Gardens require regular tilling to ensure the soil is well-aerated and healthy.
While some do it by hand, the best garden tiller will make getting the job done quicker and easier.
There are different types available, so you’ll need ample research to ensure you buy one that suits your garden’s soil type.
To help you out, let’s dive into detailed reviews of the top options today and what is the best possible pick for you.
Comparison Chart
Best Garden Tiller Reviews
1. Tazz 35310 2-in-1 Front Tine Tiller/Cultivator
Tazz specializes in manufacturing hand tools, automotive tools, and lawn and garden care products, among many other items.
If you’re preparing your garden for planting, there’s no doubt the Tazz 35310 will make your job easier.
Product Highlights
As one of the most popular models that thousands swear by, the Tazz 35310 has all the features you’ll need in a tiller.
Powered by a 79cc four-cycle viper engine and deep tines with an adjustable length, it offers the best value for your money.
It is perfectly feasible for small gardens to large yards.
With its four-cycle engine purely fueled by gasoline, you do not need to mix oil to get the machine working.
Compared to two-cycle gas tillers, the Tazz 35310 makes less noise.
It also offers a more refined tilling, making it the best option among other available tillers.
The forged steel tines allow even the densest soil to break and prepare your garden bed for cultivation.
What We Like
The best thing we like about this tiller is its ease of assembly and use.
The Tazz 35310 gas tiller arrives mostly assembled; you’ll only need to add the handlebars and attach the wheels to the main unit.
The task is easily doable and requires no tools. All you have to do is get things out of the box and have the tiller ready within minutes.
What We Don’t Like
The only possible drawback is its price point, which is a little higher compared to other gas tillers.
Pros:
- Powerful engine that runs on gas
- Tills six to 11 inches deep
- Not too heavy
- Easily portable
- Suitable for large yards
Cons:
- Expensive
- Other gas tillers have larger tines
2. Sun Joe TJ604E
Sun Joe is just one of the brands under Snow Joe, a world-famous manufacturer of chippers, cultivators, vacuums, and tillers.
If you’d rather use an electric tiller than a gas-powered model, you will find the Sun Joe TJ604E a good pick.
Product Highlights
The Sun Joe TJ604E is an electric-powered tiller that can take on the job of gas-powered units.
It has a reliable engine that allows easy tilling of garden soil to prepare it for planting.
Its powerful tines dig deep enough that you do not have to pass over the same ground numerous times to get the soil consistency you want.
The tiller does come with a cord and requires a constant electric power supply.
What makes it a good choice is that it is lightweight and does not require a lot of strength to maneuver and till the ground.
The product assembly is also easy, and it does not require a lot of maintenance. In fact, all you need to do is adjust and fix certain knobs and bolts.
In case of any issues, you can easily get it replaced or repaired because it comes with a two-year warranty.
What We Like
This Sun Joe tiller is lightweight and portable, allowing you to use it easily like a lawnmower.
With its angled tines, it can effortlessly dig up to eight inches deep and 16 inches wide, so it’s an excellent choice for preparing your soil beds.
What We Do Not Like
Since the Sun Joe TJ604E runs on an electric-powered engine, you will need to be close to a power source to use it.
This means the tiller is only recommended for small to medium-sized gardens.
Pros:
- Lightweight and portable
- Easier to maneuver than other tillers
- Comes with a two-year warranty
- Can dig eight inches deep and 16 inches wide
Cons:
- Only for small to medium yards
- Not the most powerful electric tiller
3. LawnMaster TE1016M Electric Tiller
Cleva North America Incorporation manufactures LawnMaster products.
In fact, it has a number of award-winning brands under its name, including Vacmaster, Duravac, Armor All, and LawnMaster.
If you find the Sun Joe TJ604E lacking, perhaps the LawnMaster TE1016M is the better pick for you.
Product Highlights
The LawnMaster TE1016M can easily be dubbed one of the most efficient and convenient electric tillers.
