For groundbreaking chores you need a tiller or cultivator. The choice depends on your soil and gardening objectives.
Tiller and Cultivator Choices
A tiller is the perfect tool for preplanting ground preparation as well as many other tasks during the gardening season, such as cultivating between garden rows.
Tillers have larger, heavy-duty tines (the projecting metal blade that does the actual digging) for initial groundbreaking of large gardens and can dig soil depths of 8 inches or more. There are three types of tillers:
Cultivators are smaller machines with lighter engines and tines. These are perfect for keeping the soil loosened in existing flower beds and small gardens.
Front-tine tillers are designed to perform basic tilling functions, such as weeding, cultivating and general garden maintenance in small-to-medium-sized gardens with soft soil. These tools are lightweight and easy to transfer.
Rear-tine tillers give serious gardeners the power they need to break through tough sod and soil with ease. The engine drives the wheels, allowing for easier use and less effort.
Counter-rotating tines (CRT) of a tiller rotate in the opposite direction from its wheels. They are great for starting a new garden or breaking through tough ground.
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