Have a great invention to help with gardening? Are you the self-reliant type that prefers Building It Yourself vs. buying it? Share and discuss your ideas and projects with other members.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
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I am looking for a small tiller. I looked at the Mantis nice but pricey! Anybody got any suggestions?
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#2 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 4,488
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Of course I barely use it anymore though. Once you learn good no till techniques, the soil gets so good after a few years that if you need a crumbly seed bed, a rake usually does the trick. ![]()
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Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture |
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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What will this tiller be used for?
How much area? Worth |
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: albuquerque
Posts: 308
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I have a small electric one made by Yard Machines. I used to till everywhere with larger tillers but now only do the rows a couple inches deep where the seeds go. Tilled a 20 by 10 area of old grassy backyard for a neighbor, that was more than this tiller wanted to do. For a garden with good soil it is enough.
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
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I was wondering if I will need one for the Raised bed? Beale.
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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I personally think it would be a waste of money that could be spent more wisely on drip irrigation stuff.
With a 3 foot X 12 foot bed you can if you want just use a small heavy hand mattox like I do. Or a nice hoe like this. No need to till deep at all in a raised bed. I just keep piling leaves in mine. Just something to break up the surface. Worth |
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#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
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Thanks Worth! I will look for one of those! Beale.
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 377
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I use a broadfork -- I wouldn't want to even try using a tiller in my raised beds.
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Jerry - You only get old if you're lucky. |
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#9 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: selmer, tn
Posts: 2,944
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#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Between The Woodlands and Spring, Texas
Posts: 553
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I have four 4 feet wide by 24 feet long raised beds and I use a Mantis tiller in the beds twice a year, usually in the early fall and then again in early spring. The tiller does a wonderful job and is easy to use. If you are young, you could do just fine with a spading fork or a hoe, but I am not and I'm not up to very much digging. I have had the Mantis tiller since 2010 and it starts very easily and does a good job.
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#11 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
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Nope not young, 57 bad left leg?? My work time pushing it right is about 3 hours a day, Beale. |
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#12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Near Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 1,940
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I liked my gas Mantis, but a few years ago it stopped running. I suspect deposits clogged the carb, but I just haven't had a chance to get a replacement on it. It is small enough to do a great job in my raised beds. I haven't tried their electric unit, but if I had power at my garden I would be really tempted!
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#13 | |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
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On my 3x12' raised beds, I use a long handled square shovel. The shovel costs less neck and shoulder pain than the little tiller.
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#14 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: South East Va Zone 7A
Posts: 306
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Where is a good online site for these? Thanks, Beale. |
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#15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7
Posts: 3,207
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I have this one.http://www.amazon.com/GreenWorks-270...rds=Cultivator
It's great for loosening the raised beds and mixing new amendments every season. I've also weeded with it at times. |
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