The Mantis Tiller is the most popular and most recommended garden tiller brand. They provide a number of variations of the Mantis Tiller to suit specific gardening needs and situations. No matter what Mantis Tiller you buy, you get the same warranty (Every Mantis Tiller also offers a 5-Year Consumer Warranty and the Mantis Tiller tines are guaranteed for LIFE against breakage) and the same quality that has made the Mantis Tiller the most popular for home gardeners. With a Mantis Tiller you can also try your new tiller for a year, risk-free.
The Mantis Tiller
Every Mantis Tiller features a 10″ Tilling Depth. Beyond that, the biggest differences between models is the tilling width, and the type of engine under the hood. We’ve been very impressed with the 2-cycle Mantis Tiller, but some people prefer the 4-cycle because it has a Honda engine under the hood and doesn’t require oil/gas mixing. For bigger projects the XP Mantis Tiller is the obvious winner. Here is a quick break down of the differences between Each Mantis Tiller:
The Mantis® 9″ 2-Cycle Tiller and the Deluxe 9″ 2-Cycle Tiller are probably the biggest sellers and most recommended of The Mantis Tiller family. There is a five pound difference between the two (the Deluxe being the heavier) but both are lightweight at 20 pounds and 25 pounds respectively. This light weight makes them the easiest to handle of the Mantis Tiller line, allowing for ease of storage and use that set a new standard with garden tillers. Both have a 9″ width depth, a variable speed throttle and use a gas/oil mixture. The Deluxe Mantis Tiller features a flush-mounted throttle, height-adjustable handles, and a front bumper handle.
Mantis® 9″ 4-Cycle Tiller and Deluxe 4-Cycle Tiller are very similar to the 2-strock, the obvious difference being the benefits of 4-stroke engines (some say they are more durable) and the fact that the 4-Cycle tiller features a Honda motor under the hood. While the Mantis Tiller 4-Cycle is slightly quieter than the 2-Cycle and doesn’t require mixing gas and oil, it does weigh more than the regular 2-Cycle Mantis Tiller (but not more than the 2-cycle Deluxe). The 4-Cycle Mantis Tiller weighs in at 24 pounds (regular) and 26 pounds (deluxe) respectively. Just like the 2-Cycle, Mantis Tiller 4-Cycle “Deluxe” includes the addition of the same additional ergonomic comfort grips, flush-mounted throttle, height-adjustable handles and front bumper handle.
The Mantis® XP 16″ 4-Cycle Tiller is the big boy of the Mantis Tiller family. At 34 pounds, it is the heaviest Mantis Tiller, but still much much lighter than comparable full size garden tillers available. The Mantis Tiller XP also runs a Honda engine under the hood (in this case a Honda GX35 commercial grade engine), and does not require gas/oil mixing (similar to the 4-cycle). This full size tiller increases your tilling width from 9 inches up to a tilling width of 16 inches. This width makes this the perfect tiller for bigger gardens and overkill for small plots or raised beds. The Mantis Tiller XP is the most ergonomic full size tiller we have ever tested.
Mantis Tiller Assurance
Choosing to buy a Mantis Tiller is easy, but picking one can be tough because they offer a few variations, all of which are well reviewed. Whichever Mantis Tiller you buy, you can try it for a year, risk-free. Every Mantis Tiller also offers a 5-Year Consumer Warranty and the Mantis Tiller tines are guaranteed for LIFE against breakage.
March is a great time to to start all your seedlings. Today we are discussing the basics to starting seedlings from scratch. While growing your own plants from seed is not an easy process, it is relatively inexpensive and if all else fails, you will still have time to purchase plants at your local nursery. Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t go exactly as planned. To optimize your chances, be sure to use fresh seeds. Since we are discussing starting seedlings in March, there is plenty of time to prepare.
