What’s Garden Tilling?
Tilling or cultivating a garden is the process of working or turning the soil before planting. Plants will struggle to collect oxygen, water and nutrients in soil that’s too hard, but when you till, you prepare the soil to grow productive, healthy plants. Tilling your garden soil before planting gives plants the best chance for success.
Tilling:
- Breaks up hard, compacted ground to allow oxygen and water to flow better
- Loosens the soil so roots can grow more easily
- Cuts up roots of established weeds
- Makes it easier to plant seeds or seedlings
Tilling is also a perfect way to mix in amendments and compost to improve soil texture and quality.
Tools You Need for Tilling Soil
You can use a hand tiller to turn the soil in small garden plots, but a powered cultivator or tiller makes a tough job a lot more manageable, especially in large gardens. Cultivators and tillers use an engine or electric motor to turn blades or tines that dig into the ground. Choose one machine or the other depending on the size and type of planting area you need to prepare.
Garden Cultivators
Cultivators are usually smaller, lighter machines. They work well in existing planting areas to prepare the ground for new plants. Cultivators are good for general weeding, loosening the soil and working in amendments.
Garden Tillers
Tillers are often larger, more powerful machines that are better for larger areas. In addition to loosening soil and blending in amendments, tillers can break new ground to turn a portion of your lawn into a planting bed.
For more tips on choosing the right machine for your planting project, see our guide to tillers and cultivators.
When Should You Till a Garden?
You can till a garden in early spring to give your garden a good start or at the end of the growing season in the fall. Whenever you till, the ground needs to be somewhat dry. Tilling soil with too much moisture will damage the soil structure and can make it more difficult for plants to grow. If a handful of soil crumbles when you squeeze it, it should be dry enough.
Tilling in the Fall
In the fall, till amendments into an existing garden bed to improve the quality of the soil. Tilling at this time allows the amendments to settle in and break down over the winter. When spring arrives, the garden soil will be richer and ready for a new crop.
Tilling in the Spring
In the spring, till the soil for a new garden or for an existing garden after the ground warms up. Soil needs to reach a temperature of about 60 degrees Fahrenheit before you work it. In many parts of the country, the ground is ready between March and May.
You can remove sod before tilling or work it into the soil. Working the sod in during the fall will provide nitrogen to the soil. However, tilling sod into the soil in the spring may cause the grass to resurface as the temperature warms.
Make sure that the selected garden area doesn't have underground utility lines that you can damage with a cultivator or tiller. Before digging, cultivating or tilling a new garden, call 811 to check for underground utilities.
Evaluating and Amending the Soil
Gardens need nutrient-rich soil that lets water and oxygen reach plant roots and lets excess water drain away. A cultivator or tiller is a great way to work in nutrients and amendments to enrich the soil and improve its structure.
Check the Soil Structure
Inspect the soil and feel it with your hands to determine whether water can pass through it. If the soil is too damp or has high clay content, consider adding compost. These break the soil up and allow moisture and nutrients to move through it. Tilling in prepackaged garden soil improves aeration, drainage and water retention. Garden soil that includes fertilizer also adds nutrients. Organic material like compost improves most soil types. However, some soil conditions require extra attention. If the soil is extremely wet or thin, consider constructing a raised garden bed instead.
Learn how to use kitchen scraps and yard waste to improve your soil with our guide to home composting.
Test the Soil
Before you start tilling, test the soil for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and pH levels. Plan to make the necessary adjustments based on the type of plants you plan to grow. For more information on testing your soil, see our step-by-step guide. To learn about amending soil, see our guide to soil and soil amendments.
Vegetable gardens in particular need rich soil to produce crops. These plants only have a few months to bloom and produce.
Tilling a Garden
For best results from tilling, wait a day or so after it rains so the soil is moist but not saturated. A little moisture will make tilling easier. Soil that’s too wet will clump and eventually dry into hard clods that will be difficult to break up. Instructions vary by the machine and the type of work you're doing, but here are some general steps for tilling a garden.
Read the cultivator or tiller manufacturer's instructions to get familiar with the controls and information on use, maintenance and safety. Put on eye protection, work gloves and work shoes or boots. Wear any additional safety gear and clothing specified by the manufacturer. For example, use hearing protection when working with a gas tiller.
Step 1: Mark the Area and Get Rid of Obstructions
Mark off the area you plan to till. Remove any rocks, sticks or other debris. For existing gardens, pull up any thick weeds or vegetation that could become entangled in the cultivator or tiller tines. The machine will chop up smaller weeds.
