Mantis tiller - opinions please.
 

I have seen an advert for the above item and wonder if anyone knows of it
and could give an opinion.

I want to convert some of my back garden (lawn) to a vegetable plot. Most of
the plot is quite stony.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

Roy

Janet Baraclough wrote in message
...
The message
from "Roy Forster" contains these
words:

I have seen an advert for the above item and wonder if anyone knows of
it
and could give an opinion.

I want to convert some of my back garden (lawn) to a vegetable plot.
Most of
the plot is quite stony.

They're stock-in-trade at most hire shops. Why not to hire one for a day
and see how you get on?
That gives you a chance to assess what size of machine you can handle.

Janet

Very sensible advice! I've never used one, simply because a neighbour
already had - and wasn't impressed. As I remember, stony ground was a big
part of the problem. Another often-reported problem with tillers is that
they don't just break up the ground - they break up the weeds as well and
spread them all over your garden. Approach with caution.

Spider

"Roy Forster" wrote in message
...
I have seen an advert for the above item and wonder if anyone knows of it
and could give an opinion.

I want to convert some of my back garden (lawn) to a vegetable plot. Most
of
the plot is quite stony.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

Roy

I was given one by my mother who became to infirm to do any gardening.
It has the advantage that it is very light and the engine seems (so far)
reliable. However, it is so light it tends to scoot over the surface a bit,
and would struggle breaking hard compacted soil , stony soil or lawn, I
would guess. As a stirrer up of a fairly fine well aerated piece of soil it
is OK.
Like lots of garden machinery though, it hardly ever gets used. If you are
planning just a 1 off job, I'd hire something.

I have one and the Hedge Trimmer attachment.

It is excellent for producing a fine tilth in previously dug soil to
good depth and even better for mixing in Compost and Grit etc..

Typical I would take off the Turf stack it to produce Loam and turn the
top two spits over roughly with a spade then use it to break the spits up

It will not unless you wait ages despite the adverts claims dig into
hard packed soil it is to light and just jumps about
Also stones will jam the tines but that happens with every type of
machine, except grown up ones like I also have!

I have an acre of Garden and use it everywhere as it is great as a
powered Hoe for working the soil between plants and obviously if the
soil is reasonably loose can create good sized planting holes and dig in
composts as well

Her indoors uses it all the time on the veg plot its great for ridging spuds

I also have a Camon C8 (250cc 120KG) rear tined Rotavator which is
typical of what you can hire, I bought it on Ebay and I hope to get what
I paid for it back when it is time to sell it, which is my idea of a
bargain! I use this to break virgin ground first.

I would not dare use it like the Mantis between existing plants or at
least those I want to keep.
:-)

Roy Forster wrote:
I have seen an advert for the above item and wonder if anyone knows of it
and could give an opinion.

I want to convert some of my back garden (lawn) to a vegetable plot. Most of
the plot is quite stony.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

Roy