7 Tillers For Herb Gardens That Old Gardeners Swear By
For perfect herb garden soil, veteran gardeners choose specific tillers. Explore 7 compact, reliable models they swear by for easy soil preparation.
Turning over a new herb bed by hand looks simple enough, until your back reminds you about that patch of clay hiding under the grass. The right tiller can turn an afternoon of back-breaking labor into a quick, satisfying job. Choosing the correct machine means healthier soil, stronger herbs, and more time enjoying the garden instead of just working in it.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!
Mantis 7940: The Compact Powerhouse for Herbs
The Mantis has been a staple in garden sheds for decades for one simple reason: it works. This isn’t a big, clumsy machine; it’s a lightweight tiller that punches way above its weight class. Its compact size and unique, serpentine tines allow it to dig deep into soil without the bouncing and lurching you get from larger machines.
Its real magic is in its versatility. You can flip the tines around to switch from tilling to cultivating, which is perfect for weeding between established rows of rosemary or lavender without disturbing their roots. It’s narrow enough to get into tight spaces and raised beds where bigger tillers just won’t fit. This makes it an ideal tool for maintaining existing beds, not just creating new ones.
The classic Mantis runs on a 2-cycle engine, which means you have to mix gas and oil. This is a minor inconvenience for some, but a dealbreaker for others who prefer the simplicity of a 4-stroke or electric model. Still, for raw power in a tiny, 20-pound package, it’s very hard to beat.
Sun Joe TJ604E: Reliable Electric Cultivating
For gardeners with small plots near the house, an electric tiller is often the smartest choice. The Sun Joe TJ604E delivers surprising power from its 13.5-amp motor, easily turning over soil in established beds or breaking up moderately compacted dirt. There’s no gas, no fumes, and no pull-starting—just plug it in and go.
The obvious tradeoff is the cord. You’re always managing it, making sure you don’t run over it or get it tangled in your perennials. Its range is limited by the length of your extension cord, making it impractical for remote garden plots. But for a dedicated kitchen herb garden just off the patio, this is a non-issue.
Think of this machine as the perfect tool for annual bed prep. It’s powerful enough to incorporate a few bags of compost into your parsley patch or loosen the soil for new basil starts. It’s quiet, low-maintenance, and stores easily, making it a reliable workhorse for its specific job.
Honda FG110: Four-Stroke Engine Dependability
When you see the Honda name on an engine, you know it’s going to start. The FG110 mini-tiller is the definition of dependability, built around a quiet, efficient 4-stroke engine. That means no mixing oil and gas, fewer emissions, and a machine that purrs to life on the first or second pull, even after sitting all winter.
This tiller offers a fantastic balance of power, weight, and control. It’s heavier than a Mantis, which helps the tines dig in and stay put, but it’s still light enough for most people to handle with ease. It’s designed to till and cultivate, making it a versatile tool for preparing a new bed for thyme and oregano or just aerating the soil around your chives.
The premium quality comes with a premium price tag. You’ll pay more for a Honda than for many other mini-tillers. What you’re buying, however, is peace of mind and a tool that will likely outlast many of the plants you grow with it. It’s an investment in less frustration and more time gardening.
Earthwise TC70001: A Lightweight Corded Option
Not every tilling job requires breaking new, sod-covered ground. For simply amending the soil in a well-maintained raised bed, the Earthwise TC70001 is an excellent, lightweight choice. At under 10 pounds, it’s incredibly easy to lift and maneuver, making it perfect for gardeners who want to avoid wrestling with heavy equipment.
This is a cultivator, not a sod-buster. Its job is to mix, aerate, and weed soil that is already loose. Use it to work in fertilizer or compost before planting delicate cilantro or dill seeds. Its gentle action won’t pulverize soil structure, which is crucial for healthy root development.
Like any corded tool, it has its limitations. But for its intended purpose—light-duty work in small, established herb gardens—it’s a fantastic, affordable option. It’s the right tool for someone who values ease of use and simple maintenance above raw power.