Preparing your seedling nursery
First, begin your nursery for starting seedlings by having a fine soil compost prepared. Use your own (be sure to turn the compost with a rototiller first) or use any of the many readily available mixtures you can purchase at you local lawn and garden supply store. Second, procure individual containers or partitioned trays to keep the roots from binding together. Roots that have grown together can often seriously harm plants when you separate them at planting time. Using paper egg cartons are effective and inexpensive. The paper material in these egg cartons not only separates your young plants roots, it also allows excess water to drain or evaporate more quickly to prevent accidental drowning of your plants. Be sure to place a small nail hole in the bottom of each section to ensure drainage of excess water. Third, choose the right location to sprout your seedlings. This step is important and you should look for an area with the warm abundant sunlight that seedlings will need to sprout. Once you have the (1) Soil Mixture, (2) Containers, and (3) Location you can begin. Fill your trays with the soil mixture (do not pack tightly), allowing space to add a half inch or so of soil on top of the seeds after dropping. Once the soil is in the containers, its time to drop the seed. It can be a good idea to put 2 seeds in each compartment to compensate for seed that are faulty and may not sprout (If both seed sprout, in a few days clip the weaker of the two). Once the seed have been dropped, its time to cover them lightly with more soil to a depth not over 1/2 inch, and watered. Planting them too deeply will act as insulation and they won’t get the warmth they require. If you are sprouting more than one type of plant, don’t forget to mark you trays!
Seedling Care
Seedlings should be checked daily for dryness and watered when needed. Misting lightly works best to prevent unearthing your seeds or breaking the young seedlings with a heavy stream of water. Once the trays are prepared, provide daily watering. For colder than normal weather, try securing a sheet of clear plastic directly over the trays. This causes a greenhouse effect and moisture will condensate on the plastic sheet. The soil will warm more quickly for the seeds that haven’t sprouted yet. For wetter than normal conditions, create a structure under the plastic to create a tent that will shed water away and not press the plastic down in the trays as it fills with water.
Have space available to move your trays indoors in case of frost or freeze. Temperatures 3.5 degrees Celsius or above are acceptable, but any lower there is a chance of damage or death to young sprouts. While these temperatures are acceptable, if it is cold or damp for a longer period than normal, seeds could potentially rot in the ground. For this reason sunlight is the most important factor. Barring abnormal conditions, most seeds will sprout in this method within 7 to 10 days depending on the depth of the seed. After 14 days with still no seedlings showing, it may be time to replant and evaluate what you did wrong the first time and make any corrections that may be needed.
Garden Tilling and Soil Cultivation is essential to growing a lush healthy garden. Careful consideration of location, soil mixture and layout can make or break a garden and determine how easy it is to maintain. You will know its time to begin Soil Cultivation when you see the budding of trees and sprouting of weeds and grasses signaling the onset of spring. Starting soil cultivation at this time eliminates many of the emerging weeds and grasses and makes weeding much easier in the future. Soil Cultivation Aerates the soil and mixes the nutrients are beneficial to your soon to be planted seedlings. With Soil Cultivation moisture is a key factor. Light rains are not much problem for cultivation, but with heavier or prolonged rains the soil will need time to dry. Warmth and wind will dry the soil to the proper garden soil cultivating consistency. If the soil is too damp it has a tendency to stick together in clumps, and it will be difficult if not impossible to achieve the desired effect. Its important that the soil is reduced to a granular and even consistency. Should you find the soil is clumping, wait another day or two and allow more drying time before soil cultivation.
Using a garden tiller for soil cultivation
For best soil cultivation, we recommend that you use a motorized garden tiller such as the Mantis Garden Tiller. Using a garden tiller to cultivate your soil will pay for itself by reducing the time and labor costs and improving your gardens health. Whatever tiller you choose, you will have a variable speed setting on the throttle to allow you to till as fast or as slow as you would like. It is important to get to know how to use this throttle to your advantage. Remember to let the Tiller do the work. You will find that the slower you till your garden, the more efficient your time will be spent. Fast speeds have a tendency to bounce the Garden Tiller / cultivator out of the soil making it more difficult to keep the garden tiller under control. Using a garden tiller can be difficult the first time you try it, but you will quickly realize the improvement it makes to the soil and your garden tiller will fast become one of the most important garden tools that you own.
