The garden cultivator has been in use for centuries from the simple hand-held wheel cultivator to the gas powered mini cultivator almost anyone can handle and turn the soil in a garden fast.
Types of Cultivators
There are many types of hand cultivators. Some of them are made to attract the buyer, but when used, neither do a good job of loosening the soil or cutting the weeds. Frequently the prongs will bend because of soft steel construction. Then there is the type that can be adjusted to various widths: each one of the five prongs or blades is held by a single set screw at the base of the handle. When all the five blades are attached to the handle, it may be too heavy to cultivate easily. Fortunately, there are many more hand cultivators that are light, well constructed and properly balanced to pull easily through the soil, and finally, and most important, meet the requirements for conditioning the soil. The type I prefer has three prongs with three knife-like blades welded on the end of the prongs.
The desired length handle is inserted in the cultivator and may be fastened with a screw if desired. It is possible to stand erect while pulling this tool through the soil.
Cultivators with Wheels and Powered
The gardener who has a 50 x 80 foot vegetable garden will find that a wheel cultivator will reduce his garden maintenance time. The wheel cultivator is seldom practical in smaller gardens, and if you are in the market for a wheel cultivator, be sure the wheel is large enough to offer as little resistance as possible when the cultivator is pushed over the ground. If the wheels are too large, the cultivator will be top heavy and difficult to guide.
Brands of Cultivators:
Mantis – Ryobi – Harrow – Honda – John Deere – Stihl – Troy-Bilt – Husqvarna
Types of Cultivators:
Electric – Tiller – Garden – Mini – Gas
Although owning a garden tractor is often a luxury for the small home owner whose grounds average approximately 100 x 150 feet, there are many types of small, relatively inexpensive machines that will do a wonderful job of either cultivating or plowing. Many small garden tractors available on the market are not powerful enough to do an effective piece of plowing. The one-and-a-half to two horse-power kind can be used for cultivating, though it is usually not adapted to plowing.
In light soil that is free of sod, you will need at least a five horse-power machine for plowing. On an acre of land the small garden tractor is excellent for cultivating between rows and for mowing. Such a power lawn mower, built for a specific purpose, starts instantly, and is easy to maintain. I personally feel that the two separate machines are the most practical, but, of course, there are others who prefer the multipurpose tractor with its many attachments for doing various jobs.
