Electric tillers have become increasingly popular due to their efficiency, eco-friendliness, and ease of use.
In this post, we’ll explore the best electric tillers for breaking new ground. Whether you’re starting a new garden bed, leveling your lawn, or preparing the soil for planting, our expert recommendations will help you make an informed decision.
The tillers mentioned here are some of the best electric tillers that are on offer and reduce any aches and pains and aid the user in being comfortable while also very effective.
| Price | Tilling Width | Tilling Depth | Brand | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenworks 27072 | 10 inches | 5 inches | GreenWorks | View |
| POWERWORKS TL60L2510PW | 8 inches | 5 inches | PowerWorks | View |
| Mantis 7250-00-03 | 9 inches | 10 inches | Mantis | View |
| AAVIX AGT307 | 12.6 inches | 8.7 inches | AAVIX | View |
| Earthwise TC70016 | 16 inches | 8 inches | Earthwise | View |
| Greenworks TL80L210 | 10 inches | 5 inches | GreenWorks | View |
| Sun Joe TJ604E | 16 inches | 8 inches | Sun Joe | View |
If you have recently moved house and thought to yourself that the garden might need cultivating, take a look at some of the tillers we have mentioned here. No need to hire landscapers to lift up your soil, when there are so many lightweight options to choose from. A bit of hard work and effort will go a long way, coupled with these tillers you’ll be able to re-soil your garden in no time.
Best Electric Tiller for Breaking New Ground Reviews
It’s that time of year again, when you start thinking of the first fresh tomato, the first fresh egg, and the first fresh strawberry of the season. And you think about all the new ground you’ll break this season to make all those things a reality.
If you’re like most gardeners, you’ll be trying to figure out which tiller to buy—and there are many, many choices out there.
The following are some of the best tillers for breaking new ground you can find in the market:
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Tiller
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The Black and Decker 20v Max Tiller is ideal for any enthusiast, professional or home owner. It makes easy work when cultivating gardening beds, landscaping beds and aids with the weeding process. The cordless garden tiller easily breaks through hard soil to allow water and nutrients inside the soil, stopping any dry spots and reaching those plant roots with ease. Its also very good for smaller patches of soil that you may want to turn into a growth patch. Its equipped with 2 easy to manuver tines and can prevent tangling.
The telescoping shaft adjusts for the user to the perfect length, allowing you to operate the machine without having to hurt your back, or other parts of your body. The upright design, coupled with the ergonomic grips are an excellent addition to this tiller.
The Black and Decker 20v tiller is equipped with a powerful 20v lithium ion battery that offers a long-life span, charging 5x longer than other brands equipped with a 18v battery. There is no extension cord and the battery are capable of swapping between the 20v tool family. On a single charge Black and Decker state you’ll be able to get 325sqf of soil which is a huge area for battery powered tillers.
Since 1910 Black and Decker has set the pace for excellent tools, accessories and outdoor yard equipment. They are the inventor of the first portable electric drill, so they know what it takes to make an excellent, great quality tool. When people need hard work done, they usually turn to Black and Decker.
- Counter oscillating tines to prevent tangling
- 325 square feet per charge
- 20v lithium-ion battery
- Powerful transmission with dual tines
- 2-year limited warranty which includes the battery
- This electric lawn and garden equipment release zero emissions in your yard.
- No more tangled weeds thanks to counter oscillating tines.
- The lightweight upright design helps lessen arm fatigue while cultivating.
- Counter-oscillating tines prevent weeds from tangling
Greenworks 10-Inch 8 Amp Corded Tiller
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The Greenworks 10” corded tiller is an excellent lightweight, budget alternative to the other more expensive tillers. It is equipped with an electric instant start like its counterpart and makes easy work of hard soil and garden areas. You can change the tines to increase the width for a wider row, or keep it as two tines.
This will change the outcome of the tilling surface however. There are great instruction manuals that come with this tiller and help configuring this beast a breeze. The instructions are picture based so we found it very easy to set up and get going.
The best electric cultivator is very able to make numerous 3” lines through the yard and takes roughly an hour or so to do, depending on how fast you go. It smashes through smaller flowerbeds and lighter soil and it’s a very good tiller for someone a bit older, or someone who isn’t used to using heavier machinery.
Having seen the other Greenworks corded range we are easy to pick up one of these and give it a go. The strength of the brand alone is enough for us.
This tiller is lightweight, super quiet and is powerful enough to tackle any tilling job around your home. It does require assembly and setting up however that’s the fun part.