When creating a garden for the first time, the soil underneath the grass may be poor, so tilling in a nice mixture of mulch, compost and topsoil will be beneficial. Add materials and nutrients prior to tilling. Good nutrient rich additions include composted manure, pine bark, or other high quality compost. Before using your garden tiller, spread your mixture over the area in a 2-3 inch layer. Once spread, use your garden tiller to till the mixture into your new garden bed, or an existing one. Till in the material until there are no distinct layers left.
A raised bed system is an alternative option. For a raised bed having a small lightweight Mantis Tiller is best. Since the Mantis Tiller only weighs 20 pounds this Garden Tiller will allow you to easily adapt to raised beds and many of the characteristics of the compact and urban gardens.
Your garden tiller is a powerful tool for Soil Cultivation, but you must use it wisely. If living in the mountains, the direction you cultivate can help prevent erosion. Rows of loosened soil placed running up and down a hill will wash away rich topsoil when heavy rains fall, exposing the roots of your plants. If your garden is positioned on a slope, its important to run your garden tiller along the slope, stepping up or down the slope with each pass. Our recommendation the Mantis Tiller, weighs only 20 lbs and is most the most effective tiller for hills or elevated garden beds. Proper soil cultivation and garden tilling will hold the soil and water will greatly improve the health of your plants. As I have mentioned, I highly recommend the Mantis Garden Tiller because it is lighter and easier to use than traditional garden tillers, and in many cases more effective.
The Mantis Garden Tiller / soil cultivator
For a serious gardener, the Garden Tiller is one of the most important tools to own. Renting garden tillers is never recommended. For the same price as a few rentals, you can purchase your own tiller that will last you for years. I strongly suggest you consider the Mantis Garden Tiller. The Mantis Tiller is one of the best investments in a garden tool that you can make. Quality garden tillers / cultivators, such as the Mantis Garden Tiller / Cultivator, have many attractive and modern features that increase the value of your investment. For instance, most soil should be tilled to a depth of 8 inches for your plants. The Mantis Garden tiller / cultivator can till up to a depth of 10″ which is just about perfect. Soil that is cultivated too shallowly does not allow your root systems to spread properly and reach deep moisture when conditions are hot and dry. Shallow soil cultivation will result in your plants suffering should the weather becomes too harsh and dry for them. The Mantis Tiller has adjustable tines that allows deeply cultivated soil can be achieved more easily. In this way, with the a Mantis Garden Tiller / Cultivator you can help protect your plants from seasonal changes and will requires less watering for those of you that plan to irrigate in the dryer months. The Mantis Tiller allows you to reverse the tines to till at a shallower depth of approximately 3 inches. This depth is perfect for a quick run that will keep your garden weed free while allowing the rain to soak in rather than run off. It is a good example of how owning a Mantis Garden Tiller pays you back.
Garden size will determine which size Garden Tiller you should be using. In the Case of Mantis Tillers, for smaller plots, the 3 speed Electric Mantis Tiller or the 2 Cycle Gas powered Mantis Tiller will work just fine, but for larger plots or harder soil, Consider the 4 Cycle model of Mantis Tiller. Again, there are other brands available on the market, such as Troy Bilt, but I have found through my own experience and the experiences of others that the Mantis Garden Tiller provides a powerful and adaptable solution that is also easy to maintain and store. Because of its size and weight, The Mantis Tiller is designed for the home gardener and should be perfect for the tasks you will confront. For example, I use my Mantis Garden tiller several times a year to keep the soil between my rows soft. I can use the Mantis Tiller for quick edgings. I can also use the Mantis Tiller to regularly turn my compost pile. If you’ve ever tried to turn your compost with a traditional garden tiller you know that most garden tillers are too heavy and literally get stuck in the the pile and are just near impossible to use. The Mantis Tiller climbs right up the compost pile, and it will turn a pile full of grass clippings, small branches, and all kinds of stuff. The Mantis Tiller turns fresh ground with similar ease. You’ll have no problem using the Mantis Tiller to easily break new ground when you’re ready to start your garden, or turning the soil in your existing garden. Since the Mantis Tiller / Cultivator is lightweight, its not a pain to get out, use quickly and put away. This type of ease of use would not be possible with a traditional garden tiller. The small size of the Mantis Tiller is also why it is the preferred tiller for compact urban gardens with tight spaces and storage constraints.
