Happy Groundhog Day!!
If you don’t know, it’s Thursday of this week. Who’s to know if our furry little friend, Punxsutawney Phil, will see his shadow or not, but according to the long-range forecast and the Farmer’s Almanac we should have a fairly mild end to our winter over the next few weeks. Though we still have a while before planting time, there may be some days suitable to crank up the tiller and begin to prepare the soil.
A garden tiller is a great tool for working a small to medium garden or yard. Soil that is properly turned and tilled will create a much better bed for seeds and new plants that need to be able to breathe and get sufficient water.
Walk-behind tillers typically come in two distinct models, front-tine and rear-tine. Front-tine machines have the diggers, or tines, in the front and wheels in the back. The tines will turn to the front and pull the machine along. By setting the “drag bar” at the back of the tiller, the machine will be held back easier and allowed to dig deeper into the ground. Some models have a reverse that will slowly back up the tines, should they snag on a rock or root.
Rear-tine tillers have the diggers, or tines, situated at the back of the machine. These tillers are generally easier to operate because they are heavier and more stable than front-tine tillers. The tines on a rear-tine machine usually turn backwards to the wheels, and this allows them to pulverize the dirt better. The wheels are gear-driven and provide the forward motion.
Some models allow you to set the tines to turn backwards or forward. Forward-turning tines are great for situations where you don’t want to dig as deep, like weeding, and the tiller will move along a little faster.
If you are digging out your old tiller for another season, be sure to service it with fresh fuel, oil and grease. Old fuel and oil should be drained from the tanks before you try to crank the tiller. Check your owner’s manual for the proper oil to use and also the location of grease fittings.
Don’t forget the oil filter and spark plug, and you should be ready for a trouble-free season of yard and garden work.
Remember, help is just around the corner at your local hardware store.
