Topic: Using a tiller

[Jesse]

Okay so now I can start dropping rather large hints around the house about what I want for my birthday present  :D

[sandersj89]

One small word of warning for tiller/rotovators other than the normally raised issue of chopped up perennial weed roots.

Do not over work the ground as this destroys soil structure. I have seen people work over their ground 3, 4, 5, or more times in a weekend. They may end up with a lovely fine tilth and loads of air in the soil but they have destroyed the structure. Depending on your soil type you can either end up with the soil being blown/washed away or capped over and setting like concrete.

In most situations a single pass of the machine is enough. Any addition work can be done with a rake/how to get the desired seed bed.

I am not against the machines though, they do save a lot of time and I do hire them from time to time.

Jerry

[wardy]

I wonder if I am on my own in hating garden machines.  I hate the flaming noise they make.  I get away from the house because of my neighbours with their motorbikes, strimmers, hedge trimmers, rotovators, loud music, screaming kids and general cacophany and go to my lotty where hopefully all is peace (or should I say, peas)  ;D

I know things take longer by hand but what's the rush.  I got my lotty to calm my nerves and relieve stress

My OH is obsessed with machines which slash and burn.  He seriously suggested we get a JCB on the allotment.  I nearly fainted  ;D ;D

[tim]

This might help focus minds? This is a wheel driven one. None, in my experience, truly go down a spit. A tine driven machine works wonders, but it can be very tiring - rocking it to get a grip & move it forward. And when it starts to rush forward, don't try to hold it back - just lean on the handlebars!

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,7917.0.html

Jerry's point about overworking - I've said it before. but the slower you work the machine (revs) the better for the sake of soil structure. Yes, if you want a superficial sowing tilth, take a small machine over a high speed.

[growmore]

Tim is spot on .keep the revs down..Most who use a rotavator for the first time usually set throttle very fast and then wonder why it either tries to pull their arms out of sockets  or buries itself on the spot making it hard for you to move it forward.
A tine driven one is the most suitable that I have found for using on allotments.
Set the depth gauge at the back to about half way( this is usually a rod or bar at back that sticks into ground  ) Then press down on handles and start digging to move forward just lift handles slightly and move  handle side to side slowly and it will move forward then press down on handles so depth gauge is once more in soil .
I have a couple but find the one most invaluable is the one with a reverse gear on and also plant guards can be fitted on this for weeding between rows.
Without a reverse i would find turning it at the end of rows a right hassle.
This is the bigest of mine which can take 8 tines which digs about 4ft rows .
If I take six tines off and leave 2 and put on plant guards I can then go bacwards and forwards between plants which are a foot apart.

[tim]

And keeping the revs down keeps the noise down, Wardy!!

And yes, growmore, the Honda has reverse, too.

[kenkew]

That is one heck of a monster, Growmore. I can't see my using anything like except perhaps on year one on a new plot. I have a lightweight tiller/cultivator and two passes with it is plenty. Only used it on the plot twice, too.

[Doris_Pinks]

I have visions of me using something like that and flying behind it as I rotivate the whole town! ;D

[tim]

growmore - what's the pineapple tree thing in the background??

[Roy Bham UK]

growmore - what's the pineapple tree thing in the background??

My guess is a Coryline australis (TorbayPalm) (Cabbage Palm) all the same thing under different names. ;D