Often people think that cultivators and tillers are the same but they are in fact, quite different. A garden tiller is used to break up hard ground and essentially turn compacted earth into loose, broken up soil, which is perfect for planting. There are several tillers available and they all differ slightly. Front tine tillers are easier to use as they have rear wheels and are generally more lightweight. These are used for small to medium sized plots of land with firm, not solid earth. Rear tine tillers are heavier and a little more difficult to operate but they are perfect for larger plots of land with hard, compacted earth. A garden cultivator isn’t suitable for breaking up compacted, heard ground, rather they are used to make the soil finer.