Features:

  • Powerful 8. 5-Amp motor for superior power, run-time and durability
  • Ideal for small to mid-size gardens and flower beds; Works well as a weed control tool
  • (4) durable steel tines; Cultivates and tills up to 11" wide and 8" deep
  • Lightweight design makes it effortless to operate and store; Single lever switch starts every time
  • Soft ergonomic grip for comfortable operation; Alternative to gas-powered lawn and garden equipment
Impressive...

...very pleased and even amazed! Note: this is the cordless, battery powered model. Initially I was hesitant to take a chance with this tiller as it looked kinda 'toy' like, and upon opening the box, I was a bit concerned about it looking somewhat 'cheaply' made. Plus I wasn't sure a battery powered tiller could handle the job. Don't let it's looks deceive you: this little tiller is a 'beast'! It came together easily and is much more heavy duty than it's appearance... weighing over 40 lbs. The battery charged up in under two hours... and held it's charge for the job I needed it for - 6 raised garden beds. It easily chewed thru roots and weeds (yes, you do need to pull off the wound-on depris from the tines every so often) and did a remarkable job tilling and then cultivating the gardens on second go over. Also easy to control and steer; not to mention the absence of gunked up carberator and pull start, loud, smelly gas motor. Highly recommend! (Interesting: the 1-star reviews are all for the 8.5 corded models... seems I am the only review so far for the battery powered cordless model.)

Cut through my concrete dirt!

Very seldom do you buy something and it meets your expectations. Even less when it exceeds your expectations. This tiller exceeded my expectations! I had a 2-stroke tiller for years that was fickle and would wear me out just trying to get it started and keep it running. Half the time I would give-up and go to a rental place and rent a tiller (which would about kill me loading and unloading it). This year I decided to check into an electric tiller. I checked reviews on Amazon, watched a few Youtube videos, then bought this unit. Let me say too, I live in a part of Texas where we are going through a drought, so my soil is rock hard. I expected this to bounce around and then choke on the first root or stick it hit, but let me tell you this machine got after it!! I saw a few videos talking about it needing weight and they were taping weights on it, or setting a bucket of rocks on top?? Then I saw several people pulling it backwards through the dirt and having no trouble (I am not a gardener, and maybe some of you already knew to do this), so that is what I did. IT WORKED GREAT!! I was so HAPPY! It never once choked or acted like it couldn’t do the job. The only drawback is paying attention to keep the cord out of the way. I threw it over my shoulder and walked backwards and it turned my “concrete” dirt into silk. I am not a review writer, but I told my wife that I wanted to write a review for this. I could not be happier with a tiller. Lightweight in weight, but not a lightweight in work. It is a monster at tearing up the dirt! 2 big thumbs-up for this tiller.

One of the best purchases I've ever made!

