Mantis Composter Twin

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MANTIS® TILLER -Free Kickstand and Border Edger Attachment Order now and we'll toss in Free shipping!


MANTIS® ComposT-Twin – for a continuous supply of compost! Free Activator and Guide to Composting. One-year money-back guarantee.

When you finally get your act together and you’ve built that modern green Platinum prefab, got the décor and eco furniture all dialed in, your Prius Touring Edition perched in the driveway, and you eat that first organic victory apple, you’ll be tossing the core where? Composting, like the rest of the mod green life, should be done in style, folks. And you have options: indoor/outdoor, analog/digital. I stumbled on the Mantis ComposT-Twin and thought it deserved a place in our arsenal. This may, in fact, be the best looking off the shelf composter I’ve yet seen (despite Mantis’ admirable efforts to sabotage it with infomercial-esq marketing). Elevated on a frame for easy loading and easy rotation, the ComposT-Twin has two chambers, one for maturing compost and one for the freshly added stuff. Not satisfied with your ComposT-Twin in the first year you own it? Send it back for a full refund! Pricing in at over $400, this is not the dumpster diver’s bin, but if you’ve got the dough, the love of detritus, or want a nice free composter for a year (I didn’t say that),

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Mantis Garden Products Border Edger

Keyword : Mantis, garden, gardening, tiller, cultivator, compost, composting, compost-twin, log splitter, splitting wood, swiftsplit, trimmer, edger, pruner, garden cart

Makes it easy to beautify your property with sharp, clean edges around paths, flower beds and bushes. Wheel and hardened spring-steel blade attaches easily to your tiller. Cuts neat, crisp edges where your flower beds meet the lawn. Maintains a sharp edge between lawn and gardens. FREE if you order a Mantis Tiller/Cultivator NOW! See Product Detail Here

Assembled Mantis Electric Tiller

Keywords :Mantis, garden, gardening, tiller, cultivator, compost, composting, compost-twin, log splitter, splitting wood, swiftsplit, trimmer, edger, pruner, garden cart


The Mantis Electric Tiller/Cultivator makes gardening extra easy! The powerful electric motor is so easy to start, and is so quiet to operate. Includes a FREE Border Edger and Kickstand, plus a FREE Owners Video. When you buy direct from Mantis, you get the most complete electric tiller package, PLUS, free shipping. And, your tiller is delivered direct to your door... what could be more convenient! The Mantis Electric Tiller/Cultivator is backed by a two-year warranty, plus a lifetime warranty on the tines against breakage. That's not all. The Mantis Tiller is backed by the Mantis Promise. Click here to see the Mantis Electric Tiller features. You can get the Mantis Electric Tiller/Cultivator fully-assembled ...just take it out of the box, and you're ready to go! Can it get any better? See Pricing Here

How to Have a Good Lawn ?

The lawn can be likened to the canvas on which an artist paints a picture. An attractive lawn adds much to the enjoyment of home ownership and outdoor living. Having an attractive lawn requires careful preparation of the soil before planting plus regular maintenance.

Starting a Lawn

PREPARING THE SOIL In starting a lawn one should consider the subsoil as well as the topsoil. The subsoil must be well drained. A sandy loam is best. If you have a heavy, clay subsoil, tile drainage may be required. The surface should be carefully graded to allow surface drainage away from the home. No pockets should be left where water will stand. Avoid unnecessary compaction of the subsoil.

At least 6 inches of topsoil should be added. This should be done in steps. First spread a 2-inch layer over the surface and rototill it into the subsoil. This will help make a gradual transition between the topsoil and the subsoil. Next add the remaining 4 inches of topsoil and spread it evenly over the surface. Rake the surface to provide a uniform seedbed free of shallow depressions. If you saved the topsoil that was originally on the lot, reuse it. If you purchase topsoil to add to what you already have, be sure that it is a mineral soil of good quality. Black muck from old lake bottoms is not very satisfactory.