Soil cultivation can take time. Regular soil maintenance with a garden tiller will improve the health of you plants and your yield. Using a traditional garden tiller can be difficult and discouraging. Most jobs can be more easily accomplished with the modern lightweight Mantis Garden Tillers. Remember The first vegetable garden is the hardest and there will be challenges. Your garden is also your classroom. What you learn this year will make future gardens more productive and easier. By choosing the right garden tools, you reward yourself year after year with fruits of your investment. Remember that soon you will be enjoying the healthy benefits of freshly picked and prepared vegetables straight from your garden to your table, giving you a sense of pride and accomplishment for your hard work.
You’ve probably heard of Mantis Garden Tillers. Introduced over 30 years ago, Mantis garden tillers have long been a favorite of gardeners and have established themselves as the world’s best selling roto tillers. These tillers are designed with the home gardeners in mind are reknown for being lightweight, easy to use, easy to store and durable. Whether you have a small plot garden or an acre, the properly cultivating your soil is perhaps the most important step to creating a sucessful garden. Blending ergonimics with extreme functionality, the Mantis Garden Tillers should be in your arsenal of garden tools.
Mantis Garden Tillers
Mantis Tillers are well constructed and fully servicable. The tiller/cultivator’s durable one-piece cast gear box is designed to last. These tillers run durable Honda Engines under the hood. The Mantis Tiller / Cultivator is available in either a 2 cycle or 4 cycle gas powered version or as an electric Mantis Tiller with a 3-speed electric motor with the power to till any garden job. New for 2012, Mantis is debuting its newly designed Mantis Deluxe Tiller.
All Mantis Garden Tillers come with a 5 Year consumer warranty on entire tiller including engine. Mantis tillers also feature industry-leading warranties, and come with the support of a highly responsive customer service team. Mantis also offers free shipping, great news since most people order their Mantis Garden Tiller online these days. The Mantis 2 cycle garden tiller is $349 and their 4 cycle roto tiller is $449. Prices can vary based on current promotions, and we will keep this article updated to reflect the best current market price. Owning a tiller is one of the best moves you can make as a home gardener. A garden tiller is an investment that pays you back year after year in time and labor saved as well as better soil and a better garden. Both Mantis Garden Tiller models are very affordable and prove to be a great value. Over one million gardeners around the globe own a Mantis
#1 Mantis Tiller choice for the backyard / urban gardener:
We recommend the Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator (Assembled). This is also their most highly reviewed model. Easily the best gardening investment you can make.
Why buy a Mantis Garden Tiller?
The Mantis Garden Tiller / Cultivator can be used to crack open ground for new garden plots, cultivate plants between rows in existing gardens, create holes to plant new shrubs, edge lawns and gardens. While not designed to break up very hard or rocky soil, it can can cut through hardened sod and compact soil surfaces, de-thatch, aerate lawns, and cut out unwanted weeds. Keep in mind the Mantis Tiller is designed for the home gardener. While the Mantis Tiller Cultivator is perfect for small home garden tasks, it may not be the best option for larger jobs. That said, the home gardener will benefit from the convenience of being able to use the Mantis Tiller to till soil in raised beds or other small-space gardens, mix debris in piled up compost, and plow furrows to plant potatoes, onions, etc. Mantis rototillers come with their patented serpentine tines that help to bust trough tough soil. The Mantis Tiller can dig to a depth of 10 inches with these ‘serpentine’ tines for aeration and cultivation. These tines, spinning at 240 RPM, have the power to tear through the toughest soil, sod or clay. The tines can also be used in reverse orientation to shallow-cultivate depths of up to three inches allowing for easy year round soil maintenance. Mantis tines also come with a lifetime guarantee against breakage. The Mantis Tiller also utilizes push-button priming for easier starting and features Speed control and shutoff switch.