I purchased this tiller a little over a month ago for my small, 16 ft. x 16 ft. vegetable garden. I waited until now to write my review because I wanted to have a really good "feel" for the product before I posted my thoughts. I had already turned the ground in my garden, which had been lawn area for years, with a garden fork; but the thick grass and roots would not allow the ground to loosen and break up. I ended up with a 16 x 16 patch of grassy clumps that I couldn't rake or plant. To break up the clumps I tried various cultivators: A garden weasel ended up all tangled with grass and roots and wouldn't turn. My Garden Claw just loaded up with the grassy clumps. I even tried sharpening my hoe and using it to hack at the clumps to break them up--a very labor intense and slow process. I was at my wits end. I began to realize that the only way I was going to be able to loosen the soil effectively was going to be with a roto-tiller. I figured I'd need to rent one at a local rental center, but when I learned it was going to cost me $80.00 for a half day, I started looking for other alternatives. I came across this Earthwise TC70001 11-Inch 8-1/2 Amp Electric Tiller/Cultivator at Amazon.com. The first thing that caught my eye was that all but one of the reviews were 5-stars, and the only one that wasn't at that time was 4-stars. If not for that, I don't think I would have given this machine a second look. And even then, after reading all the reviews, I still doubted that a light-weight electric roto-tiller could have enough power to do what I needed it to do. But I figured, what did I have to lose? Even if it didn't work for breaking up the clumps this year, I'd still be able to use the machine to till the garden in future years after the soil had been prepared the first time. So I decided to give it a try. BOY, AM I GLAD I DID! In a word, this thing is FANTASTIC! First of all, I was amazed at the power it has. It effortlessly churned out rocks bigger than my fist. Needless to say, it chewed through the grass clumps and roots with ease. I did stop a few times to untangle debris from the tines, but it was easy to remove and in just a few minutes I'd be up and running again. The power is more than adequate. It digs through the soil, even Michigan clay, without bogging down, leaving a loose, mealy planting bed in its wake. I tilled the entire garden twice--first north and south; then east and west. The whole job took about 3 hours. I've since used the tiller in other areas of my yard like flower beds and areas of the lawn that needed leveling. I am truly impressed with the results. The main drawback that I see is the machine's light weight. When it hits something solid in the ground, like a root or large rock, it wants to jump and buck like a rodeo bull. You just need to be ready for it when it happens. Overall, though, it is very easy to control. For just about 50% more than the cost of renting one of those gas monsters at our local rental center for a half-day, I was able to purchase this tiller that I will be able to use for many years to come; not only in my vegetable garden, but my flower beds as well. Quite honestly, I don't think I've ever been more satisfied with a purchase. I wish I could give this thing more than 5 stars! (Of course, the service I got from Amazon.com (including the free shipping) was impeccable as always.) PROs: 1. High amperage - this translates to High Power. More than enough power for a small tiller. 2. Low cost - makes this tiller a tremendous value. 3. Well made. 4. Simple to use. CONs: 1. Light weight - so if you hit something solid in the ground, like a large root or rock, the machine tends to jump violently. Not a huge disadvantage, however, as long as you are aware of this tendency and pay attention. 2. Narrow width - limits the effective usage of this tiller to smaller gardens. But this can also be an advantage--you can easily use this machine to till between rows in your garden and other narrow areas where a larger tiller won't fit.

I love this thing! What a monster!

After one day of ownership (hopefully things stay good!) I love this monster! We are doing some serious area clearing and leveling to move a storage unit (aluminum skeleton and heavy coated tarp roof/sides). My gas tiller died of a broken transmission (mini - but got lots of years of use). It was powerful but I remember having many times to stop and get a rock out that would be jammed between tines. On THIS monster .....it throws even large rock to the side - and the area I am working with has tons of rocks! Easy assembly. Of course, being electric you should throw the cord over your back shoulder and always know where you are going and where the length of the cord sits. Not a problem for me. I love the POWER. If things change or I have any problems I will come back after a few weeks and update this review. For now....WOW....money well spent.

HOLY COW! I'M ADDICTED TO TILLING!

When I unpackaged it, I was impressed by the weight of the gearbox, but overall it's light weight, easy to carry or pull on wheels. I didnt expect much. I thought the reviews might just be hype. Boy was I wrong! This thing has BALLS. It completely decimates the weeds and leaves fresh turned soil in no time. As someone who has been using a SHOVEL to turn my dirt because my small garden a regular size gas tiller is overkill, I'm kicking myself in the butt for not seeking this out sooner. Don't hesitate. Go buy it. PROS: Decimates weeds, mixes all your soil components evenly, aerates soil, and does it quickly. Heavy gearbox, but overall light weight. Easy to carry with two hands, two handles. One on base, one up top. Easy to use with wheels during tilling, or use wheels to transport to next location. Wheels fold up if extra depth needed when tilling. Takes 2 seconds with quick release pin. Inexpensive No maintenance. Great design with thought put into it The best $125 I've ever spent. Easy to assemble, I didn't read the instructions. CONS You might need a 12 steps program to break your tilling addiction. I wouldn't change a thing. You might find yourself tilling late night and weekends because its more entertaining than whats on tv. TIPS If you don't read the instructions like most people, put the green doohickey on the bottom handle piece FIRST ( it holds your extension cord out of the way ). Not a big deal if you don't, just a couple of bolts to undo. Electric devices pull more current when under strain. If you use a thin gauge electrical cord, you are basically strangling your tiller as it won't get enough current. Another way of saying it, You paid for an 8.5 amp tiller, don't make it a 4 amp tiller by using a crap cord. The longer your electrical cord, the more need for HEAVY GAUGE extension cord. Do not cheap out on extension cord. You can get a good heavy duty one from a discount store, ebay, craigslist, AMAZON. You will pay out the nose at the big box stores. Stop and clear the tiller tines from tangles periodically as these will make your motor work harder, and if they pile up they will reduce your tilling depth by making the axle "thicker". Pinestraw, garden twine, vines, grass runners, these all will get tangled as they would with any tiller. Carry a sharp pocket knife and clear frequently for best performance.