SEEDING Before seeding, it is good to mix in some fertilizer. A fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium, like an 0-20-20, should be added at a rate of 20-30 pounds per 1,000 square feet of surface. Work the fertilizer into the soil, using a rotovator. This gets the phosphorus and potassium into the soil, where the root system of your lawn will develop. Immediately before seeding, apply Vz pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. This can be left on the surface. If you use ammonium nitrate, 33-0-0, it will take only P/2 pounds per 1,000 square feet of surface.


You are now ready to plant your grass seed. For a sunny lawn with few trees, your grass mixture should be high in the Kentucky bluegrasses. For a shady lawn, the mixture should be high in creeping red fescue. The proportion of bluegrass to creeping red fescue can vary from 80 to 40 percent for the Kentucky bluegrass depending on the degree of shade. The amount of grass seed to be planted varies with the kind of seed and the method of seeding. If you use a mixture, you need about 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Less could be used if you obtain an even distribution of your seed. Seeding can be done by hand, but a better job can be done with a whirlwind type of seeder or spreader. Seeding in two directions is best to ensure even distribution. Measure the lawn area. Purchase the correct quantity of seed. Divide the seed into two equal quantities and sow a half in each direction. After seeding, rake the seed in lightly. Do not cover too deeply since bluegrass seed requires light for germination. Rolling with a lawn roller partly filled with water helps firm the soil and place the seeds in close contact with the soil particles. Water immediately, using a fine mist. Repeat as necessary to keep the surface of the soil moist. Continue watering until the grass is well established. The length of the intervals between waterings can be lengthened after the lawn shows green.

SODDING If you have a steep slope or need an immediate lawn, sodding may be preferable to seeding. It is more expensive and the choice of varieties is usually more limited. The same soil preparation is required whether you seed or sod. It is important to buy freshly cut sod and to lay it immediately. Watering during the first few weeks is critical. In laying sod on a slope, place the strips parallel to the slope. Adjoining strips should touch and be staggered like bricks on a wall. This prevents erosion of the soil. Take time to

FERTILIZERS By Mantis Composter

The use of commercial fertilizers in both farming and gardening has increased steadily. In the past these fertilizers have been relatively cheap and have been the most economical taining soil fertility and productivity, with the use of Mantis Composter Twin. When properly used, give excellent results.

The analysis of the fertilizer is indicated on the bag. The percentage of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P 2 O 5 ), and potassium (K 2 O) must be shown. A 10-10-10 fertilizer indicates that the fertilizer contains 10 percent each of N, P2O 5, and K2O. The higher the numbers, the more concentrated the fertilizer. The selection of a fertilizer should be based on the crop to be grown. If you desire vegetative growth, a fertilizer high in nitrogen should be used. If you are growing a crop like tomatoes where fruits are the main concern, a fertilizer high in phosphorus is best. For potatoes, which store a great deal of starch in their tubers, a fertilizer high in potassium should be used.

In the vegetable garden, where one grows a variety of crops in a relatively small space, it would be impractical to use a different analysis of fertilizer on each crop. In my garden I apply a 10-10-10 fertilizer over the entire garden when the soil is being tilled in early spring. By rotating the crops within the garden, the needs of each kind of vegetable are supplied. In a flower border, where bloom is the primary concern, or in a vegetable garden that has received liberal quantities of decomposed organic matter, a 5-10-10 fertilizer may be best. Lawn fertilizers are generally high in nitrogen.

More important than the analysis is the rate of application. A safe rule is to apply the fertilizer at a rate that will supply a pound of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of soil surface. For a 10-10-10 analysis, one would use 10 pounds; for a 5-10-10 analysis, 20 pounds; and for ammonium nitrate (33-0-0), only 3 pounds per 1,000 square feet. It is the nitrogen in the fertilizer that "burns": too much nitrogen in the soil water causes reverse osmosis and the plant loses water, resulting in a "burned" appearance. By controlling the quantity used, the danger of "burning" is virtually eliminated.

A whirlwind type of spreader applies the fertilizer quickly and uniformly. With a little practice the proper setting can be determined in order to apply the right amount of fertilizer. A soil test, which can be made by any soil-testing laboratory, means of mainthey gives a clear picture of the fertility level of the soil and serves as a guide for determining the analysis and quantity of fertilizer needed. See mantis composter here

Mantis Garden Composter Twin and Soil Improvement

Soil Improvement Gardeners must generally start with disturbed soils of low fertility, because the topsoil, characteristic of farm fields, was removed or covered with subsoil during the construction of the home. Fortunately, the productivity of any soil can be improved.

