Soil is a primary component of gardening, and tilling a garden makes the soil healthier and more suitable to aid the growth of plants. When gardeners till garden soil, they eliminate pests and control weed growth in it that are both deterring to the development of the plants. However, many new as well as well-meaning gardeners do not know how to till a garden the right way and when to do it for optimum efficiency. Remember, you can mix amendments and nutrients into the earth more effectively if you till garden soil.
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What is Tilling?
Tilling is the process of breaking up and turning over the soil. You can till garden soil to different depths depending on what you are tilling it for. Tilling a garden helps remove unwanted weeds and dead roots from the soil and allows you to mix it with nutrients that the soil requires to better its health and condition. Compacted soil is another problem that can be solved by tilling a garden.
You can till garden soil with a tilling machine swiftly and efficiently, but not everyone can afford one, and if you have a small front yard or backyard garden and do not want to invest in one, you can also do it manually. If you wish to place a ready-to-plant garden bed on your lawn, tilling is essential as it turns over sod and allows the soil to mix with the organic matter in your grass. This way, you can quickly turn a section of your lawn into a garden bed. Here is how to till a garden the perfect way.
What You’ll Need to Till Your Garden
Here is a list of equipment and gardening tools you will need for tilling a garden:
Tilling machine
- Earthwise tiller with a powerful 8.5-Amp electric motor with superb run time and service life
- Corded electric tiller ideal for small to medium-sized gardens
- 4 tine cultivator long handle that can cultivate and till up to 11 wide and 8 deep
- Lightweight and maneuverable 11-inch cultivator with single lever switch
- Cultivator machine with a soft ergonomic grip that is an planet-friendly alternative to gas-powered lawn and garden equipment
or a hand tiller
- Heavy Duty steel with ribbed rubber handle for great grip
- This handle provides extra length - perfect for working in long beds, or for those who want the dexterity of a hand tool without straining their back when bending over.
- Ideal for cultivating surface soil up to a depth of 3 inches by combining light forking and raking
- Long-lasting coating resists chips and rust & Convenient hanging ring ensures easy storage
- ***Includes the History of Steel Workers
Auger
- RELIABLE & POWERFUL: Outstanding power, durability and efficiency from a 1-man earth auger. Industrial air filtration keeps dirt out of your engine and running smooth.
- DURABLE & TOUGH: The Powerhead is lightweight yet built with heavy-duty construction using steel welded handlebars. The transmission features ball bearings and alloy gears built to withstand the challenges of digging in the dirt.
- COMFORTABLE – The powerhead features anti-vibration foam-grip handles, with an easy-to-grip fingertip throttle control.
- RUGGED: The included 8” auger is constructed of durable steel, heavy-duty welds and a powder coat finish. Complete with fishtail point, Flex Coil Shock absorber and replaceable blades your auger will stand the test of time.
- RIGHT SIZED: With a 36” long auger, the Earthquake auger makes drilling easy for standing upright when starting or drilling deeper on larger projects. Other augers skimp on length, know the difference.
- GREAT FOR: Decks, mailboxes, fences, tree planting and multiple other landscaping and agriculture needs.
- TRUSTED: For over 60 years, Earthquake has been producing Earth Auger power heads and drills.