Troy-Bilt TB154E: Easy Handling for Small Beds
The Troy-Bilt TB154E sits in a sweet spot between a lightweight cultivator and a more powerful mini-tiller. It’s designed for the common backyard garden, with enough power from its 2-cycle engine to handle moderately compacted soil but a small enough footprint to be manageable. It’s a great all-around choice for someone with a few raised beds and a small in-ground herb plot.
This machine is often praised for its balance. The engine placement and handle design make it relatively easy to control, allowing you to guide it precisely along the edges of a bed. It’s a solid choice for turning over a bed at the beginning of the season to get it ready for planting mint or sage.
While it’s a capable machine, it doesn’t excel in any single area. It’s not as light as an electric cultivator or as powerful as a pro-grade model. But for the hobby farmer who needs one tool to do a few different jobs reasonably well, it offers a compelling blend of performance and value.
Schiller Little Wonder: Pro-Grade Soil Prep
If your "herb garden" is more of an "herb patch" that measures hundreds of square feet, you need a more serious tool. The Schiller Little Wonder cultivator is a commercial-grade machine built for durability and continuous use. This is what you get when you need to prepare soil for planting hundreds of lavender starts, not just a few.
Everything about the Little Wonder is heavy-duty, from the solid steel tines to the robust transmission and powerful engine. It chews through tough soil and sod with an authority that consumer-grade models can’t match. It’s overkill for a 4×8 raised bed, but it’s the right tool for someone establishing a small-scale herb business or managing a large community garden plot.
This level of quality demands a significant investment. It’s the most expensive option on this list by a wide margin. This isn’t a casual purchase; it’s a piece of equipment for the serious hobby farmer who understands the value of a tool that will perform under pressure, year after year.
Fiskars Long-Handle Tiller: The Manual Choice
Sometimes, the best tool has no engine at all. The Fiskars Long-Handle Tiller and similar manual rotary cultivators are brilliant for specific tasks. With a set of rotating, star-shaped wheels, you use a push-pull motion to aerate and cultivate the top few inches of soil. It’s silent, requires zero fuel or maintenance, and gives you a good workout.
This is the perfect tool for precision work. Use it to incorporate a top-dressing of compost around your delicate parsley without damaging the plants. It’s also fantastic for breaking up crusted soil after a heavy rain to improve water penetration. You have complete control, which is something no powered tiller can offer.
Let’s be clear: this is not for breaking new ground. Trying to tear up sod or dense clay with a manual tiller is a fool’s errand. It is a maintenance tool for soil that is already in good shape. For those who enjoy the quiet connection of working the land by hand, it’s an indispensable part of the toolkit.
Choosing Your Tiller: Power, Weight, and Tines
The best tiller isn’t the most powerful one—it’s the one that matches your garden’s needs and your physical ability. Rushing out to buy a heavy-duty machine for a small raised bed is a waste of money and garage space. Conversely, trying to break new ground with a lightweight cultivator will only lead to frustration.
Before you buy, consider these three factors:
- Power Source: Gas engines (both 2-stroke and 4-stroke) offer the most power and complete freedom from cords. Electric models are quieter, lighter, and require less maintenance but tether you to an outlet. Manual is silent and simple but demands physical effort.
- Weight and Handling: A heavier machine uses its weight to help the tines dig in, reducing operator fatigue. However, a lighter machine is far easier to maneuver in tight spaces, lift into raised beds, and store.
- Tine Configuration: Bolo tines, which are curved and L-shaped, are best for breaking up compacted soil. Slasher or cultivating tines are better for weeding and aerating existing beds. Some models, like the Mantis, offer both.
Ultimately, your decision should be driven by your soil. If you’re working with loose, loamy soil in established beds, a lightweight electric or manual cultivator is all you need. If you’re breaking through compacted clay or thick sod to create a new garden, you’ll need the torque and weight of a gas-powered mini-tiller. Match the tool to the task, and your back will thank you.
A tiller is a tool for preparing the ground, but the right one does more than that—it saves you time, prevents injury, and helps create the perfect soil structure for your herbs to thrive. By understanding the tradeoffs between power, weight, and convenience, you can choose a machine that will serve you well for many seasons to come.