My tiller comparison: Earthwise, Sun Joe, Troy-Bilt, Black & Decker, Greenworks, Mantis

Summary: For those who want to get to the bottom line: I picked the Earthwise since it offered the most features for the least money. It's not perfect (as could be said for all the others) but it's a real workhorse that equals or surpasses the performance of others costing twice as much (or more). Fast tine speed to bust through tough stuff. Biggest problem is that it will buck easily. Full review: I needed to replace my trusty 25 year old 2 cycle gas tiller/cultivator (engine still purrs, but the transmission bit the dust) and decided to go for an electric model since a number of people in my gardening club raved about theirs. But which one to get? Over the span of a few weeks I was able to try out several, and thought I'd post my impressions to help others that are in the same situation. First up was the Sun Joe: Sun Joe TJ600E Tiller Joe Garden 14-Inch 6.5 amp Electric Tiller/Cultivator. It was purchased by one of my garden club friends about a year ago at Costco, and he had nothing but good things to say about it. But, after using it for a half hour, I had nothing but bad things to say. While it had decent power and has a wheel-less design (more about the wheels later), I found the two handle configuration of the machine very awkward to use -- it really put a strain on my shoulders and lower back. I also found it hard to control when it bucks (as all tillers do) again due to the handle position. So it was no to Joe. Plus, I had a bad experience with this brand with their snow thrower. It broke, and I was never able to get a reply from the company to repair it. The handle problem killed the Sun Joe from my list, but poor support also factored in. Next was the Troy-Bilt:Troy-Bilt TB154E 9-Inch 6.5-Amp Electric Garden Cultivator/Tiller I really liked this for the build quality and the beefy design of the tines. Plus I like the brand, since I grew up using a rear-tine Troy-Bilt tiller that was indestructible (back in the days when they were an independent company and not owned by MTD). What I didn't like about the Troy-Bilt was the wheel design and the overall speed. The wheels make it easier to maneuver, but also limit the depth of digging. The slower tine speed makes it less of a bucking bronco in use, but also makes it slower to use and it did not cut through big clods, vines and vegetation nearly as well as other tillers. The slower tine speed did make it work better when mixing in compost into an already tilled bed. It's not too expensive (provided you get it on a price dip) and it would have been my top choice if the Earthwise was not available. I have nothing bad to say about the design and performance of the Mantis electric Mantis 7250-00-02 3-Speed Electric Tiller/Cultivator. Nice build quality, no wheel issues, and lots of nice features, such as the multi-speed (which none of the others have). Mantis has been building small gas tillers for many years, and it shows in how nicely their electric version is designed. Very fast tine speed, and the tines are designed so it does not buck much at all. It has two handles like the Sun Joe but it was far more comfortable to use since they are spaced closer together. The only reason it was not my top choice was the price - whew! It's quite expensive, and far more than I wanted to spend. I had mixed feeling about the Greenworks machine Greenworks 27012 10-Inch 8 Amp Electric Cultivator/Tiller. On the plus side, it was very comfortable to use, and had more power/faster tine speed than the Troy. The negatives were again the wheel design, but again, my wheel troubles could be due to the fact that my old tiller did not have wheels at all, so my problem could be solved by getting accustomed to wheels. The wheels did not pose as much of a problem as they did on the Troy since they are more adjustable. The other major negative was durability issues with the tines. The machine I used was about a year old, and the tines were really beat up. My garden club friend who owned it said he used it initially to break new ground, and did encounter a lot of rocks. Still, the tines should have held up better - the metal seemed to be of lesser quality than in other tillers. I did not have the opportunity to use the new Black and Decker model TL10 (Amazon sells it, but for some reason I can't put in a product link to