Good for churning up loose soil and preparing seed bed but doubt it will do what you want.

If the soil has not been tilled for a long time, those small tillers will take a looooong time to do the job!!! Unless you have a very small yard, it will take forever to tilled it.
Since Sears change their front tine tiller to one that look a whole lot cheaper with Chinese engine, I can't even recommend that. Good luck!!!

If you do decided to get the mini tiller, get the Mantis gas model. Do not get the Home Depot one. Mantis have a lot of tines options you can add on.

You might want to consider renting a big tiller to break the ground the first time and get a Mantis to do the maintenance. Once the ground is broken, if you keep tilling once or twice a year, the Mantis will do the job and is very useful for other things. I have the dethatcher tines that is very good.

Thanks guys. You just saved me $200. I don't think I'm strong enough to handle a big full-sized rototiller. I'd have to hire it out.

My yard is 100x100, and the house is placed at one corner. It has a small footprint, so I have quite a lot of yard to play with.

I don't like to use machinery in my garden unless I have to. I prefer to use gardening methods that keep the soil moist and friable without the need for a lot of tilling.

Thanks again for helping me save my money. For the $200, next spring I can hire a big guy with a rototiller to do it for me. :-)

Rain2Fall

100'X100'!!! I don't think you can hire someone to do it for $200!!! I am living in bay area, may be it is more expensive. I was quote $1000 for about 2000sqft!!! I went out and bought a front tine tiller for $299 and did it myself.

Is going to the gym an option!!!( I need a smilie right about now!!!)

Seriously, check out the price for tilling first and then decide. You might want to consider a big tiller for that big piece of land. You are going to have to have it tilled over and over again throughout the years in order to get rid of the weeds unless you land scape the whole thing. I found my investment on the tiller pay itself the first year. In your case, you can even use a rear tine tiller for such a big lot. I don't thing the rear tine tiller is that hard to use. I don't thing you need a whole lot of strength as the front tine tiller. It cost more but you get it back in no time. Sorry I don't own or know much about rear tine tillers, can't give you any suggestion. For this size lot, you are pushing the limit of even a real front tine tiller. Ans yes, don't even think about those little thing!!!!

My Dad had an old 8 HP Troy Bilt Horse and I spent a lot of hours walking along beside it. We had two acres of Ohio clay garden in which that old Horse was a joy to use. If you can find one in good shape for a reasonable price I think you should snap it up.

The design of those things is amazing! A woman (or in my case, a young boy) can run it with no problems. It even had reverse to help me back it around and turn it. You simply walk beside it as it does all the work.

The OSH that is in walking distance from my house have a Craftsman rear tine tiller on clearance for $479!!! It is still the pre Chinese engine type with the B&S Intek engine. It has been sitting out in the parking lot for a few days. This might be just what the doctor's order for Rain2fall. It was originally over $600. It might even be the same as some Troybilt rear tine tiller as they usually made by MTD. Just too bad I have the front tine already.

I just post this because it is so attractive but at the same time I absolutely don't need it since my front tine is mostly sitting in the shed since the first tilling a year ago!!! You can't even get this anymore, the new ones are with Chinese engines and is close to $700.

Just ranting!!!