Is Rototilling Good for Gardens?

What Tilling Does to Microorganisms

• Every time you till your soil you impact the microorganisms that live there. Tilling adds oxygen to the soil, and if you do not till in organic matter at the same time, you will reduce any existing organic matter as it will decompose much faster from a boost in microbiotics. Tilling also kills your beneficial earthworms by cutting them into pieces. Unfortunately, it is an old wives' tale that each piece makes a new worm. Once cut, they will die.

When to Till

• Tilling your garden soil at the beginning of the growing season to loosen soil for planting is the most common use of a rototiller. It is especially useful to loosen compacted soil and mix in a round of straw, manure and compost. Till in everything you want to incorporate at one time. It is not recommended that you till in organic matter and then go back in a few weeks and till the soil one more time before you plant.

When Not to Till

• Timing this first tilling of the season is important. Before you haul out the tiller, check the soil moisture level. Never till when the ground is soaking wet or your soil will clump up and dry that way. Tilling very dry soils will cause them to turn into dust. The preferred time to till is when the soil is damp, much like a wrung out sponge.

  It is not necessary to till the garden at the end of the growing season. It is better to pull out spent plants instead of incorporating them back into the soil, as this helps reduce the spread of diseases and insect eggs that will overwinter and ruin your garden the next year. Let the soil rest.

Tilling to Control Weeds

• Tilling may seem like a good way to get a handle on weeds between your garden rows, but this is disturbs the microorganisms and can be harmful to your soil. It is best to use other methods to control garden weeds, including hand pulling and using a hoe.