mudcow007 wrote:

i have started work on my front garden, i know its getting late int he
year but i have only really just finished the rear.

being in the north west (uk) my soil is clay, an has a number of stones
mixed in.

the soil is not on any type of level, so i need to break up the soil in
order to level it out

i was thinking of hiring a rotavator (hire is £40 per weekend), is this
recommended?

or do i just really need to get my spade out an dig it all over?

That fully depends on the size of the area, your physical capability,
and your energy level... if more than you can turn over with a spade
in a weekend I'd _buy_ a rotovator... you'll likely need to use it at
least once every year, probably a few times. Renting such equipment I
think is too costly for a one time use unless you can share it with a
neighbor... in the long run it's much less costly to own, and you can
always rent out your rotovating services, folks pay good money to have
their vegetable gardens tilled, especially older folks who are unable
to operate that machine. Many of my older neighbors own a rotovator
but can no longer operate it safely so they hire a beefy teen and pay
a minimum of $50 for the first hour plus $20 per additional hour...
since they had experience doing it themselves they know how long it
should take. Also, once virgin ground has been tilled all one needs
is a Mantis tiller, I love my wonderful little Mantis, even a twelve
year old can handle it. I also own a 7 HP Simplicity tiller, don't
let those telly ads with granny operating it with one hand fool you,
you need to be in pro wrestler shape to drive that beast or it will
drive you into the ground.