How to Plow Your Garden with a Cultivator?

If you have a garden and want to grow vegetables or create a beautiful lawn, you must first ensure that the soil is well prepared. For this, there is a practical and quick tool: the cultivator. Discover here how to plow your garden with a cultivator, what are the advantages of this method, and how to choose the model suited to your needs. 

A cultivator is an agricultural machine that allows you to work the soil in depth. It turns and aerates the soil to prepare it before planting or sowing. Plowing also aims to eliminate weeds, promote water drainage, and facilitate plant rooting. 

The choice of a cultivator depends on the surface and nature of the land you have to plow. 

First of all, adapt the power of your cultivator to the size of your garden. An electric or low-power thermal cultivator (less than 5 HP) is sufficient for a small garden of less than 500 m². But a medium-power thermal cultivator (between 5 and 10 HP) is more suitable for a medium-sized garden (between 500 and 2000 m²). Do you have a large garden of more than 2000 m²? Choose a high-power thermal cultivator, i.e., more than 10 HP. 

Another criterion: the nature of the soil, which requires choosing the appropriate blades according to the resistance of the terrain. A rear-blade cultivator allows you to work light and loose soil, which turns easily. But a front-blade cultivator is preferable for hard and compact soil, which requires more force. However, an offset-blade cultivator will be more suitable for stony or clayey soil. 

For speed, consider the desired effect of the cultivator on the soil. The slower the cultivator's advancement speed, the deeper and more regular the work. However, you can choose a cultivator with multiple speeds to adapt it according to the terrain and the desired result. 

A cultivator is equipment that requires following some safety rules and good practices: 

Before starting, check the condition of the cultivator. This involves checking the oil, gasoline, and lubrication levels, as well as the tension of the belt or chain, the tightening of bolts and nuts. Don't forget the proper functioning of the brakes and clutch. For more efficiency and fewer startup problems, choose suitable gasoline like ActiSTART, an alkylate gasoline that protects the engine and is more environmentally friendly. 

Choose the right setting for the cultivator, according to the desired depth and width of the plowing. 

Adjust the handlebar height to have a good grip and posture, with your back straight on the seat. 

Mark the outline of the land to be plowed using stakes and string, or by marking the ground with a stick. Make sure to clear obstacles, such as stones, roots, or plant debris. 

You can then start the cultivator and move it forward slowly, guiding it with both hands. Start at the edge of the land, following the marked line, then continue with parallel back-and-forth movements, slightly overlapping the previous passes. 

Maintain a constant speed and do not force the cultivator, which should move forward on its own. 

Then perform a second plowing, perpendicular to the first, to cross the furrows and refine the soil. Also, pass a harrow (the toothed instrument) if the cultivator is equipped with one. It helps to break up clods and level the soil. 

Afterward, clean the cultivator: remove the soil that has accumulated on the blades, housing, and wheels. Then store your cultivator in a dry and sheltered place. 

For well-prepared soil in a large garden, the cultivator is the most logical choice. However, pay attention to the choice of your equipment and the safety measures that are essential for well-done and risk-free work.