How to Rotavate your Garden

How to Rotavate Your Garden

 

What tools do I need to rotavate my garden?

• Rotavator
• Rake

 

What Safety and PPE equipment do I need?

• Eye protection
• Safety boots
• Gloves
• Ear protection

Before you use a rotavator it is really important that you wear the correct PPE. Eye protection, safety boots and gloves are essential, and we would also recommend using ear defenders.

Keep materials and sharp tools out of children’s and pets' reach and remember to always check the operators and safety guidance before using any hire equipment.

 

How to use a rotavator

Before you begin, it is vital to check the moisture levels of your soil and get an idea of the type of soil you will be working with. Soil which is really compacted, such as if it has been under a patio or outbuilding, will be harder to work with and you could just find the rotavator only scrapes away at the top few inches.

Likewise, clay soil can be harder to dig into. Ground which is too wet can just clump once rotavated when it dries, and it will stick to the blades of the machine. Sandy soil will be the easiest to work with and is unaffected by moisture levels, so you should be good to go once you’ve prepared your surface.

If you think your soil will be difficult to work with, water it three or four days before you hire your rotavator. Spring and autumn are the best times to rotavate, which avoids extreme weather conditions and allows for softer ground.

 

Preparing your garden

Before rotavating, you need to get rid of as much debris as possible. Any stones, twigs or rubble should be removed by hand and disposed of correctly. Rotavating may bring up further debris, so remove this as and when it is uncovered to avoid injury or kickbacks from your rotavator.

You should also remove all weeds. This will prevent them from spreading, rooting, and growing again once your soil is prepared, which would just create more work in the future. 

Be careful around any large trees as the machine could kick if it hits a root.

 

Steps to rotavate your garden

For large garden areas, we recommend using a powered rotavator. This makes light work of breaking up compacted soil and turning it over, bringing all the nutrients to the surface and improving drainage.

 

Step 1: Start up the machine

Read the instruction booklet which comes with your hire to prepare you for the use of your rotavator. Once you have set everything up, start the machine and begin to slowly move forward over the area.

 

Step 2: Work lengthways

You should ideally work lengthways across your soil when rotavating. This will allow you to keep track of where has already been covered and will also create natural channels if you are planting flowerbeds, vegetables, or shrubs. But if your ground is particularly hard to work with, going in different directions will be beneficial to begin with.

 

• Speedy Top Tip! Planning on using manure or fertilised compost because you’re planting flowers or vegetables? Add it after the first pass and rotavate again, to help mix it with existing soil.

 

Step 3: Repeat until you have the desired effect

The desired end result will depend on what you’re planning to do with the area and the condition of your soil. If you are sowing seeds, you will need finer soil than if you’re laying turf.

You can repeat the process as much as necessary until you are comfortable with the finish. This may require one pass, or up to four or five.

 

Step 4: Prepare your surface for planting

If you are adding a layer of new turf or planting grass seed, add a fine layer of topsoil over the rotavated garden area. Use a rake until the topsoil is even.

 

Step 5: Let the ground settle

Let the ground settle before you lay your new turf, sprinkle grass seed or plant anything. Holes may appear after rotavating which you will need to fill with additional topsoil and rake again. Waiting for a few days should be plenty of time.

You especially don’t want a bumpy lawn that you have to dig up again!

 

What is the difference between a cultivator, rotavator and tiller?

Wondering whether you need to hire a cultivator or a rotavator? What even is a tiller? The terms can often be interchanged and confused, and while they all do a similar job, they are separate products.

A rotavator, as above, is perfect for larger outdoor areas. You may have got rid of an old lawn, patio or outbuilding and realised the ground underneath needs serious attention. If you’ve just moved home, you may also want to completely redo the garden and redesign in your own style. Rotavators have wheels that drive it along with the blades behind, and they go deep into the soil properly turning everything over.

A tiller is better for more compact areas, as they are smaller to manoeuvre. They are still powerful appliances, however, but are lighter and don’t go as deep as rotavators.

A cultivator has no wheels and is just driven by the blades. These are best used to mix any soil which is already loose, as opposed to breaking up the ground.

 

Is there rotavator hire near me?

Yes. Speedy, the UK's leading tool hire company, have a range of rotavators for hire nationwide. Speedy has more than 200 service centres across the nation, hire counters in selected B&Qs and nationwide 4-hour delivery, rotavator hire has never been easier.

You’ll find all the tools you need right here. Why not start planning your next DIY project and open a Speedy account today online and in store.

 

Ready for more Gardening DIY tips and ideas?

Thank you for reading the Speedy Services blog, we hope you found this how to rotavate your garden guide useful, please check out our Gardening Projects page for further inspiration.