What Are Dual Rotating Rear-Tine Tillers?

Standard Rotating Tines

• Standard rotating tine tillers have tines that rotate in a forward direction, turning in the same direction as the wheels of the tiller. One of the main advantages of an SRT tiller is that it is able to till an entire area at the same depth, providing consistency throughout the garden. The tines work with the wheels, moving the tiller forward slowly. These tillers do a good job of turning in compost, manure and fertilizer, and are relatively easy to handle.

Counter-Rotating Tines

• Counter-rotating tine tillers are designed so that the tines dig deeply into the soil. The tines rotate in the opposite direction from the wheels, causing them to dig well down into the ground as they move. These tillers can be hard for some people to use, as they require a certain amount of upper-body strength to operate. One of the main complaints about CRT tillers is that they are very inconsistent, digging as deeply as eight inches in some places but only four or five inches in others, depending on the characteristics of the ground being worked.

Dual-Rotating Tines

• Tillers that have dual-rotating tines can be used as both SRT and CRT tillers. The operator can choose which function she needs, and the tiller can be set accordingly. Early in the season, or when creating new flower beds or gardens, the counter-rotating tines work well, but for other jobs the tiller can be switched over to standard rotation. This allows gardeners to own a single tiller that can handle most jobs.

Considerations

• Counter-rotating tines are usually best for breaking hard or previously unbroken ground, although several passes may be needed to work all of the soil to the same depth. Once the soil has been loosened, standard rotating tine tillers can be used to mellow the soil, breaking up dirt clods and mixing compost or other additives into the soil. Using a tiller with dual-rotating tines allows the operator to do the heavy breaking of the soil as well as the smoothing and mixing, eliminating the need to own two tillers or to rent one for the heavy work in the garden.