Step 2: Set the Tiller Depth and Start the Tiller
Set the tiller depth. Use a shallow setting to start on hard, compacted soil. For softer ground, start at a medium setting. Start the tiller, following the manufacturer's directions.
Step 3: Till the Soil
Engage the tines and slowly make parallel passes across the garden. Let the tiller do the work. Some manufacturers suggest straight passes that overlap slightly, while others may recommend a particular pattern. Once you've tilled the entire garden, adjust the tiller to its deepest setting, and begin making passes perpendicular to the first ones. Walk slowly and let the machine do the work.
Step 4: Till in Soil Amendments
After you break up the ground, add your amendments and compost to the surface of the soil. Use the tiller to make passes along the length of the garden followed by passes across its width. Continue tilling until the amendments are thoroughly mixed into the soil to a depth of about 8 inches. Allow the nutrients and organic material to enrich the soil for a few days, or if possible, several weeks before continuing.
Step 5: Make Your Final Passes
Set the tiller to a medium depth and make parallel passes back and forth across the garden to aerate it and make sure the nutrients are well-blended. Set the tiller to a deeper setting and make a final perpendicular pass across the garden soil.
Turn off the tiller and disconnect the spark plug wire or disconnect the tiller from power before making any adjustments or clearing away debris.
Advantages and Considerations for Tilling a Garden
Tilling a garden or tilling new ground to start a garden gives your plants the best chance to grow well. There are several benefits to tilling, but there are also some things to think about before you decide to take on the work.
Tilling Advantages
- Planting is easier.
- The soil readily accepts oxygen and water.
- Roots can grow and collect water, oxygen and nutrients easily.
- Sub-surface soil warms more quickly.
- Organic material can begin breaking down sooner.
- You can get rid of weeds without using chemicals.
- Tilling in amendments is an easy way to improve the quality of the soil.
Considerations for Tilling
- The work can be strenuous and time consuming.
- Weeds and grass might return quickly if you don’t till them thoroughly.
- Tilling can create new weed growth from sub-surface weed seeds.
- Breaking up the ground disrupts some beneficial soil life.
- Over-tilling can compact the soil and create runoff problems.
For ideas on choosing plants and planting once the soil is ready, take a look at our article on designing and planting a garden.
Key Takeaways for Tilling a Garden
Get a better harvest from your vegetable plants when you till your garden before planting. Tilling makes root growth easier and lets oxygen and water reach roots more easily. Tilling in amendments is also a great way to give your soil what plants need to thrive. Here are the key points to remember:
- Test the soil to know what amendments you need.
- Wear eye protection and work shoes or boots.
- Till in parallel passes at a low or medium depth.
- Follow up with perpendicular passes at the deepest setting.
- Till your amendments into the soil and let them work a few days.
- Make final passes to blend the amendments throughout the garden.
Lowe’s can help you prepare your garden to produce a generous crop. Whether you need plants, seeds, garden soil, plant food or soil amendments, you’ll find them on Lowes.com. Plus, you can shop for a new tiller or cultivator and make sure your soil is ready. Stop by your local Lowe’s and talk to a Lowe’s Red Vest associate about your gardening plans. They’ll make sure you have everything you need for a great start and a great harvest.
Frequently Asked Tilling Questions
Tilling or cultivating your garden correctly helps you grow healthy, productive plants. Tilling the wrong way can damage the soil, making it more difficult for your plants to grow. Use the answers to these common tilling questions to prepare your garden the right way.
How Do You Start Tilling a Garden?
Mark and clear the area of debris. For a new garden, set the tines to a shallow depth. In an existing bed, use a medium depth. Move slowly to let the tines work. For a new garden, set the tines to an 8- to 12-inch depth and make passes perpendicular to the first ones. Make more passes to blend in amendments. Till again in a few days to spread the nutrients.
What Should I Put On My Garden Before Tilling?
Can You Till a Garden and Plant the Same Day?
Planting immediately after tilling isn’t usually a good idea. It’s best to let the soil settle for up to a week, especially if you’re planting seedlings. This can allow the seedling roots to take hold better and firmly establish the plants. If you’ve worked in amendments, allow a few weeks for the organic matter to break down and enrich the soil fully.
What Month Should I Till My Garden?
Plan on spring tilling between March and May, but timing varies by location. Soil should be thawed and relatively dry before you till. Test it by squeezing some in your hand. If it crumbles easily, it’s ready for tilling. Tilling too early or when the soil is too wet compacts the soil instead of loosening it. You can also till in September or early October to work in amendments and break up the ground. This gives you rich soil that’s easier to work in the spring.