Ten top tillers to prepare vegetable garden for the planting season

Now is the best time to get out into the vegetable plot and turn the soil ready for spring planting.
So here are ten top tillers to make the job easier and save you from a bad back if you’re not used to digging with a spade or fork.
We have listed a wide range of machines from simple ones for a smaller plot to professional models suitable for professionals or market gardeners but there is a huge range available so have a browse on our site if you can’t see one suitable for you.

So here to start is a really simple machine suitable for smaller plots and one which can also be used to turn over the soil in larger shrubberies between the plants.
The MD Micro Tiller , currently on special offer, is really easy to use with chopper style handlebars, and is perfect for the smaller vegetable plot.
It will dig down to 20 cm and will deal with all types of soil including heavy clays.
The working width is 25 cm so it can till between rows when the crops come up and keep the weeds down.
The 42.7 cc engine is easy to fire up and the handles fold down so you can hang it in the shed when not in use, thus taking up less space.
This is currently for sale for just £149.95, a substantial reduction on the recommended retail price of £249.95.
Delivery is free the next working day and there is a two year maker’s guarantee.
Next is one from a leading German engineering company Einhell, the Einhell BG-MT 3336 Petrol Mini-Tiller.
Use this for turning over the soil in any flower bed or vegetable plot as it has a willing width of 36 cm, just right for getting between the rows.
The maximum working depth is 23 cm and this is adjustable via the brake skid.
The 4.5 hp engine is easy to start and the 2.3 litre fuel tank means you can keep working for longer periods without stopping to re-fuel.
Handlebars are adjustable to suit the user’s height and there is a deadman’s handle, a useful safety feature which stops the motor when released.
This tiller costs £239.95 compared with the manufacturer’s recommended price of £389.95.
There is a two year maker’s guarantee and delivery is free the next working day.
This next one is a really sturdy little machine with a couple of very useful extras.
The Ardisam MC43R Petrol Mini-Tiller is fitted with a 43 cc Viper engine designed to be easy to start and with a tilling width adjustable between six and 10 inches so you can till bigger areas quickly and still get between the rows to root out the weeds.
The eight for this model is just 14 kg and it is designed with a carrying handle for easier moving between shed and plot.
Built-in wheels allow the working depth to be adjusted and make it easier to use.
The handles fold down for easier storage.
You can also buy a dethatcher kit for £99 and an edger kit for £29 making this a really versatile machine.
It costs £249, delivery is free the next working day and there is a two year manufacturer’s guarantee.
The MD Super Compact Garden Tiller is another machine currently on special offer with transport wheels at the back making it easy to move around.
This one has a reliable 148 cc Briggs & Stratton engine to give plenty of power and with the added advantage that it is really easy to start.
The working width is 38 cm and the machine will dig down to a depth of 25 cm; there is an easy to adjust depth gauge to regulate this. And the handles are adjustable to suit the height of the gardener.
This is currently for sale for £279.95, £120 less than the manufacturer’s recommended price.
Delivery is free the next working day and there is a two year maker’s warranty.
Now another from Einhell, this time a more powerful machine but still offering excellent value.
The Einhell BG-MT 3360-LD Petrol Tiller / Cultivator has six hardened steel cultivator tines which measure 26 cm and 60 cm across. There are also crop protection discs which are really handy so you don’t dig out plants which are already growing.
The engine has a capacity of 163 cc, easy to start and economical to run.
A front transport wheel makes it easier to move around; this wheel tilts up when the machine is being used.
The tilling depth can be adjusted down to 23 cm and the working width is 60 cm and the handles can also be adjusted to suit the user.
Again, a deadman’s handle is fitted as safety device.
This tiller is on special off and there is currently a saving of £200 on the maker’s recommended price as it is only £299.95.
Delivery is free the next working day and there is a two year maker’s warranty.
Now here’s a really versatile little machine, incredibly powerful with a five year maker’s warranty.
The Mantis 4-Stroke Tiller/Cultivator with a Honda engine, weighs just 11 kg and has a four-stroke engine for a longer life and great power.
Perfect for tilling flower beds and smaller vegetable plots it has a tilling width of just 23 cm enabling you to weed between established shrubs.
Mantis’ own ‘Serpentine’ tines go down to 25 cm and can cope with well established weeds which are so difficult to dig out.
The Honda 25 cc engine is easy to start and very reliable and you can buy other attachments to extend the use of this machine.
This machine costs £359.95, is delivered free the next working day and has a five year maker’s warranty.
This next machine, the Bertolini BT190 Front-Tine Cultivator with Reverse Drive is a really sturdy workhorse with a solid steel frame and a reinforced transmission guard.
This has a four-stroke 182 cc Emak engine, cheap to run and with an oil bath chain drive to extend the machine’s working life.
A really handy feature is the reverse gear so you can back out of any difficult corners and help free the machine should it get dug in.
There is a rotor guard and a rotor brake lever on the handlebars as useful safety feature.
Handlebars are adjustable and the working with is 60 cm.
This machine is currently on special offer at £429, with delivery free the next working day and a two year maker’s warranty.
The Al-Ko MH5060R Petrol Cultivator comes from a top German manufacturing company and is perfect for larger allotments and vegetable plots.
Working width is 75 cm and there are three working depths.
Power is from a Briggs & Stratton Intek 206 cc engine and there is an extra large fuel tank.
Six heavy duty steel tunes will deal with even the toughest soils. Plus there is a reverse gear to get you out of tight spots.
With this machine you can also buy a ridge plough and fixing kit for £80.
This tiller is £595 and is delivered free.
The Ardisam 6014B Compact Rear-Tine Cultivator is an innovative machine driven by a 205 cc Briggs & Stratton engine.
It is a very compact machine with contra-rotating tines at the back to give better performance.
Transmission is via heavy duty gearing in a cast iron housing to prolong the machine’s life.
The tiller has large, deep-tread tyres to help traction and manoeuvrability.
It costs £699, is delivered free the next working day and has a two year manufacturer’s warranty.
And finally, a really powerful machine for the professional gardener.
The Honda F720 Tiller has the company’s own 6.5 hp engine which can cope with any soil conditions. Two rotor sets are available one with a working width of 66 cm and the other with a width of 96 cm.
It has eight gears, six forward and two reverse, to suit any type of conditions.
Very comfortable handles incorporate all main controls and there is also a deadman’s handle safety feature and transport wheels.
A wide range of attachments are available with this machine to extend its versatility and front and rear hitches are built to take them.
It costs £2099 compared with the maker’s recommended price of £2298.
Delivery is free the next working day and there is a two year maker’s warranty.