it), but it looks very, very nicely designed. High power motor and I love the way it gives you the ability to add weight to the unit by filling a container with sand. While light weight is great when it comes to maneuverability, it also makes you fight with the machine to keep it digging. So, with this unit if you want it light, take off the sand container. Want it heavy? Put it on. Wonderful! But, you pay for all these features, and the price was the stopping point for me. Again, I didn't use or see one in action, so I'm only guessing at what the performance would be. They also have a cordless version (model CTL36) that looks interesting, but at an even higher price than the TL10. My pick was the Earthwise for one big reason: price. It was less than $100 even without the 20% coupon I had through my Amazon Visa card. With the coupon it was dirt cheap (yea, couldn't resist that pun). Built quality is decent, and better than I expected for the price. It has an 8 amp motor and it makes the most of it, with tine speeds much faster than the 6 amp models such as the Troy-Bilt. I estimate it is about the same speed as the Mantis (could not use them side-by-side, so my estimation may be incorrect). The fast tine speed makes it bust through pretty much anything - big clods of clay, roots, vegetation and the like get plowed through quickly. The handles are comfortable, and allow multiple gripping positions. The big downside to all this speed is that it bucks like mad when it hits something such as a big rock. You need to keep a very steady grip on it or it will get out of hand. For my needs and my garden, I find a faster tine speed works better for my main use of the machine - initial spring planting prep tilling and late Fall pre-winter tilling. I don't do much top dressing or compost mixing since doing that by hand is easy. The other big, big plus to the Earthwise is the wheel design. They flip out of the way when you need to dig deep, but flip down when you only want to scratch the surface an inch or two to weed between beds or top dress. Love that feature! It comes well-packed in the box to help minimize shipping damage. Mine arrived in great shape. It's not perfect. The low price shows with regard to the quality of the handle assembly and switch. OK, but not nearly as beefy as the more expensive machines. The manual is average at best. I initially had problems with assembly since I tried to follow the written instructions. It went much better once I gave up on the instructions, and just looked at the picture of the assembled machine on the cover of the manual to determine how things went together. Note, however, that this was the only one that I assembled, so the others may also pose issues. In summary, my ranking of these models are: >>Earthwise - best value by far. Lots of power, fast tine speed, and the wheels get out of the way so you can dig deep. Biggest problem is how it can buck when you hit something. >>Mantis - would be top-ranked if not for the price. Far too costly - you could get 3 Earthwise machines for the cost of one Mantis (and that does not include the price of accessories), and it's not three times better. >>Troy-Bilt - slower tine speed, but solid performance. Best choice if you value top dressing/blending in compost tasks more so than deep tilling. >>Greenworks (tied with Troy-Bilt) - comfortable to use, more power and less wheel problems than with the Troy. Weak tines keep it tied with the Troy rather than be above it. >>Sun Joe - very uncomfortable to use, but since ergonomics vary from person-to-person, you may want to try one out to see if the two-handle design works for you. Be wary about customer support. [not ranked] Black & Decker - could be the best one out there, but since I did not actually use one I won't rank it. Less costly than the Mantis, but still 2.5 times more expensive than the Earthwise. Hope this long and rambling review helps with your decision. Happy tilling! UPDATE April 2016: It's been a few years since I bought the Earthwise, and I have not had any problems at all with operation. The tines are getting a little beat up but other than that, zero problems. Still very pleased with the purchase. UPDATE May 2018: Still working like a champ. I did break the tip of one of the tines this year (hit a huge rock) but even though one of the tines is a bit gap-toothed, it still cuts into the soil just fine.

