BHG Tests and Ranks the Top 6 Tillers

If you’re passionate about gardening or landscaping, a tiller can be a key tool to help prepare your soil for planting and take your yard to the next level. Tillers are designed to turn and break the top layer of soil, effectively loosening and adding air into the soil. Kris Kiser, president and CEO of Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), explains that a tiller is essential for preparing the ground for planting seeds and bulbs, as well as for weed removal.

When choosing the best tiller for your garden, you’ll need to decide between an electric or gas model. Key specifications like tilling width and depth will determine how well a tiller can tackle the jobs you need it to. To help you make an informed decision, we tested various tillers from reliable outdoor brands in our own gardens, considering factors like ease of use, design, performance, and overall value.

One of the top performers in our testing was the Earthquake Versa Tiller. This tiller effectively broke up soil and removed weeds in an overgrown garden. It was highly customizable, allowing for adjustments to the handle height, tilling depth, and width settings. The Earthquake tiller was easy to maneuver and provided impressive tilling depth of 6 to 8 inches.

Another standout performer was the Sun Joe tiller, which was extremely easy to set up and use. This lightweight electric model worked well in breaking up soil and preparing it for planting. Despite the occasional inconvenience of managing the extension cord while working, the Sun Joe tiller was efficient and easy to start.

The Greenworks tiller also impressed us with its ability to efficiently churn through weeds and soil in the garden. With a quick charge time and lightweight design, this battery-powered tiller was easy to maneuver. However, the instructional pictures were small and challenging to follow, and the double tines were difficult to assemble.

For those with limited storage space, the Black+Decker tiller offers a compact and handheld design. While it required more physical strength to operate compared to other models, this tiller was perfect for light tilling jobs and had a long-lasting battery life.

If you have a large project or compacted soil to tackle, the Troy Bilt Mustang Rear Tine Tiller is a heavy-duty option worth considering. With counter-rotating and forward-rotating modes, as well as a power reverse feature, this tiller is ideal for extensive tilling tasks.

In conclusion, the Earthquake Versa Tiller stood out as our top recommendation for its performance, ease of use, and customization options. When shopping for a tiller, consider factors like tilling width and depth, power source, and tine position to find the best fit for your gardening needs. Remember to test the soil’s moisture level before tilling and choose a tiller that suits the size of your garden or planting area.