How to Hire a Pro to Till Your Garden

Getting a garden ready for planting is no small feat, but hiring a rototilling pro can make it much easier. Rototillers used to till a garden range from a small machine run by hand to much larger units attached to a tractor. The size you need depends on the garden size and the soil type. 

Hiring someone to till your garden keeps you from having to rent or buy a rototiller and allows you to spend the rest of the season working with well-cultivated soil without the work of breaking it up with a spade or hoe. Here are some tips for hiring a rototilling service to get closer to planting your flowers. 

How to Find Rototilling Services

Landscaping companies often offer rototilling services in addition to planting, mulching, and maintaining garden beds. Other companies mainly offer rototilling and tractor services. Searching for rototilling or landscaping services near you will generate a list of potential companies that offer the services you need. You can also use a home services company (like Angi) to find and read customer reviews.

When you search for “rototilling services,” you’ll likely also get a list of companies that service rototillers, so you may need to tweak your wording to “landscape rototilling” or search for landscapers and then check their services page. You can also ask friends, family members, and neighbors who have used rototilling services for recommendations, but always follow up with your own research.

Before Hiring a Rototilling Service

Planning and due diligence go a long way toward successfully hiring a rototilling service. Knowing your plan for your garden and checking the contractor’s qualifications can ensure you’re working with the right person to get your garden ready for planting. 

Plan Your Garden Project for Accurate Quotes

The more detail the contractor has regarding your project, the more likely you’ll get an accurate quote. Hiring a landscaping contractor equipped with a small rototiller run by hand may work for smaller garden projects. However, you may need to seek out a rototilling service with a larger machine for larger projects. Knowing the garden’s square footage, location, and soil type will help you get an accurate quote. 

Check the Rototilling Service’s Qualifications and References

Each state has different contractor licensing requirements and a license lookup that allows you to check a contractor’s license, insurance, and bond. Some will also include any lawsuits, tax debts, and license violations to help you make an informed decision. You may need to ask for the contractor’s license number to look them up, but doing so will confirm they have the necessary qualifications.

Remember to read reviews of their services online to serve as references. You can also ask the company to provide samples of past projects, and they can connect you with past clients. 

Questions to Ask the Rototilling Service

Have questions ready to ask about rototilling or landscaping services, so you know who you’re working with and what services they offer. Discussing the project will also give them an idea of the equipment they’ll need and how long it will take. Here are a few questions to get you started, but don’t be afraid to add more about your project.

• Do you offer rototilling services for my type of project?

• Who will be completing the project?

• Do you provide a written quote?

• How often do you complete rototilling projects?

• Do you have the contact information of a few references?

• Who do I contact if there is a problem during the project?

• How long will the project take?

Tips for Hiring a Rototilling Service

Hiring a rototilling service adds to your landscaping costs, but it may be worth it for the benefits of rototillers, like adding oxygen to the soil. A good experience depends on hiring the right contractor, so follow these tips when choosing your rototilling service.

Conduct at Least Three Interviews

When hiring anyone to work on or around your home, a good rule of thumb is to interview at least three potential companies. You can compare their answers to determine which one is the best fit. If one quotes a rate way below the others, it’s a clue that their work might be subpar. Or, if their timelines for starting or completing the project are different, you can choose the one that works best for you.

Verify Their License and Get a Background Check

Some states, like Minnesota and Louisiana, require landscapers to hold a license. Other states, like Wisconsin and Maine, don’t require a landscaping license unless the company applies pesticides. Check the requirements in your state to determine if your contractor needs to be licensed, and if they do, you can look it up on the state’s website or by searching “[state] contractor license lookup.” If you’re having trouble finding them, you may need to ask for their license number. 

You can also ask for a background check to reveal any questionable credit and legal history and help you make an informed decision. Looking up the company online may allow you to view complaints and see how they are resolved.

Get a Contract and Arrange Payment

Don’t start work on tilling your garden until you have a written contract and have arranged a payment method. The contract should include:

• Scope of the project

• Estimated cost

• Timeline

• Payment terms

Keep Records of Your Rototilling Project 

When it comes to yard and garden projects, keeping a record of what you’ve done and when is helpful, like your planting schedule and how much mulch you used. So when you hire a rototilling service to till your garden, keep a record of when they completed the work, how long it took, and how much it cost. This way, you have the information handy for easy reference year after year.

Look for Red Flags and Troubleshoot if Necessary

As you research and interview rototilling services, look for red flags indicating you should walk away.  Here are a few red flags to look for before you sign the contract:

• A large down payment request

• Poor communication

• Inability to answer questions

• No website or social media

• Poor reviews (or no reviews)

• A very low rate

• No license or insurance if the state requires it

Even if none of these signs are present, but you have a bad feeling, it’s okay to walk away and find someone else to complete the work. If you’ve already signed a contract or they’ve started working and problems arise, you may need to work with the contractor to troubleshoot and get the work done.

After the Rototilling Pro Has Finished

After the rototilling pro has finished prepping the soil in your garden, there are a few next steps:

• Start planting your flowers

• Make the final payment and close out the contract

• Discuss any future work

• Write an online review along with pictures 

• Offer to be a reference for future clients if you are highly satisfied

• Schedule any future jobs if you’re planning ahead