With its 16-inch-wide and nine-inch-deep tines, the tiller can dig deep through your soil beds and till compact soil to prepare it for planting.
Despite being an electric-powered tiller, it offers maximum efficiency and powerful tilling like its gas-powered counterparts.
In addition, it does not make much noise and offers stable tilling without too many vibrations to disrupt the process.
What We Like
One of the LawnMaster TE1016M’s most likable features is its rotating tines, which can acquire a speed of up to 280 RPM.
These rust-resistant and durable tines can easily break through even the hardest soil.
What We Do Not Like
Unfortunately, the TE1016M has poor-quality handle locking clips. As a result, you don’t get much of a sturdy grip, and the handle rattles unnecessarily.
Pros:
- Tines do not rust easily
- Has a wider coverage than others
- Produces low noise
- Reduced vibrations
Con:
- Not as smooth as others
4. Southland SCV43
Southland provides the best garden and lawn products money can buy.
It is also famous for providing leading solutions within the engineering, construction, and energy sectors.
Among its long list of garden tools is the Southland SCV43, a gas-powered tiller you can rely on to take on the toughest jobs.
Product Highlights
The SCV43 is a gas-powered cultivator you can also use as a ground tiller. Since it is not specialized for tilling, it does not go as deep as most tillers.
Still, with its powerful gas engine and manually attached tines, you can get the desired depth to till your garden.
The product is the best choice for maintaining small to medium-sized gardens, especially if you do not wish to buy a separate tiller.
You can attach cutting tines to its tine shaft and conveniently till your garden.
Assembling the product is also easy and does not require a lot of expertise. You can convert the cultivator into a tiller within 30 minutes.
What We Like
Despite its attached tines, the cultivator does not become difficult to maneuver.
You can easily use this modified tiller like a lawn mower and dig your garden soil to your desired depth.
What We Do Not Like
The tiller has a two-cycle engine that requires a mixture of gas and oil as fuel. It is also excessively noisier than other tillers in the market.
Pros:
- Easy to maneuver
- Lightweight
- Convenient to use
- For tilling small to medium gardens
Cons:
- Heavy
- Grass gets stuck in the blades
5. Earthquake 31635 MC33 Mini
Earthquake is famous for creating tools designed for outdoor jobs, such as tilling gardens and cultivating the soil.
While you can use electric tillers, many prefer the power that gas tillers provide.
If you’re like the majority of home gardeners, there’s no doubt you will like the Earthquake 31365 MC33.
Product Highlights
The Earthquake 31365 MC33 is a gas-powered rototiller that makes it easy to dig the soil, remove unnecessary roots, and prepare your garden for planting.
With its powerful tines, you can dig down to six inches deep and 10 inches wide.
Its rototillers are easy to assemble without needing any additional tools. You can conveniently attach the nut and bolts using your hands.
Since it comes with a gas-powered engine, it does not require a cord or an electric outlet to operate.
Being cordless, the machine can cover larger surface areas than corded tillers. However, given the size of its tines, it is only suitable for smaller gardens.
What We Like
What we like about this Earthquake tiller is that it makes tilling effortless and convenient.
You do not need to put in a lot of effort to till the ground, so you’d be able to move forward quicker and start planting earlier.
Maneuvering the machine is also so easy that even beginners won’t have a hard time using it.
What We Do Not Like
The Earthquake 31365 MC33 has a recoil starting system instead of an electric starter.
This means you have to pull a cord to start up the engine, much like that of a lawn mower.
As you probably already know, such a starting system is a bit tedious and sometimes requires multiple pulls.
Pros:
- Convenient to use
- Runs on gasoline
- Comes with a five-year warranty
- Also for mixing and aerating garden soil
- Does not bounce much
Cons:
- Expensive
- Not for large gardens
Buyer’s Guide
To make sure you pick the best and most powerful tiller for your gardens, here are some crucial considerations to keep in mind:
1. Engine Type
When choosing a tiller, the foremost element to check is the engine type.