Having previously purchased the Greenworks Corded mower and weed trimmer, it was easy to convince me to purchase this tiller on the strength of the brand alone.
Ultimately, I would recommend this for purchase. It is inexpensive and is capable of doing the hard work in your yard.
- Foldable handles for storage
- Adjustable tilling depth up to 5 inches
- Adjustable tilling width between 8.25 to 10”
- 8” forward rotating tines
- 8 amp motor with an instant electric start
Powerworks TL60L2510PW 60V Brushless Tiller
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The Powerworks 60v brushless tiller is a high performance, through power tool. The range designed by Powerworks are power horses in performance in durability. The 60v tiller is equipped with an excellent battery powered engine delivering ample run time, and great power performance in an electric tiller.
Easily power through your yard work with the Powerworks 60v tool. Its equipped with an instant start motor, a battery that can be interchanged between other Powerworks 60v tools, and excellent adjustable tines. The tines strike at a speed of 1700 strikes per minute and being an electric tiller, this is extraordinary. The range offers a 4-year warranty on the tool and a 2-year warranty on the battery.
Over the years we have been trying out ranges of electric tools, including dethatchers, leaf blowers and hedge trimmers, to test whether the power output is similar to gas powered tiller.
We have explored bigger tillers as well but it isn’t until you get a high quality electric tiller that can change your mind. Being a cordless tiller, there is no cords, no maintenance mess and you are free to till where ever you want.
There isn’t much to this. What you are really paying for is the battery. The engine has enough power and the tines are strong and the handle is metal but the rest of it is plastic.
- Interchangeable batteries between the 60v Powerworks range
- Foldable handles for excellent storage
- 4” steel tines with a 8” tilling width
- 5” tilling depth
- 80b brushless motor with electric instant start
Mantis 7250-00-03 Electric Tiller
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The mantis 7250 tiller is an instant start tiller, packed with a 3 speed, powerful 540W motor and has no emissions what so ever being electric. When using this tiller, you don’t need to worry about disrupting your neighbours.
At just 21 pounds, the 9-inch width allows the user to get into those hard to reach spaces around your yard that other tillers might not be able to reach. The curved tines are designed to break up clumps that in turn, create fluffy soil.
This tiller can dig 10” in depth and with an adjustable tine area, you can adjust them accordingly. By turning the tines around to shallow the top layer of soil, or even just to power weed your garden.
This tiller is equipped with comfortable grips offering fatigue free use. IT sports 3 pre-sets, enabling this tiller to operate without any issues. The Mantis 7250 Tiller features convenient fold down handles for easy transport and storage.
- 115v double insulated 540W circuit breaker
- Collapsible for easy storage and use
- 21 pounds in weight
- Instant start motor
- 540w motor
AAVIX AGT307 Electric Tiller/Cultivator
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The AAVID AGT307 is a very well-designed cultivator/tiller and has a bunch of great features when the handle is released. The tiller is very effective when it comes to loosening hard soil and clay, and without any difficulties. The powerful motor rips through debris.
The efficient tines spin fast and effectively allowing the blades to bust through even the toughest garden areas without buckling or getting stuck. It’s a great tiller to look at and holds its space well in the market. The strong design of the AGT307 is aimed at being a powerhouse in the tilling area.
The handle is very comfortable and offers less vibration than other cultivators. The wheels are adjustable, meaning you can raise or lower them when figuring out what your garden needs. In a normal garden where there aren’t any stones or clay, it has no issue tilling these areas.
The tiller will cut through these areas with ease. According to the supplier, pulling the tiller backwards is the easiest and quickest way to get through solid clay. IF you force it you may run the risk of permanent damage to your tiller so be careful.
If you are swapping from a gasoline powered tiller, this is a great option and one not to be overlooked. IT might not be used for the heaviest tilling jobs however its very easy to use and is great for older people. When working with this tiller, you need to make sure that once you’ve finished tilling, the blades aren’t still rotating. We have read that there are issues when powered down, the tines will spin on their own for a short while. Overall, for the price and ease of use, this tiller is wonderful.
- 7” tilling depth
- 120v 10amp motor
- 13”
- 6” head width
Earthwise TC70016 16-Inch Corded Electric Tiller/Cultivator
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The Earthwise TC70016 corded tiller is an excellent electric tiller, sporting a cutting width of 11-16” with a depth of 8”. This tiller will enable precision when planting and this tiller is an excellent tool when it comes to getting your garden up to scratch. You can use this tiller without any worries of it not being able to do the job, enabling you to bring life and healthy growth to your lawn or soil. There is a great instant start feature, like most electric tillers, however, it starts like a breeze when you push the button.
