Do i buy a tiller

[mattyaimeeralphie]

Ive had my plot a few months now its quite a big plot and because of time and having suffered a broken back few years back im struggling to keep the weeds down and clear. With not much on my plot weeds are wild. I saw a fella the other day using a tiller to get in between his leeks.

Just wondered if any others use tillers on a more regular basis as you can get them quite cheap nowadays. Just think a tiller is going to help me in the long run as half hour with a hoe and I'm b******d on top of a little boy and a full time job. Any thoughts wud be great???

[Bigmallly]

I would ask you plot neighbour if he would let you use it for 10 mins even if it is on his plot, it may aggravate your back. Either way I would suggest you do whatever is most comfortable for you as that seems to be the priority.

[Stan79]

As BM says - my rotavator (presumably bigger than the tiller you're thinking of) is pretty hard going on my back. How sharp is your hoe/When did you last sharpen it?

How old is your little boy? My 3 year old daughter loves helping on the plot. Pulling weeds, finding slugs to feed to the chickens... Sure she gets bored quickly but then we make it a competition to see who can pull the most weeds!

[Cadalot]

Bought a Black & Decker electric soil tiller and a petrol generator when I got my allotment in 2013 and have never used them!

I love my wolf hand miller it makes light and quick work of the soil

[bearded bloke]

Another consideration regading tiller/rotavator is wether it's designed to pull itself forwards through the soil or if it has to be pulled backwards, my M@ntis is very light but has to be pulled (possibly not good for a bad back ?) where my mates Hond@ is much heavier but pulls itself forwards.
Having gone to raised beds the M@ntis is now left in the shed as I find this easier & quieter to use ..

[Jungle Jane]

This wolf terrex auto spade looks good,it's got a spring to throw the soil off,it looks less strenuous. Has anyone tried this type of spade?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uZiziSP23BY

[Snoop Puss]

I have a Mantis tiller too. Unlike BB, I let it pull itself along. But you do have to tug it back on occasions if it gets itself dug in. Mr Snoop uses a back and forth technique from the side of the bed once he's given it a bit of an initial going over.

One thing I would say is I find it quite hard work on the forearms, not the back.

I agree with BM: ask if he'd let you have a go on his. Ten minutes would give you an idea.

[Cadalot]

This wolf terrex auto spade looks good,it's got a spring to throw the soil off,it looks less strenuous. Has anyone tried this type of spade?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uZiziSP23BY

Yep another investment that I bought when I first got the allotment that stays in the shed and has not been used since I tried it, it's OK if you have the right soil and no weed but for a new plot with couch grass and bind weed forget it see Alans Allotment: Backsaver Spade and Free Fork

That video link was one that made me consider it but watch it again, not one bit of weeding takes place, look really impressive until you try it in a real situation.

[mattyaimeeralphie]

Thanks for all the comments guys, it would be a very lightweight tiller so should be easy on the back and i wouldnt bent over using my hoe.
My little one is 7 months so limited with time cant wait for him to help me doen the plot.

[MarkPelican]

One thing before you buy a tiller. Check on your soil type. I'm on clay and my Mantis is only any good when the soil is just right (about two days a year) otherwise the ground is too heavy and the tiller can't get into it or too hard and it just bounces off the lumps.

Have you thought about a "no dig" solution? I don't do it myself but there are people who swear by it.

[JMCKG]

Bad back!

Bad back! Go the no dig way. It works.

[fiveaday]

I was in a similar position a while back, our new garden was all turf and on top off that (or more precisely under that) when the previous owners built on the plot next door they added all the top soil to the garden and went over with a 2.5 tonne roller. Compacted you bet.

Well the first beds I dug manually, spade and fork. It took me three days for each bed with time in between for my back to recover.

Step in the mantis tiller!!

Pros
- it takes me a fraction of the time to prepare the same bed size
- it went nice and deep without having to dig and then dig again
- if used in dry conditions it create a lovely fine tilth which I couldn't do manually

Cons
- i agree with previous comments about it pulling on forearms (but it's more fatigue than painfull)
- long periods of use I still would feel it on my back
- still have nightmares about being a serial worm killer

Conclusion, as anything it's a judgement call, but for us it enabled us to get the plot up and running quicker which ultimately makes us think we made the right decision.

If doing large areas it won't eliminate back pain totally but for me I was able to get a LOT more done for a FRACTION of the discomfort.

Long term who knows how much we'll us it but for us it's already paid for itself.

[MarkPelican]

I repeat my comment about soil type. The Mantis struggles at my allotment most of the time however, when my son borrows it (in Surrey) it ploughs through his allotment in no time. They're good but not perfect everywhere.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

But the whole point about a tiller! Is it just that! A Tiller! Not a rotovater, a tiller is designed to till already prepared n cultivated soil, whereas a rotovater is designed to dig deep n renovate soil, Tell ya what! I really wouldn't be without my "Mantis" Has been worth it's weight in gold!