Rototilling & Landscaping

Uses

• Use a rototiller to make raised beds, borders or even to prepare soil for new sod. Rototillers quickly turn over the earth, controlling weeds and loosening compacted, heavy soil. They also mix fertilizer, compost and other amendments into the soil. Rototill in the fall or in the spring when the soil is slightly moist. Hand pull new weeds and cover the soil with 3 to 4 inches of mulch. If you opt to rototill existing sod into the soil, cut it first to 2 inches high and remove the clippings. Remove any invasive, persistent weeds, such as thistle and bindweed or crab grass before rototilling.

Benefits

• Rototillers save time and back labor when preparing a new bed or removing sod. Hand digging a large area can take several days, but rototilling usually takes an hour or two. The result is a fine, lightweight soil, ready for planting. Rototillers also can help control weeds in certain situations. They are especially helpful for preparing heavy clay soils for planting. These soils often contain large dirt clods and are difficult to shovel by hand.

Drawbacks

• Rototillers destroy the soil structure when used frequently and can bring up weed seeds from below the soil surface, causing a larger weed problem. They are most damaging when used on wet soils -- especially heavy clay soils -- and can cause compaction. When rototilling to prepare a landscape, mix in at least 2 to 3 inches of compost or manure to improve the soil's texture and counteract any damage caused by the rototiller.

Machines

• Select a machine appropriate for the job. Small, 3-horsepower machines weigh around 100 lbs. and are easy to navigate and control. They may skip over hard, compacted areas in the soil, though, and are best used for small areas, such as raised gardens and soil that is in relatively good shape. For large areas or hard, compacted soil, use a larger machine with at least 5 horsepower. These larger machines require a strong hand, but quickly prepare the landscape for planting.