You can choose your preferred engine based on the size of your garden, its soil type, and your budget.
Gas Engine
Gas-powered tillers use gasoline as their power source and are among the most powerful engine types.
While they are portable, maintaining gas tillers can be a problem because of high maintenance costs.
Electric Engine
Electric tillers are the most popular and affordable tiller engines.
Compared to gas engines, electric tillers operate on an electric source and are easier to maintain. Another plus is that it produces less noise than gas tillers.
Battery Engine
A tiller working on battery power is cordless and can cover more square feet of land compared to other tiller engines.
Battery engines have a battery power of around 30 to 45 minutes and can require up to three hours to fully charge.
They also make little noise and are more suitable for removing weeds from garden beds. However, battery tillers can be expensive.
Hand Powered Tillers
Hand-powered tillers do not have an engine or battery source. You have to maneuver these tillers manually, which can be exhausting.
These tillers are comparatively cheaper but only suitable for tilling a few inches deep and loose soil.
For hard soil types, a hand-powered tiller is not a feasible option.
2. Power
The next important feature to ensure in tillers is their engine power.
The stronger the engine of a tiller, the easier it is to break through garden soil and reach maximum depth.
In addition, check the metrics of tiller engines before buying.
Horsepower is the best metric to determine the power of tiller engines. The higher the horsepower, the more effective they can break through garden soil.
3. Tine Position
Tine position is also important to consider when buying garden tillers. Tillers usually come in two types of tine positions: front-tine tillers and rear-tine tillers.
Front-tine tillers have tiller tines at the front, directly under the tiller engines.
Front-tine tillers offer greater maneuverability. They also have a compact design and are easily portable.
Rear-tine tillers have tines at the machine’s rear end, near the user’s feet, and usually come with longer tines.
These are heavy-duty tillers and are suitable for heavy soil textures. With rear-tine tillers, you can easily achieve an eight-inch tilling depth.
4. Build Quality
Build quality is another important element to keep in mind when buying a tiller.
The powerful rotating tines over compact soil or aggressive tread pattern often expose the tillers to constant vibrations and shocks.
Therefore, choosing a tiller that is made of robust materials offering a sturdy build is important.
Garden Tiller FAQs
1. Which tiller is suitable for heavy-duty work or heavy soil?
A rear-tine tiller is the best option for digging deep into the soil.
Whether heavy-duty work or tilling heavy garden soil, the rear tines offer maximum power and mobility.
2. Can you use a tiller on clay soil?
Yes, in fact, using a garden tiller on clay soil is more effective than using a cultivator.
Rear-tine tillers are the best option when working with challenging soil conditions. They can easily dig through six to eight inches deep to promote healthy plant growth.
3. Do I need to wet my garden soil before tilling?
No, it is not advised to wet the soil before tilling.
Tilling on wet soil can lead to soil compaction, impacting soil penetration and challenging soil conditions.
Using a rear-tine tiller on compacted soil allows you to penetrate deeper into the ground and encourage growth.
4. What is the best way to effectively till a soil?
The most effective way to till your garden soil is by using a rear-tine tiller or a rototiller. These are powerful tools designed to break through compact soil and soil clumps.
Rear tines or rototillers also assist in mixing compost with the soil to encourage healthy plant growth.
5. Is tilling bad for your garden soil?
Despite many positives of tilling, it can negatively impact your garden soil if done too frequently.
Too much tilling can affect soil texture and cause water erosion. Tilling also breaks the soil, leading to challenging soil conditions.
Which Garden Tiller Tops the List?
The Tazz 35310 takes the lead as the best garden tiller.
With its gas-powered, four-cycle engine, powerful tines, and lightweight body, you can rest assured your purchase is worth it.
Using the Tazz 35310, you can conveniently till your garden beds, aerate your soil, and add fertilizer to prepare it for the coming planting season.