The difference between tilling and cultivating comes down to how deeply you work the soil and when you do it. Tilling is used to prepare the ground before planting by breaking up compacted soil and mixing in compost or fertilizer, while cultivating happens later to aerate the surface, conserve moisture, and remove weeds. Understanding both steps is essential for healthier plants and better yields because each supports a different stage of the growing cycle. In this article, you’ll learn exactly how tilling and cultivating work, when to do them, and how modern tillers make switching between these functions quick and efficient.
So what’s the difference? What is tilling and what is cultivating?
Tilling:
Tilling is essentially the act of preparing your soil for gardening. When the tines are in the tilling position, they will turn and break up the soil up to slightly under a foot’s depth. They will also mix in any added soil components such as compost.
Tilling should obviously be done at the beginning of gardening season, as soon as the ground is soft enough to till. It should also be done at the end of gardening season, in order to prepare the soil for next year. This should involve mixing in a fertilizer and more compost and covering the soil with mulch to prevent runoff from rain. Doing these extra steps will go a long way toward having a great garden next year.
Cultivating:
Cultivating, unlike tilling, only breaks the surface crust of the soil. This works to aerate the soil, making it easier for air, water and nutrients to get to the roots of the plants. This means less frequent water is necessary because the plants have better access to what they need. Cultivating also works to remove weeds from your garden and interrupts weed seed germination. This eliminates any competition for water and nutrients your plants may have had and it makes your garden look better!
Many of the smaller tillers on the market today can easily switch from a tilling position to a cultivating position. Both tilling and cultivating are vital to your garden’s growth, so it is a good idea to take time to understand how your tiller works.
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