Earthwise is an American lawn mowing leader in the industry since 1895. They have a ton of tools that enable any gardener ease of work and great quality tools. Earthwise offers a great line of products, and being electric, this tiller cuts out any mess and hassle of gas-powered tools.
This tiller sports an ergonomic handle that folds down for ease of storage and has a safety hook on the handle so that the cord is out of the way. With the adjustable steel tines, the rototiller aides in tilling harder areas and weeding in mid-sized garden areas. The 13amp motor brings in a lot of power and will aerate the lawn very well. When you till with the TC70016 your soil will get the much-needed oxygen and water that every lawn needs.
The Earthwise tiller offers most features with a great price and if you are looking for a tiller within a budget then check this one out. It’s not perfect but it’s a real workhorse that surpasses any performance of any electric tiller. The tines also rotate very fast which busts through tough debris and soil. If you find that your tiller is bucked, or jammed make sure you turn it off and unplug it before trying to clear. If you need to replace an older tiller or want to try an electric one over a gas tiller, have a look at the Earthwise range.
- Very lightweight
- Easy to use
- Comfortable and ergonomic handle
- 5 amps
- 6 adjustable tines
Greenworks Pro 10-Inch 80V Tiller
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The Greenworks Pro 80v 10” tiller features a powerful brushless motor, offering a 10” tilling width, 5” tilling depth and four forward rotating tines. The bumper guard enables cushioning over mould while tearing through dirt and loose material. The Pro 10” tiller offers great soil management and the ideal condition of the dirt when tilling should be roughly 60F. The soil shouldn’t be too wet, as this might pose problems to this tiller. The Greenworks Pro 10” is only compatible with 80v batteries. The 60v battery will not fit/operate this tool. If you have a 60v battery you can use it with the TL60L2510 cultivator. Being an electric tiller there are no cords, its very lightweight, no maintenance issues, it has great power and lasts a long time when in use.
It’s a powerful battery-operated tiller and compared to a gas one, you might not see the difference. It rips through the soil, digging unwanted rocks without any restraint. It will take care of a large area in a minimal amount of time and with its quiet operation, you might not even notice it running. If you are looking for a tiller that will pretty much operate on its own, of course you have to push it, then this is a great option. It has a 40-minute run time with a rapid charge battery, letting you get a lot of juice out of 30-minute charge time.
This is a very lightweight tiller and makes fantastic work of small flower beds and raised garden areas. It is very lightweight, enabling the owner to lift it into smaller garden beds and with its adjustable height, its perfect for any area that needs tilling. Because it’s such a lightweight tiller it does bounce around in harder soil, however, if you keep a firm grip, nothing will stop you.
- Brushless high torque motor
- Super quiet operation
- 8-10-inch tilling width
- 40 minutes run time with their rapid 30-minute charge
- 4-year tool + 2-year battery warranty
Sun Joe TJ604E Electric Garden Tiller/Cultivator
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Sun Joe are experts in offering powerful machinery with price in mind, backed with excellent customer support and warranties.
The TJ604E sports a powerful 13.5-amp motor that will rip through any tough soil and enable excellent tilling opportunities. The steel tines can get into an 8” depth which lets the gardener mix loose soil while also breaking up harder dirt pieces. The TJ604E has excellent foldable handles which enables the owner to store it in pretty much any sized shed.
It offers 3 adjustable wheel positions so you can get wider and deeper into that soil. The T604E is an excellent entry-level tiller and will help anyone with relatively smaller jobs around the garden. If you’re looking at a cost-effective and efficient tiller, then this might be the option for you.
Because this is an electric tiller, there are no more messy chemicals and gas smells and is very easy to maintain. It starts reliably every time and is instant ins tarting as its electric. This truly is a great tiller and operates with a cleaner, greener image in mind as there are no emissions from an electric tiller.
It takes around 20 minutes to assemble and folds away in very small spaces. The tiller is smaller; however, it is a beast and doesn’t jump around in the soil, offering stability and efficiency. If you are just starting out with tilling, or are slightly older this tiller will dig up a storm for any enthusiast.
- 5 AMP motor
- 16” wide and 8” deep
- 6 steel angled tines
- Handle folds down for easy storage
- Sun Joe offers an extensive warranty
Related: Best Front Tine Tillers
What’s the difference between cultivating and tilling?
