impact on who should be using the tillers and what they’re used for.
Position of Tines
As the names suggest, front tine tillers have tines in front of the motor. On the other hand, rear tine tillers have the motor in the front and the tines at the rear.
Since rear tine tillers are facing the operator’s feet, they need to be covered with plastic to protect the user. Alternatively, the front tines aren’t considered a danger to the user, so they therefore don’t need to be covered.
Engine
Front tine tillers have less powerful engines than rear tine tillers. The machines are also lighter. This makes it necessary for the user to hold down the tiller to prevent it from racing ahead of them.
Meanwhile, the engines of rear tine tillers are much more powerful. Since they’re heavier and positioned directly above the tines, holding down the machine isn’t necessary.
Width and Length
Front tine tillers have smaller widths and lengths than rear tine tillers, making them more convenient to store and transport.
Rear tine tillers have wider bases, making them more efficient in large areas, because they can get the work done in a shorter time and in fewer passes. However, the narrower deck of a front tine tiller gives it an advantage when maneuvering around obstacles and rough terrain – for example, in an ornament-filled garden.
Propulsion
Rear tine tillers are propelled by the engine and the wheels. Depending on the models of the tiller, they can be propelled both forward and backward.
Having dual and counter-rotating tines makes the tiller much more efficient, given that the blades can move in opposite directions to the motor, in order to go through rough patches of grass.
Front tine tillers are propelled by the tines themselves. Therefore, they can only be propelled forward.
Ease of Use
The tines of the front tine tiller help pull the device along. This means that you may need to hold the tiller down in place to ensure it’s doing its job properly. Additionally, they take much more effort to cover the same area as the rear tine tiller.
Rear tine tillers can move both backward and forward. In contrast, because of their design, front tine tillers can only move forward.
However, rear tine tillers are heavier and take up more space, so they’re slightly harder to control and manage, especially when not running. It’s important to note that front tine tillers are much easier to maintain.
Maneuverability
The compact design and lightweight of a front tine tiller make it well equipped to handle small areas. They’re easier to maneuver around any obstacles. A rear tine tiller is much larger and therefore is somewhat harder to maneuver; it is more effective in open spaces.
Cost
Due to the more powerful engine and additional features, rear tine tillers tend to be more expensive, and also have higher maintenance costs compared to front tine.
Rear tine tillers have higher maintenance costs because they’re more complex and often come with add-ons, making them more difficult to clean and inspect.
Recommended Uses for Each
Now that we’ve determined the differences between the two types of tillers, let’s discuss how they are each best suited for different tasks.
Creating New Beds vs. Maintaining Established Beds
Longer tines coupled with a stronger engine make rear tine tillers better suited to creating new beds. This is because the longer tines can increase depth in comparison to front tine tillers. Its powerful engine also enables it to dig into harder, untouched soil.
Maintaining an already established garden typically only requires tilling the surface of the soil. Also, since the soil has already been previously tilled, the soil shouldn’t be too hard. Therefore, it’s recommended to use front tine tillers because they’re easier to maneuver and less expensive.
Small vs. Large spaces
As we mentioned, due to their broader base and more powerful engines, rear tine tillers are more suited for larger spaces. On the other hand, front tine tillers are better suited for smaller areas and tighter rows because they’re easier to maneuver.
This further explains why gardening beginners tend to use front tine tillers while professional gardeners and farmers prefer rear tine tillers.
Depth of Tilling
Front tine tillers have shorter tines. Therefore, they will have a shallower tilling depth. On the other hand, the tines of a rear tine tiller are longer. Coupling these tines with a strong engine enables the rear tine tillers to dig much deeper than front tines.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both tillers make tilling soil much more convenient and efficient. While they both function very similarly, the differences in their design make them better suited to different uses.
Front tine tillers are much smaller, simpler, and easier to maneuver. They have shorter tines and less powerful engines. These features make them perfect for beginners or homeowners who are working with smaller areas that have been previously tilled.
Rear tine tillers are much more powerful. With longer tines and wider decks, they’re more suited for larger areas and first-time tills.
There are many things to think about before purchasing a tiller. First, you should consider the area you’re working with and its preparation level. Then you should decide how much you’re willing to spend. Finally, ask yourself how comfortable you are using a tiller.