- WARRANTY AND SERVICE: Earthquake is committed to providing a great product and an even better user experience which is why the Edger is backed by a 5-Year limited warranty and US-based service and suppo
Rake
- Power Source Type: Wood
- Features long, rounded teeth provide a smooth, non gouging raking action, while its striking edge is excellent for grading
- It has a solid alumum plug in the head to handle connection; measures 66-inch length by 46-inch width by 4-inch height
- Strong wrap around bracng and heavy duty double rib consuction maxizes head stabil
Hoe
- 54-inch professional grade premium north american white ash handle
- White ash handles give optimum ratio of resistance and flexibility
- 7-inch eye hoe head
- Use on farm or ranch for a lifetime of use
- Tru pro is the contractors choice for professional
Shovel
- Comfort Step for secure placement
- Digging shovel with tempered steel blade
- Oversized cushion grip on fiberglass handle for comfort
- Steel reinforced fiberglass handle in socket area for strength and durabil
Pickaxe
- DIMENSIONS: 36 inches L x 21 inches W x 2.75 inches D and weighs 5 lbs
- SPECS: 1045 high strength forged steel and an HRC of 45-60
- RELIABLE: Features the new, no-slip, H-Grip on the ergonomic handle that turns tacky when wet to ensure a secure grip in all conditions
- DURABLE: Handle is interlocked and epoxy sealed into the eye of the head and features a solid fiberglass core for added strength making quick work of ground breaking and root splitting
- CONVENIENT: Head features a pick for breaking and prying as well as an adze for digging and cutting into the ground, making this the perfect addition to any garden or land management tool arsenal
- GUARANTEED: This product is covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty provided by Hooyman. For questions, please contact the manufactu
String
- DURABLE: 10-Ply Strength holds knots well
- ALL PURPOSE: Ideal to use for packaging or bundling
- CLEAN LOOK: Refreshing white string gives professional appearance
- HIGH STRENGTH: Low stretch but high strength cotton string
- GREAT VALUE: 475 Feet of 10-Ply White Cotton String so youre not buying string constan
Make sure all the tools are correctly functioning and durable to prevent a risk of injury.
Learn How to Till a Garden
Let’s go ahead and take a look at how to till a garden.
Step 1: Prepare the Area
Clear the area you want to till by removing any waste, shrub and tree roots, stones, and weeds. If big rocks and roots are firm in the ground, you can use a pickaxe to break them into smaller pieces and dislodge them—some weeds, like dandelions that have long taproots and are challenging to get out from the ground. If you break their taproots and a piece of it is left inside the ground, it will most likely regrow pretty soon. Using an auger is effective against such weeds and long taproots.
Clearing the area is vital as these hard materials can damage the tiller. You can use a hoe to remove the waste or pick it up with a shovel and throw it away. A rake can be used to remove roots and weeds from the ground. If there is grown vegetation or tall grass, knock it down by mowing it.
Step 2: Mark the Boundaries and Rows
You can use spare lumber or string to mark clearly visible rows and boundaries of your garden bed. This will enable you to create a better bed shape and separate different kinds of plants, trees, or shrubs. You can decide on increasing or decreasing the tilling area at this point after you are able to visibly see the size of the bed.
Step 3: Lay Out Compost
If the purpose of your tilling was adding compost or if your soil requires compost, you need to lay out the compost across the whole marked area and distribute it evenly with the help of a rake, shovel, or hoe. Compost has to be added before you start the tilling.
Step 4: Start Tilling
If you are using a tilling machine, the process will feel pretty much like mowing your lawn. You just have to turn on the tiller and push it slowly back and forth and continue walking slowly across the length of the area you want to till. Make sure not to cover the same spot twice, or it can result in soil compaction under the tilled area. Loose soil that aerates well is always better for plants. Also, be careful not to overlap the rows and do not move the machine too quickly ahead of you. Give it time to work its way around.
Make sure you sharpen the blades and replace the spark plug of the tilling machine before initiating the process. Also, check to ensure its oil is clean.
How to till a garden manually? Take a shovel and start digging up soil 10 inches deep. You can dig in rows or columns, but you have to do it across the full area of the garden bed. Fill up the diggings with the same soil that you dug out. Slowly rake over the soil after you have finished tilling. You can also use a hand tiller for tilling a garden which can save you from digging up the whole area.
When to Till Garden Soil?
Another important question other than ‘how to till a garden?’ for gardeners is ‘when to till a garden?’ The best and most effective time for tilling a garden is the start of the spring season to reverse the compacting effects of the winter rains and snow. Additionally, you can till the soil throughout the year if you want to control weeds or mix compost in it. Just remember not to till garden soil when it is wet as it can form clumps and prevent the air from reaching and circulating within the soil.
Our Final Thoughts
Now that you know how to till a garden, you can till yours to make it healthy and effective for planting the plants and trees you like. Manual tilling is a tedious and tiring task, but the rewards are splendid. An additional tip is to add a layer of 100% organic material like mulch or organic waste, or oils. It is recommended to till garden soil every time before planting something new. It can give your plantings a boost that will make them thrive in no time.