According to Mantis, tilling is actually a form of deep cultivation that is necessary when preparing a new garden bed or when adding large amounts of organic material. Tilling will cultivate the soil 8-10 inches deep, perhaps even more if you are creating a new garden bed in an area where the soil is very poor.
Should I wet the ground before tilling?
If you wet the ground before tilling, this may make the tiller unable to reach deeper into the soil as poor soil compaction can occur. If it has just rained, make sure to wait until your soil is relatively dry before beginning tilling.
Can you plant immediately after tilling?
When you have tilled your lawn, we recommend waiting to start any planting operations as tilling exposes those hard to reach weeds and other unwanted plants. This brings them to the surface and exposes their roots to the elements, hopefully killing any weeds and making your garden look exceptional. Generally, gardeners wait for a few weeks before beginning any work on a recently toiled patch of land.
Electric Tiller Buying Guide
When looking for the best tiller for breaking new ground, you need to make sure you get one that can make easy work of hard soil. Sometimes when people purchase tillers, they incorrectly get lower quality tillers or tillers that can’t handle hard dirt which is frustrating, to say the least.
Before purchasing a tiller, we recommend you read as many guides as possible and figure out what your needs are so that you can narrow your options down.
For example, a different type of garden might need a smaller tiller for those hard to reach areas, or a bigger garden might need a tiller that can handle bigger areas. If you’re wanting to break ground with your tiller, which everyone aims to do, it will need to be a relatively powerful one as well.
If you don’t till often, you might look at getting a cheaper, lightweight alternative for the interim, saving you money and time. Since tilling doesn’t happen often, and generally, you only need to break your ground once during seasonal planting, you can simply rent a tiller if purchasing isn’t what you’re looking for.
What type of soil you have?
We advise making sure you know what soil you will be working on before you use the tiller to tear through the ground. One of the factors you should consider is whether or not your ground is super hard, or relatively soft in order to pick the correct tiller. If the soil has clay and rocks throughout, it may be harder to use a cheaper tiller when breaking through, because it isn’t designed this way. If you have thicker weeds and other such debris, a lighter weight option might be the best way to go.
When thinking about the soil, make sure you have a solid understanding of what type of garden you have as it will make purchasing or renting a tiller much easier.
If you are a professional gardener and are looking for a tiller for commercial use, you will notice that the price will be higher due to heavier machinery. Things like gas tillers and cultivators that are equipped to the back of tractors are for those large-scale jobs that landscapers and farmers crack through. Getting an electric tiller like this one will help people break their ground in and remove any weeds and aerate the soil. The ones recommended here can be used commercially, however for the smaller jobs around the suburbs and at people’s houses for instance.
Size and Ease of Use
When picking a tiller, make sure you know what size ground you will be covering as this is an essential step when identifying a tiller for your needs. If you get one that’s too large for instance, you may not be able to get it into those hard to reach areas which will leave your lawn with untilled areas. Bigger tillers are obviously more powerful and are equipped with more tines, so it makes easy work of large jobs. If you are an older person, looking for a more lightweight option, any of the tillers mentioned in this article will suit your needs.
Most of the tillers here are great for doing soil jobs around the garden, turning old patches of soil into revitalized turf. They also fold away for easy storage and most come with adjustable handles, and foldable handles as well. When thinking about purchasing a tiller make sure you have the space necessary to store this tool as it might live in your shed for a while.
Make sure you pick a good-sized tiller that you think you can handle while also tackling any of those gardening jobs. Ones that are easier to move around are more suitable for those smaller home jobs and will get into those hard to reach areas like corners of your gardens and flowerbeds without causing damage.
FAQs
Can a tiller be used to break ground?
Yes, you can use a tiller to break new ground. Both push and tow behind tillers are equally effective but push tillers are great when you are dealing with a small garden.
Will an electric tiller break new ground?
Yes, an electric tiller is very effective at breaking new ground. The tillers’ sharp and powerful tines can easily break new ground.
Do you push or pull a tiller?
It depends on the tiller you have. There are are push tillers and tow behind tiller. With a push tiller, you push the tiller as you walk behind it on foot. With a tow-behind tiller, you pull it using a lawn tractor or ATV.
Parting Shot
Tillers are one of the best inventions for breaking new ground. They make it easy to weed and add nutrients to your garden without breaking your back. They are a great way to get the garden ready for your spring crop.
Since there is such a big selection on the market today, it can be hard to find the best electric tiller for breaking new ground, especially if you are not an experienced gardener and that’s why I wrote the above guide.
