How to Use a Rototiller

Save time and do a better job of preparing your soil by using a rototiller to break it up and mix in soil amendments.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Work Gloves
• Work Gloves
• Garden Hoses
• Garden Spades
• Rototillers
• Scrub Brushes
• All-purpose Flour
• Safety Glasses
• Safety Glasses

1. Mark off the area to be tilled with flour. Clear the site of rocks and weeds - scrape off weed seedlings with a spade and compost them.

2. Dress for working with power equipment - closed-toe shoes, long pants, supple gloves and safety glasses. Wear a pollen mask, a hat and sunscreen for comfort.

3. Inspect the tiller before you crank it up. Clean the tines, check fuel and be sure height settings adjust easily, then roll it to one corner of the cleared area.

4. Start the engine in neutral with the blades locked in place above ground level. Drop the tines where you want the first bite taken out of the soil and engage the tiller - plant your feet and hold on tight.

5. Till native soil once over first before adding soil amendments - try to get a depth of 4 to 6 inches by slightly resisting the tiller's forward motion. Walk the tiller slowly, gripping it enough to keep the tines digging.

6. Go straight down the edge you've marked and keep the depth consistent. Shift to neutral and pick up the tines at the end of the first swath, roll the tiller up out of the bed, turn around and repeat.

7. Add soil amendments as required (see "Select a Soil Amendment"). Till again crossways, then on the diagonal and, finally, in the exact opposite direction from your first pass. You can use the natural furrows the tiller makes to mark your rows.

8. Clean the tiller after use - blast dirt off with your garden hose and use a soft scrub brush or a screwdriver if needed. Store the tiller covered, with fuels drained.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep tines sharp by filing them lightly, but find a professional sharpener for annual sharpening.
• Never till wet soil - you'll ruin its structure for years to come.
• Always store fuels outdoors away from heat in an approved container.
• Refuel carefully to prevent hazardous spills - use a funnel.

[hiknapster]

on 8/2/2008 One thing that should be mentioned, that we figured out on our own, through trial and error, is to push DOWN on the handlebars as you go. It is so much easier this way.