How to Rent a Rototiller
Often gardening instructions tell you to break up the soil to a certain depth to incorporate fertilizer into it. This is better than broadcasting the amendment on the surface because it lets you apply the nutrients to the root zone of many plants. It also prevents losing the nourishment to wind and water erosion. If you have a strong back and the plot is small, a pickax and spade will do the job well. Otherwise, renting a rototiller, a motorized machine with rotating blades, is the way to go. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Measure your plot to decide what size of rototiller you need. For larger gardens or if your ground is compacted, you may want to use a rear-tine tiller. For smaller gardens or soil that has been tilled previously, look into a mid-tine tiller. Mini-rototillers work for small plots of about 1,000 square feet and operate on a tank that holds ¼ gallon of gas. A mini-rototiller is small and light and can fit in the trunk of a car.
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Call the rental shops and garden centers closest to you to compare prices and types of rototillers that are available. Ask whether there's a minimum you're required to pay. A shop's terms might be, for instance, $18 an hour for a small tiller with a two-hour minimum.
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Go to the shop to pick up the machine you've chosen. Take a credit card and driver's license with you. The credit card is the shop's security deposit in case you damage or fail to return the machine.
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Ask for a demonstration on how to operate the machine before you check out. Find out whether you need to clean it and ask how it's done, if necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Return the machine on time to avoid new charges. You will need to refill the gas tank before returning it.
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