A rotary tiller, or tiller for short, is a lawn and garden machine that is often used to cultivate soil. Like the word car, tiller describes a machine that is available in many makes and models. A tiller is normally composed of an engine, an axle containing wheels, a set of tines, handlebars, and mechanisms for mobility and turning. When tillers are powered by fuel, a fuel tank is also considered a standard part. Tiller attachments are tools that can be added to the machine to perform certain tasks that normally the machine could not perform or that it would have difficulty performing.
The versatility of a tiller is often judged by what it has the potential to do. The decision to rent or buy a certain tiller may be affected by the types of work that it can get done. Tiller attachments that are available tend to vary according to the make and model of the machine.
A garden border, also known as an edger, is a tiller attachment that is added to create neat borders. People use edgers to create borders around more than just their gardens. A garden border can also be used to neaten the edges along a walkway, around flower beds, or around steps.
The lawn aerator is a tiller attachment that allows water, air, and other nutrients to penetrate the soil. It also used sometimes to work compost into the soil. In some areas, aerators rank among the top selling tiller attachments.
Tillers are usually sold or rented with a pair of tines. Digging tiller tines are attached for use in tough jobs such as cutting through sod or compacted soil. These tines are normally much sharper than those that are standard tiller attachments for the machine.
The dethatcher is a tiller attachment that removes dead matter from a work area. It has an appearance similar to a rake, and scrapes over or through the work area. Dethatchers are believed to help promote growth by removing matter that would normally interfere with proper growth.
Weed reducers help eliminate stringy weeds and vines that sometimes wrap around the tines. Weed reducers normally attach to the tine shaft. They do not always completely prevent weeds and vines from getting caught onto the tiller, but having this tiller attachment does tend to make removing any weeds much easier.
For lawn and garden workers who are inclined to take breaks, a kick stand may be a tiller attachment worth investing in. Kick stands usually are fairly easy to attach and fairly simple to use. Most kick stands attach to the base of the tiller. Then, when a person is ready to work, she can flip it up. When it is break time, she can simply flip it down and rest.