A Product Guide for a Tiller Edger

Tiller

• Tilling is an ancient agricultural practice. Basically, it is the process of preparing the earth for planting by loosening and aerating soil, breaking up clods and killing weeds. Tilling also allows you to mix soil amendments into your garden. Tillers are machines similar in appearance to lawnmowers. The engines of these machines power rotating, blade-like tines, which cut into the earth and till soil. Depth controls allow you to determine how much soil you till while preparing your garden.

Tiller/Edger

• A tiller/edger is a tiller with edging capability. Edging occurs when you create a furrow in the earth around a garden, separating it from the lawn and other surrounding surfaces. Edgers have blades designed specifically for this purpose. Edging tools also help maintain a healthy garden by killing or severing any grass or weeds encroaching upon your garden from the edge. The engine on a tiller/edger causes the edging blade to rotate when engaged, expediting the tilling process.

Edging Options

• Various types of tiller/edger tools exist. A number of these products, such as those produced by Craftsman and Mantis, are tillers with edging attachments. When you purchase a power tiller from either one of these companies, you can also purchase an edging accessory. By attaching the edging blade, you turn your tiller into a tiller/edger capable of performing the function of either tool. Other tiller/edger tools come factory-made to perform both functions, or contain blades capable of tilling and edging.

Considerations

• Tiller/edger tools come in various sizes and powers. Always purchase a tool that fits your needs. For instance, if you need to till 5 inches of soil to create your garden, purchasing a tiller capable of tilling as deep as 12 inches may be excessive. Furthermore, a large tiller/edger tool has more power, and that requires more gas and, therefore, costs more. Tiller/edgers usually come with variable depth settings, and you should compare a machine’s ability to your needs. When unsure whether you need an edger on your tiller, you might want to purchase a tiller with an optional edger attachment and wait to purchase the edger until you know you need it.