Which rotavator?

[cottage garden]

Has anyone got a reliable rotavator that they would recomend?

Looking forward to not double digging next year. I'm very excited about buying one...the hours it will save! and the slugs it will kill!

[sewer rat]

Hi CG
To help us dispense advice to assist you in deciding on which rotovator to purchase, can you let us know a bit more info - what type of ground do you have - has it been cultivated in any way shape or form previously - do you suffer from perrenial weeds that are reproduced from slivers of roots - how much ground do you have to cultivate - do you foresee the need for attachments for the machine, such as a ridging plough. All this will help us narrow down what is a huge range of implements available in this market.

[NOG]

If you have the choice buy a 4stroke much better that a 2 no mesing about with oil mixes...

[cottage garden]

Wow....Hadn't realised that there was so much to consider..!

Right, here goes then...Heavy clay soil that has been dug before but I might make new beds. I have 10 or so long, thin beds that need attention at the moment. Yes to perennial weeds, ground elder, couch grass to name a few but not in the existing beds.

I guess I am probably really looking for something quite light but now you've got me thinking as to whether it would cope!?!

I hadn't even got round to thinking about attachments, probably not although having said that I think some have an edger which would save a lot of bending.

Does this help?

[anthonyjb]

How about hiring one to get the feel of it

Anthony

[sewer rat]

Hiring one to do the heavy initial work might be a sound idea, though I would either spray off the plot with glyphosate or hand remove as many perennial weeds as poss before churning the ground up with a rotovator if you are gonna make new beds.
After the heavy work of breaking up your soil and deciding the layout and size of your beds, you would be in a better position to decide on what sort of tool you want - if you opt for the no-dig method with raised beds you won't need one at all !!

[sewer rat]

CG
Have alook at the thread titled "Ryobi Allotment tiller" - may be just what you want after the heavy initial work is done