Beats using a shovel by a longshot.

Easy to assemble. Beats using a shovel by a longshot. Stops instantly if you let go. Tip: Pull it toward you and walk backwards, don't try to push it. I had only ever used larger self-propelled gas tillers where you have to restrain them and guide them forward, and the challenge is keeping them from sinking too deep and getting stuck. This was just the opposite; you can't guide it forward, because it bucks upward and won't bite. It doesn't have enough weight to fight the natural lifting motion of the tines. However, if you walk backwards with it and pull it, it bites just fine (with a little rocking and going back over some spots.) I had let my garden lapse for one season, and so when I tilled it with this, it was overgrown with long weeds and grass (which I should have mowed first.) So, the tines got bound up a couple of times and required that I turn it upside down and cut it free with a knife. However, I suspect that next year I will not have this problem again. The motor seemed fairly powerful, but then again, all heavy-duty electric motors do at first. We will see if this machine stands up to multiple years of use, thus justifying the purchase. The way I figure it, I break even over renting a tiller if it lasts 4 or 5 years. It's warranted for 2. So, we'll see. So far, so good.

This Earthwise Machine is Unbelievable!!

I have had 3 electric tillers in the last 6 months. The Sun Joe TJ604En 13.5amp , the Mantis 7250 6.5amp and the Earthwise 8.5amps. I know the review is supposed to be about the Earthwise, but allow me to summarize the other two first. So size matters right? So I first went with the Sun Joe having the most powerful motor, that went well for about 2 days before it broke the tiller blades, which I welded back, then after about 4 more hours of use the gearbox went, size only matters if the rest of the machine can handle that powerful engine. That went back to Home depot for a refund. next up the Mantis 7250 - German built and expensive .. got to good right? Actually it did pretty well. It makes the best and finest soil from clay (when you amend with compost). I should have said I don't have clay soil more like hard clay (good old Houston) So after about a week of use (couple days per week around 2 - 3 hours per day it started to keep tripping the breaker, it would run for a few mins then trip the machine breaker, I could have changed it, but what the heck its under warranty back to Amazon for another refund! Looking at all the good reviews for the Earthwise 11.5 inch 8.5 amp machine and at less than 1/2 the price of the Mantis, I thought if it doesn't workout I can just dispose of it after it has done as much as it can. Well was I wrong! This little thing has done twice as much as the Mantis and Sun Joe put together and cut through the hardest clay soil I have ever seen. The engine and gear box and tillers are still perfect and it just keeps coming back for more! This thing is almost indestructible and should be called an Industrial version. Seriously I have hit roots, solid clay and regular soil and it just keeps tilling. My hat comes off to the engineers and manufacturer that designed and built this for $114! One of the best value items i have ever bought !! This Earthwise Machine is Unbelievable!!

Great alternative to the Mantis

We have a decent sized garden. We use a big gas rig for the initial seasonal tilling, but that's it. After our Mantis died, I picked up the Earthwise on a whim. I thought, for a hundred bucks, it's worth a gamble. I love this litte machine. I used it weekly for removing weeds and for tilling new areas for planting. I treat this machine hard and it often gets wrapped up tight with crabgrass and I keep going. The tranny heats up but I have never overheated the machine nor had it stall out. The pics show that I did this afternoon. This is from late summer 2018. I tilled some sections for collards planting. The only pain is the cord, but this is expected and worth it for not having to deal with gummed up carbs, etc. I use a house vacuum motion when tilling for weed removal and have worked out a technique that keeps the cord out of the way as much as possible. Tip: leave the wheels down for light cultivating and weed removal. This increases mobility of the machine. Pulls the wheels up for deeper tilling. Also, space plants out so your machine can fit between them for ongoing weeding and cultivating. I've used the machine for about half dozen times so far this year. I will report back if it experiences any sort of mechanical issues.

a very strong tool that quickly turns up the dirt

I researched several of the small electric tillers on Amazon and here’s why I picked this one. I have a 12 amp vacuum cleaner and the 25’ cord gets pretty warm so I knew I didn’t want to try to push 12 amps down 100’ of cord to a monster tiller. There are 14” tillers that only draw 7.5 amps but I read reviews about the motors burning up so I figured that 14” of cut was too much to ask from such a small motor. The Earthwise tiller seemed like a good match-up with 8.5 amps for a reduced 11” cut. I felt it would give strong performance without burning up. I liked the single connected handle. I liked having wheels. One model doesn’t have them and they really help to keep the tiller from digging too deep. Now that I have used it I am very happy with my choice. The tiller seems very sturdy and well made. Even though it’s small it is not a toy. It’s a very strong tool that quickly turns up the dirt and does a good job of it. I did a 10’ x 40’ area in my front yard in a little over an hour. It would have gone quicker if I didn’t have to deal with roots from the overgrown bushes that were there originally. I plan to use it to do my whole back yard as well as soon as it stops raining and the ground dries out. When you till with this start at the front of your area and pull the tiller back while it’s cutting. Pull back about 10’, let it walk you up and then pull back for the next row. This method clears your area quickly and also keeps the cord off to the side so you don’t run over it. Don’t make long front to back rows or run back and forth all over the place or you will end up chopping your cord. Don’t try to use this with wet soil or it will clump and lump. If the soil is dry it will break into a nice smooth powder. This was the least expensive tiller in it’s class when I bought it but then the price jumped quickly. Not long after it went back down again. The price seems to go up and down every few days so put this in your cart and watch for it to go low before you order. You’ll save some money. I hope you found this review helpful and hope you enjoy your tilling.

Full Reviews