Updated on Aug. 12, 2024
Garden cultivators help stir soil and mix in fertilizer and compost to prepare planting areas for the growing season. Which one will you choose?
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Cultivators are handy landscaping tools for prepping flower beds and vegetable gardens for the growing season. Often confused for small tillers, cultivators go beyond breaking up the soil. They aerate and mix soil with compost or fertilizer to prepare the ground for planting. “This ensures that your plants receive the nutrients they need for healthy growth, ultimately leading to a more bountiful and thriving garden,” says Bill Friemuth of Centurion Brands, a garden and outdoor living product manufacturer.
Katie Dubow, a gardening expert and president of Garden Media, says cultivators are especially helpful for those of us gardening in smaller spaces. “Tillers are better used on farms or when starting a new, larger garden,” she says. “But for the work a home gardener needs to accomplish, a cultivator is all you need.”
A cultivator breaks apart arid winter soil. It also keeps weeds at bay by churning them up so their seeds dry out.
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Counter-oscillating tines and long battery run time are just two outstanding features of the Black+Decker 20-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Garden Cultivator/Tiller. The tines prevent weeds from getting tangled, and you can cultivate 325 square feet on a single charge.
For those trying to reduce their carbon footprint, the “zero-emissions” cultivator ensures that no gas will be spilled nor noxious fumes inhaled. And of course, it’s made by Black+Decker, a company that’s been producing high-quality tools since 1843.
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Promising a steady supply of power that cordless cultivators can’t, we chose the Earthwise 2.5-Amp Motor Corded Electric Tiller/Cultivator for its powerhouse performance and quiet operation. It won’t let you down in the middle of the job.
Another plus is the ease of starting. One flip of a switch and you’re off. Its slim profile lets you get between rows of plants with ease, so it’s ideal for small to medium-sized yards. Sure, you have to deal with the cord. But it’s a small price to pay for continuous cultivating from sunup to sundown.
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Simple to store and cheap (less than $26), Dubow recommends the hand-held Centurion Big-Dig Aluminum Cultivator. “The large aluminum tines are ideal for loosening soil, removing seeds, weeding and doing other garden work,” says Dubow.
Because the Centurion is totally person-powered, you’ll work up a sweat turning over dirt and working in fertilizer. Still, it’s a fine choice for small-scale jobs.
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Fiskars Telescoping Rotary Cultivator is a trusty, stand-up cultivating tool that works especially well on previously plowed earth. It has six rust-proof, spiked aluminum wheels that cut right through the soil.
Remove the center wheel when you want to cultivate around rows of seedlings or other delicate plantings. It comes with a sturdy carbon fiber head and durable all-steel shaft.
“Make sure to choose a cultivator with an adjustable handle for varying heights of users,” Dubow says. This Fiskar’s shaft fits the bill; it can be adjusted from 40 to 60 inches.
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The MC440 40cc Four-Cycle Garden Cultivator from Earthquake offers plenty of power and runs on gasoline only. There is no need to add messy oil to the fuel tank.
Use the Earthquake to aerate soil, blend in fertilizer and remove weeds. Its low profile and lighter weight let you effortlessly maneuver around plants. The wheels adjust, lifting and locking in place; lower them to make transport easy.
One top Mower’s Direct reviewer, Michelle B, writes: “It runs great! I love that it takes just gas, and I don’t have to worry about mixing oil!”
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The compact Mantis Two-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator delivers big power yet weighs only 20 lbs. We also like how well this mini-machine maneuvers in tight spaces, especially along fences and walls.
It breaks through hard-packed sod and clay faster and easier than a garden spade or shovel. And lifting it up onto raised garden beds is no problem.
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The Garden Weasel Claw made our list because it eliminates bending or kneeling down — perfect for anyone with back troubles. The cultivating forked end is made of sturdy alloy steel. A simple twist cultivates, loosens, aerates and weeds, no matter the type of soil you’re turning.
The Claw comes assembled with a T-shaped handle that’s a cinch to store. Just hang on a hook.
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For owners of Ego Multi-Head Systems (available separately), the compatible Ego Power+ Cultivator Attachment gives you the freedom to churn over topsoil anywhere on your property.
It’s powered by a 56-volt lithium-ion battery. Simply click the attachment into the solid steel shaft and go to work. Heavy-duty steel tines adjust from 8- to 9-1/2-inches. The variable-speed trigger lets you increase the force for digging in denser dirt, then reduce it when working in softer soil.
A lawn tiller is typically used to break up hard, compacted soil. However, garden cultivators are usually intended to mix up loose soil, allowing gardeners to add fertilizer, compost, etc., to prepare the soil for new planting. In short, lawn tillers are more heavy-duty than garden cultivators (and garden cultivators may be better for more precise work).
As mentioned above, cultivators are designed to turn the soil. Transplanters, by contrast, are used to move specific plants from one place to another without disturbing the roots. Cultivators are soil-focused and used in soil free of existing plants, whereas transplanters are used for moving existing plants.
It is possible to till a garden without a cultivator. Still, it is exceptionally time-consuming (especially for larger plots of land) and requires hard, back-breaking labor compared to automated cultivators.