The width of the Mantis Garden Tiller is a compact 9 inches, allowing for easy weeding between rows and easy maneuverability in tight spots that you won’t get with other tillers. One of the best features for the home gardener is the fact that the mantis tillers weigh just 20 pounds. Its design is small and compact allowing it to fold-down for convenient storage. The Mantis Garden Tiller requires no fuel mixing. Cushioned shock-absorbing grips allow for comfortable operation. According to Consumer Design Digest, the Mantis Garden Tiller is preferred by people for its simplicity and efficient functioning. The Mantis Garden Tiller is clean running and environmentally friendly and made in the USA
The Mantis Garden Tiller comes with a range of attachment to extend its usability in the home garden setting. Common attachments for all tillers are the Planter/Furrower, Border Edger, Lawn Aerator, Lawn Dethatcher, Aerator/Dethatcher Combination, Crevice Cleaner, 24′ or 30′ Trimmer Bars, Wheel Set and Plow Attachment. The Mantis Garden Tiller could be the last tiller you will ever need to own.
After long last, the flowers and trees have started to bud and bloom. It will soon be time to plant vegetables. Planning a garden is important, because the planting can be overwhelming or even impossible if you try to do everything at once. Planning a garden can turn the task of “Growing a Vegetable Garden” into an enjoyable hobby instead of a relentless task.
Planning a garden: getting started
The techniques for planning a garden in a small box, a backyard garden, or a field, are the same when it comes to growing vegetables. The size only changes is the equipment you use and the volume you hope to produce. Our vegetable garden this year is planned with the novice gardener in mind, with a few helpful tips that the more experienced gardeners will grow to appreciate. This article concerns planning a garden of vegetables, and will be the first of our series.
Planning a garden in March proves to be the perfect time. The last frost has occurred, and the weather has started to warm, but soil is often still too cold for planting. Now we will decide what and where to plant our crops. If starting plants from seed (optional) we should now begin indoors or use a coldframe
When planning a garden, its important to know the difference between “Set” crops and “Row” crops. “Set” crops such as tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, peppers, watermelons etc., are usually placed in prepared “Hills” to allow proper spacing and care. “Row” crops, are seeds planted in prepared rows. Common “Row” crops are corn, beans, peas, beats, potatoes etc. This is essential to remember when planning your garden.
Be careful to plant the taller crops (like corn) on the north side prevent them from shadowing the shorter crops (like potatoes, beans and peas and so forth) to the south. Even sunlight is essential for your garden.
Planning a garden: Soil
When planning a garden plot in soil that has never been tended before, be mindful. Daily sunlight is very important when deciding where to place your garden plot. Most vegetable plants require a minimum of 8 hours of direct sunlight daily for proper development. Examine your potential plot before planting to ensure that sunlight is not blocked by surrounding trees. Small (15 meter) trees to the south may be permissible as morning shade can be beneficial to certain plants allowing more time for them to absorb the morning dew or the previous nights rain.
Consider the terrain and soil when planning a garden. A hillside grade too steep may cause erosion problems once the plot has been cleared and plowed. This plot would need careful terracing. The content of soil is also important, and there’s’ no telling what you might find once you begin to dig. Any roots, rocks, stumps or debris will need to be removed. If you find clay you will need to add larger biodegradable components such as pine bark, mulch, manure and leaves to add nutrients and prevent compacting during garden work. Hiring a tractor and turning plow or investing in a good tiller for the initial ground breaking will save countless hours of difficult work and is a recommended step that makes planning a garden easier.
It takes time and effort to plan a rich garden plot, but can be time and effort well spent, with the reward of a lifetime full of fresh vegetables and fruits that can be enjoyed by the entire family each and every year.