Garden Tillers - Rear Tine Tiller or Front Tine Tiller?
If you're interested in growing a vegetable garden you may want to consider purchasing a garden tiller to prepare your garden beds. There are so many different features when it comes to buying a tiller and it really helps beforehand to know what features you need for your particular garden. If you already have a spot where a garden was planted in the past, you could probably get by with a front tine tiller. But if you will be breaking new ground for your new garden or plan on making gardening a serious hobby then you may want to go ahead and purchase a rear tine tiller for the garden. There are a few notable differences between the two.
Rear Tine Garden Tiller
- A rear tine garden tiller has its tines mounted on the back of the tiller with a shield to protect the operator.
- The rear tine tiller is best suited for breaking up the soil in new garden plots, but works equally well in maintaining garden beds.
- Rear tine tillers are usually a bit heavier in weight compared to front tine tillers, but the weight helps when tilling new garden plots.
- Rear Tine tillers are self-propelled and most have forward and reverse gears to make your tilling job easier on your back.
- After first breaking up the soil you can usually maneuver the garden tiller with just one hand while tilling.
- A disadvantage in rear tine tillers is tilling into tight corners, especially in a fenced in garden. Some have handles that will adjust to compensate for this, but it can still be a pain working in this situation.
Front Tine Garden Tiller
- Front tine garden tillers have the tines mounted on the front of the tiller.
- They are more lightweight than rear tine garden tillers and thus easier to wheel around.
- A front tine tiller works by pulling the tiller forward by the tines so if you need to reposition the tiller you have to do so by hand.
- Front tine tillers are good at maintaining garden beds, but if you hit a large rock or tree root they can sometimes give you a good jerk.
- One of the main advantages of a front tine garden tiller is the ability to till into tight corners.
