How to Use a Soil Cultivator
Cultivators are garden tools that may be used to prepare soil for planting or to incorporate beneficial amendments or fertilizers into the soil. They break up and aerate soil and make planting easier. They are available in a wide range of designs, including hand cultivators for close-up work and long-handled cultivators, which may be used like hoes in between rows. Gasoline-powered cultivators and electric models speed the process of cultivating a large garden area. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Gloves
- Hand cultivator
- Rake
- Heavy boots
- Mechanical Cultivator
- Gasoline
- Extension cord
Instructions
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Hand Cultivators
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Use a thick pair of gloves when using manual cultivators. Choose a short-handled version for use in a raised garden bed or when kneeling. Select a long-handled model to cultivate garden soil from a standing position.
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Dig the claw end into the soil and pull towards you. A short chopping motion that slams the claw into the ground is helpful when cultivating hard soils. Repeat the process until the soil has been broken up to a depth of 4 or 5 inches.
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Rake out weeds and debris after you have sufficiently broken up the soil. The cultivator will aerate the top surface of the soil in beds that have previously been well-amended.
Mechanical Cultivators
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Wear steel-toed boots when working with mechanical cultivators, which have sharp steel teeth that may cause injury if you are not properly shod. Fill the fuel tank on a gasoline-powered model. Charge an electric model at least overnight so you don't have to stop work due to a need to recharge.
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Prime the gasoline-powered model several times and set the choke midway. Either pull the starter or push the on button. The exact method will depend on the unit. Engage the throttle until the engine catches fully. Let it idle a minute to warm up.
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Work in rows with a slight overlap as you walk behind the machine. Most machines are self-propelled, so only need to guide them. When you have covered the entire area work across the section you already churned up. To turn, lower the speed a little so you can swing the machine around easily.
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Rake out any debris and weeds after you have cultivated the entire bed. Make planned additions of compost or other amendments at this time. Spread the material and use the cultivator to work it into the soil.
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Hose the machine off and allow it to dry before putting it away. This will keep the teeth from rusting or seizing up due to a build up of dirt.
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References
- Photo Credit Reg Speller/Valueline/Getty Images
