If you thought that 'tiller' and 'cultivator' were different terms for the same product, you would be unfortunately mistaken, but it's an easy oversight to make. We often hear these two terms used interchangeably, even by gardening professionals, when in fact tillers and cultivators do very different and distinct jobs.
To end the confusion, in this article we'll explain the particular roles of garden tillers and cultivators, so you can decide which tool you really need for the outdoor task you have at hand.
What is a Tiller?
Put simply, a garden tiller is designed to break up hard, compact soil into loose, broken-up dirt that can then be used for planting. Two different types of garden tillers are available: front-tine, or rear-tine. Here's how they differ.
Front-Tine Tillers
If you have a small to medium-sized garden or allotment, and the ground you need to break is firm, but not completely solid, a front-tine tiller like the Husqvarna TF 324petrol tiller may be the most suitable equipment.
As the wheels are behind the 'tines' on front-tine soil tillers, they are easier to maneuvre in more compact areas, whether you're pushing, turning or reversing, and they make breaking fairly hard ground and loosening soil a breeze. As an added bonus, front-tine tillers tend to be smaller in size than their rear-tine counterparts, making storage and transportation much easier too.
Rear-Tine Tillers
When you need more power to break up very hard or rocky ground over a larger area, a rear-tine tiller like the Husqvarna TR 348will be your perfect assistant.
They are more powerful than front-tine tillers and ideal for densely packed soil and older lawns and when you need to loosen tough ground in an extensive garden or allotment.
What is a Cultivator?
The purpose of a lawn tiller is to break up hard and compact soil, whereas a garden cultivator like the Husqvarna T300RH petrol cultivator serves to mix up soil that is already loose and stir in compost or fertiliser so that it is ready for planting.
Garden cultivators aren't suitable for breaking up firm ground but they can make your loose soil even finer, so that your garden or allotment will look better than ever.
Take a look at our full range of light duty lawn tillers and cultivators now to find the perfect piece of equipment to transform your home garden or allotment.
