Electric cultivators are easy to use, but if you have a bigger garden with dense soil, instead, look to a gas cultivator.

Thanks to their powerful engines, gas-powered cultivators allow you to mix and aerate soil that contains more slightly more clay than sand.

Plus, they have no battery to charge and no cord to tether you in place.

Gas-powered cultivators come with several features to make your gardening chores more convenient. However, the biggest detail for you to consider is the type of engine your cultivator uses.

So, which is better for you: a 2-cycle cultivator or a 4-cycle cultivator?

2-Cycle Cultivators

The engines on 2-cycle cultivators have fewer moving parts than 4-cycle engines. This means that they produce plenty of power with less wear and tear.

Because they have fewer parts, 2-cycle engines also weigh less than 4-cycle engines. This combination of low weight and steady power gives 2-cycle engines an effective power-to-weight ratio that hardworking gardeners appreciate. 

Gas cultivators with 2-cycle engines require a mixture of gas and oil in the fuel tank. Without the need for regular oil changes, this type of engine is simpler to maintain than a 4-cycle engine.

If you want a cultivator that strikes a balance between sufficient power and ease of use, your best choice is a 2-cycle cultivator.

4-Cycle Cultivators

Models with 4-cycle engines are similar to the car you drive: gas goes into the fuel tank, and oil goes into the crankcase. This familiarity of parts can make using a 4-cycle cultivator a much less daunting task.

Engines on 4-cycle cultivators are more fuel-efficient than 2-cycle engines, so you get more mileage out of every tank of gas (even if you're only working on a small garden bed!).

Generally speaking, 4-cycle engines are larger and heavier than 2-cycle engines. That might make your 4-cycle cultivator more challenging to use throughout a full day of work, but with that larger engine comes the capacity for more power.

If you want a gas cultivator that can handle a denser mix of soil and amendments, a 4-cycle cultivator might be right for you.

Additional Features

In addition to different kinds of engines, gas-powered cultivators come with other features for you to consider that can make your time in the garden even easier and more enjoyable.

Reversible Tines

A set of reversible tines is a handy feature available on certain gas-powered cultivators.

When the tines are set in the standard operating position, they're ready to blend and cultivate. They'll aerate and weed your garden, keeping it in tip-top shape.

When you reverse the tines' position, they'll essentially till the soil. They'll break it up and turn it over, getting it ready for planting. However, reverse tines likely won't be able to break hard ground. You'll need a front-tine or rear-tine tiller for that.

Attachments

Some cultivators can be paired with several different kinds of attachments, turning them into multi-purpose tools capable of handling all sorts of tasks:

• Furrowing
• Dethatching
• Edging

You're already going to be making your garden healthy and productive, but if you want to refine it even further, be sure to look for an attachment-adaptable cultivator.