tilling

[Bladewielder]

I am thinking about adding garden tilling to my services as a lawn care business. Is it even practical to do with a walk-behind tiller (Troy-Built for example), or should a guy have a compact tractor with a PTO-powered tiller?

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Well if you have money to burn then the tractor would be great, but usually Mrs. Jones garden has plants you can't always till.

Need something about the size of the Troy Built you said.

I do some tilling with an old' but good tiller, for some clients.

[1grnlwn]

For garden and ditch repairs < 1000 sqft our troybilt is great. We do less gardens every year. Too busy at that time of year.

[keifer]

Yes go for it. I do it with a front tine most lil old ladys just want a small spot for some vegies.

[Green Care]

Add it the troy built will be good for small beds + areas.

The other is for the big areas.

[Tony Harrell]

I have a Troy Bilt super bronco 6.5 hp. I bought it 2 years ago to use at home. It's super once the ground is broken because you can stand to the side and not leave foot prints. However, it takes forever to break new ground because the tines on my unit do not counter rotate. I helped out the old man across the street last year and his rear tine tiller was counter rotating and it RIPPED thrugh unbroken ground like it was jello. If I were going to do this for a money, I'd get somethng that could break the ground fast. On the other hand, If you're going to come back on a weekly basis and till between the rows the Troy Bilt is the model to use because you can stand to the side and it has the attachments to throw the dirt up on the plants. Go with the Pony or Horse models if you can, they have more attachments.

[wrtenterprises]

My money is on the BCS tiller line. Without a doubt the best tiller I have ever used. Try one at the local rental yard if posible. They have Honda engines and are extreamly easy to operate. The only drawback is; They Are Pricey.......

[TSS]

Sounds like tilling could be a good up sale. How do you charge for this service?

[stslawncare]

i agree tractors for big areas only. i would charge by the hour and base ur price according the ground conditions and amount of obstacles.

[walker-talker]

I got a steal on a Troybilt Horse for $550 years ago. I bought this for my personal garden. I offer tilling as a service, but have only done this once in the last 2 years. Not a real money maker for me.

MATT

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by TSS
Sounds like tilling could be a good up sale. How do you charge for this service?

When in doubt, Time and Man hours.

[Bob Minney]

I till small gardens with a 5hp front tine tiller. Not much good for breaking new ground. Wouldn't have one except was purchased for my personal use. I do 5-10 gardens a year without advertising for the work.
For $ ~ estimate my time & give a price.

[FrankenScagMachines]

Ok, i've got a restored 1964 Bush Hog garden tractor (see avatar and bottom link on sig.)
i've got the following attachments:
32" single blade mower
6 1/2" to 12" garden plow (will adjust anywhere in between according to soil conditions)
garden disc
48" grader blade, mid mount
40" front blade
48" V-plow i made for snowplowing. fully adjustable.
10 cu. ft. cart i made

I will use any of those attachments for whatever jobs. Sooo... I will do veggy gardens and the sort, I plan on charging about $35 an hour for that. I have a Craftsman rear tine, counter rotating tiller (breaks new soil good) that I can use too if needed. The plow and disc on the Bush Hog does as good as a tiller and is better for soil as well. It can be faster than tilling, depending on conditions. Have access to a 1992 Wheel Horse 520H garden tractor with a 36" rear mount tiller if I have to use it. Forward rotating tines, but if you want counter rotating ones, just put 'er in reverse! These are the toughest two garden tractors there are.
anyhow, $35 an hour is what I will charge with a $30 minimum. But there's a local guy with a Kubota and rear tiller who will do a garden for $25. Most sizes same price I beleive. He doesn't really advertise, just word of mouth. We had him out to do ours once, does a good job and can't complain about the price. Our garden is a 1/10th acre, and he went over it twice, for only $25. Maybe he's just doing it to pay off his tractor and give him something to do (he's retired). I wouldn't undersell myself though.
Eric

[LawnLad]

We dont' advertise tilling as a service, but we do it for our customers or anyone who calls. We will use our Kubota AT 70-S tiller (I don't think they're available in the US anymore). Has the reverse direction as well as forward direction (rarely use forward). It's great. Charge T & M for the few jobs we do. Mostly just a service to our existing customers.

We also have the rototilling attachment for the Dingo - works nicely, but who's paying you to bring this get up out there? Lastly for little beds we'll use a little 2 cy Echo (like a Mantis).

If you can sell it and make money on it - go for it as long as it doesn't take away from your ability to effectively deliver your core services.