Best Cordless Tiller: Greenworks 40V review

Spring is here! It’s almost time to get your garden plot ready for planting. Is your soil ready? Well cultivated, weed free soil is the gold standard for planting into, and one of the best tools for the job is a cordless tiller. We’ve got one to shout about!

Cordless cultivators are quiet, lightweight, efficient and dependable. While not as tough as a heavy-duty tiller, a cordless tiller is more than powerful enough for most garden jobs.

These handy little machines are also less expensive, lighter and easier to use and maintain than their gas-powered counterparts.

If you’re considering buying a cultivator this spring, a great choice would be the Greenworks 10-inch 40V cordless cultivator. We’ve reviewed it and are ready to tell you why it’s such a good investment for your garden.

Cordless cultivator

When it comes to garden chores, using a cultivator are an insane time saver. They make mixing in compost, weeding the garden, or aerating the soil a breeze!

And a cordless model is definitely the best option for smaller areas – you can work even in tightest spaces without trampling your plants. And there’s no cord to shred, trip over, or drag through your delicate plants. You’re free to move around as you’d like.

A cordless cultivator typically weighs much less than a gas-powered machine. It therefore also tends to be easier to manoeuver. And the smaller footprint means it’s easier to store – many models even fold to be more compact.

Another big advantage to a cordless cultivator is that you don’t have to worry about mixing gas and oil in the right ratios – and there are no nasty fumes.

If you have a small garden, a cordless rototiller is a great option, because you won’t have to worry about the battery dying while you’re working. Most jobs can be finished on a single charge.

The downside to cordless cultivators

There are very few outright disadvantages to battery-powered cultivators.

They are certainly not as powerful as gas-powered or even some corded electric models. The battery life might also be short, depending on the manufacturer.

An electric cultivator usually has a narrow swath – between 8”-12” – and can till to a depth of about 6”. Larger gas-powered tillers can handle an 18”-24” swath and dig to 10” deep or more.

Overall, the convenience and freedom of a cordless cultivator far outweigh the downside of a slightly less powerful machine.

Features to look out for

Most electric cultivators have the same basic design. The motor is placed above the tines and the controls will be on the handle and easily accessible to the operator. But there are some features you should consider when buying your tiller:

Handles: Some handles are designed for folding and carrying to make storage or transport easier

Rotational Speed: A maximum tine rotation speed of 180 to 200 rpm or higher is ideal

Tines: Not every model will have the same number of tines – there could be 2, 4, or even 6 tines

Variable Speed: Some models have variable speeds, so you can till more slowly for lighter jobs

Wheels: Check the size and maneuverability of the wheels

Best cordless tiller

The Greenworks 10-Inch 40V Cordless Cultivator

In your search for the best electric cultivator i wanted to show you this one by Greenworks. This cordless cultivator is a great alternative to its gas-powered counterparts; it’s a good option for cultivating flowerbeds, raised beds or even vegetable gardens. To say the reviews are good is an understatement have a look for yourself and see if it suits your needs.

Adustable settings

Its design offers the choice of 2- or 4-tine setups of the 8” tines; the maximum tilling width is between 8¼”-10” with an adjustable depth selector up to 5”.  

Great for small spaces

This is perfect for use in smaller gardens and tight spaces. The rotation speed can reach 200 rpm and provide up to 8000 strikes per minute, yet the unit is light enough (at just under 40 lbs) to lift into a raised garden bed.

Gear drive transmission

The Greenworks cultivator has 6” rear wheels and a durable gear drive transmission for manoeuvrability. Some users report that the narrow wheel base – while excellent for tilling a small garden – makes the cultivator unstable when not in use.

Effortless use

Using this cultivator eliminates the need to manage gas and oil, or even a cord.

No harmfull emissions

There are no harmful emissions. Its powerful 2Ah Lithium-Ion battery delivers comparable performance to a similar-sized gas cultivator for up to 40 minutes per charge; an upgraded 4Ah battery will extend the run time considerably. And since it’s Energy Star-rated, the Greenworks cultivator can be charged for less than $0.05!

Battery

The most common complaint against the Greenworks model is that the battery is difficult to insert and remove. According to the manufacturer, the battery was designed to slide into the compartment by sliding a pair of guide rails into their corresponding slots.

If the user doesn’t properly align the battery, it will not slide into place. To remove the battery pack, you simply need to push down on it, release the latch, and pull the battery up and out.

Handle

The handle, with its safety lock-out button and bale switch is a great safety feature, but it’s slightly too long for the average user – and those on the shorter side may wish to install the handle backwards so that the curved portion points down.

While it is quite powerful, this cultivator is intended for lighter jobs such as aerating the soil, preparing the seed bed, cultivating sod, and light weed control. It shouldn’t be used on hard or rocky ground; it’s not designed to handle heavy undergrowth as long grass and roots can become tangled in the tines. Greenworks recommends removing rocks and roots before tilling to avoid damaging the tiller.

Tips when using your cultivator

It’s also best to work the soil when it is slightly moist; if a handful of soil crumbles after being squeezed, then it’s ready for tilling. Shallow cultivating (less than 2″deep) can be used to control weeds and aerate the soil without injuring the nearby roots of desirable plants. This should be done often so that weeds do not grow large and get tangled in the tines of the tiller.

If weeds, roots, vines or other growth gets collected around the bottom of the tiller it is important to stop the tiller. In order to remove obstructions, first disconnect the battery, then clean the tines using a screwdriver or other object which can help remove debris. If necessary, remove the tines to untangle debris from the shaft and tines.

Though they are not especially powerful, cordless cultivators are relatively light, easy to maneuver and fairly inexpensive. They are perfect for homeowners who need to get their small garden plots ready for planting. And they are also ideal for cultivating and maintaining vegetable patches and flower beds. Head over to Amazon to take a look at the specs and features of this great tiller.