rototiller or rotary plow

[mikelandis721]

I recently bought a used BCS 740, it came with the tiller and brush hog. Have seen stuff online about the benefits of a rotary plow over a standard tiller. Anyone have an opinion on which is better?

 

[CADplans]

I use Gravely,,, the tiller will till a couple inches,
The rotary plow will easily do 6 or more inches, depending on how deep the organic matter is,,,

 

[mikelandis721]

I use Gravely,,, the tiller will till a couple inches,
The rotary plow will easily do 6 or more inches, depending on how deep the organic matter is,,,

Thanks for the response.

 

[wstr75]

About four years ago I got hurt by tiller jump when my BCS hit a hard section. Fortunately it was just a badly bruised shin bone and a bloody skin section about 3" square from suddenly lurching forward with the tiller then crashing into the running tiller. Yes, I should have immediately released the handlebars, but methinks our brains are slower to react than a 12 hp machine with blades spinning at 290 rpm. Conversely, I've never had any scary moments with my Berta rotary plow. If you can afford it, get the Berta rotary plow and use it for most of your gardening work including making beds. I only use my tiller attachment in already soft dirt for incorporating (mixing in) mulch and other matter. Most of the time the Berta rotary plow is used first then followed by the Rinaldi power harrow for smoothing out the seed bed.

 

[Ford850]

The tiller works for deeper tilling too, but might take multiple passes in compacted soil. I usually do a first pass on the garden to till in cover crops or just to break the soil first in the spring, and then a deep pass to get a nice clean surface. As the garden grows, I skim the surface with the tiller to control weeds between rows or to loosen the soil for hilling.
A rotary plow is 'once and done' prep for initial tillage of a garden. It also provides a furrow that you can add compost, leaves, etc, before plowing and covering with each pass. It can also be used to build raised rows or beds.
I grew up using a Gravely rotary plow, so I have often thought of getting one for my BCS. But the tiller does a fine job, and I haven't been able to justify the cost of a rotary plow.

 

[mikelandis721]

About four years ago I got hurt by tiller jump when my BCS hit a hard section. Fortunately it was just a badly bruised shin bone and a bloody skin section about 3" square from suddenly lurching forward with the tiller then crashing into the running tiller. Yes, I should have immediately released the handlebars, but methinks our brains are slower to react than a 12 hp machine with blades spinning at 290 rpm. Conversely, I've never had any scary moments with my Berta rotary plow. If you can afford it, get the Berta rotary plow and use it for most of your gardening work including making beds. I only use my tiller attachment in already soft dirt for incorporating (mixing in) mulch and other matter. Most of the time the Berta rotary plow is used first then followed by the Rinaldi power harrow for smoothing out the seed bed.

The tiller works for deeper tilling too, but might take multiple passes in compacted soil. I usually do a first pass on the garden to till in cover crops or just to break the soil first in the spring, and then a deep pass to get a nice clean surface. As the garden grows, I skim the surface with the tiller to control weeds between rows or to loosen the soil for hilling.
A rotary plow is 'once and done' prep for initial tillage of a garden. It also provides a furrow that you can add compost, leaves, etc, before plowing and covering with each pass. It can also be used to build raised rows or beds.
I grew up using a Gravely rotary plow, so I have often thought of getting one for my BCS. But the tiller does a fine job, and I haven't been able to justify the cost of a rotary plow.

Cool. Thanks for the responses.
I'll keep my eye out for a used one, if not my local dealer has them.

 

[hawkeye08]

Rotary plow is a beast, have used one on front of Gravely rider.

 

[wstr75]

First two videos are rear mounted Berta rotary plow:
BCS 853 Berta rotary plow - breaking new ground - YouTube
Rotary Plow for BCS Two-Wheel Tractors - YouTube

This video is a front mounted Gravely rotary plow:
Video #1 Gravely Tractor Demonstration Series 1962 Gravely Rotary Plow Gravely Plowing - YouTube

Rotary plows make for pretty looking planting beds.

 

[mikelandis721]

sounds like it will be a good investment. Thanks everyone!

 

[rickyd79]

sounds like it will be a good investment. Thanks everyone!

The rotary plow blows the tiller away in depth of worked soil. It will go twice the depth of tiller. As someone who sells them, I sell more rotary plows than I do tillers. The primary reason folks (speaking for my customers) buy them is to build raised beds, NOT to break new ground. Although they are excellent at breaking new ground (and that is all I will use for breaking new ground), this is only a secondary reason why folks buy them. Rotary plows make raised beds in already worked soil quickly. I can make a 100' long 30" wide (roughly) bed in about 5 minutes, literally. For me personally as a grower I never use a tiller. I use rotary plows and power harrow. That being said I am not trying to discourage others from using tillers. That is a personal choice. A tiller will do a better job at mixing amendment into an existing bed than rotary plow.