ADDITION OF ORGANIC MATTER Adding organic matter is the key to soil improvement. This increases the granulation and aeration of clay soils and improves the moisture and nutrient retention of sandy soils. It is difficult to add too much organic matter, especially if it is partly decomposed.

Almost any kind of organic matter can be used. Tree leaves, straw, hay, sawdust, wood chips, and ground corncobs are generally available and relatively inexpensive. Manures and peat are also effective.

Composted materials are better than raw, undecomposed organic matter. Various methods of composting exist, with the use of Mantis Composter, this can also be another way to compost materials. A compost pile can be made by alternating layers of organic refuse like tree leaves, straw and hay with activating layers containing decay organisms like soil and manure. The organic layers should be about 12 inches thick. Adding a high-nitrogen fertilizer to the activating layer also

helps hasten decomposition, since the decay organisms require nitrogen for their metabolism. As the pile is being built, the materials should be watered and at the center of the top of the pile there should be a depression to catch rainwater. After about 6 weeks of composting, the pile should be turned over with a fork to provide a more uniform compost. The length of time required to make compost is very variable; it depends on the size of the pile, the organic materials used, the season of the year, and the quantity of fertilizer and activator used. Under favorable conditions good compost can be made in a few weeks. In other cases it may take a year or longer. Special, manufactured compost containers are available and come with instructions. Some gardeners have a pit for making compost; others use concrete blocks or boards to enclose the compost.

The quantity of compost or organic matter to be used varies with the soil problem. Ordinarily 3 to 4 bushels per 100 square feet is recommended. This should be incorporated into the soil by spading, rotovating, or plowing. Organic matter continues decomposing after it is added to the soil, so for best results, one must continually add organic matter to the soil each year.
Green manure crops are also used to add organic matter to the soil. Rye can be planted in the fall after most garden crops have been harvested, and turned under in the spring in time for spring planting. If Sudan grass or soybeans are used as green manure crops, part of the garden must be taken out of cultivation for an entire season.

Garden victories

You've got to admire gardeners. Who else would be willing to take on unpredictable and sometimes insurmountable challenges in their spare time and yet remain eternally optimistic?

Here on Cape Cod, the 2009 garden season started with late frost, persistent rain, chilly temperatures and little sun. To make matters worse, bugs, diseases and, yes, even blight were thrown into the mix. But a Cape Cod gardener prevails.

Close to 50 of them were eager to share the results of their labors as part of the Times' Vegetable Garden Contest -- consider it our own online county fair. In this year of more people tilling the earth to save money on food and make a dent in their own carbon footprints, we had gardeners from Monument Beach to Provincetown showing off the results of the hard work, ingenuity and unconditional love that went into producing their edible crops.

They all sent photos of their gardens to www.capecodonline.com and expert judges took a look. The judges selected three winners based on the criteria of beauty, organization, scale and balance, variety, creativity and overall health.

The results: for large garden, Anne Stewart of Harwich; for medium garden, Thomas Crumb of Marstons Mills; and for small garden, Joyce Stewart of Dennis. Congratulations to all. Each will win a $75 gift certificate from Snow's Home & Garden or Hyannis Country Garden.

Thank you to our judges: Roberta Clark, extension educator with Cape Cod Cooperative Extension; Stephanie Foster, Cape Cod Times garden columnist; and Mike Sarowsky, Certified Master Gardener with Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. And thank you to all who participated.

As this gardening season winds down, take a look at local gardeners' thoughts on the pastime and some of the wisdom they are able to impart from their years of experience. Perhaps it will all help to inspire planning for next year.

Mantis Composter : Gardens in full bloom, but beware of blight

Mother Nature is finally doing what I've been reluctant to do -- water my garden. Because of that, my first zinnia finally bloomed last week.

All summer I've been visiting gardens where the zinnias were adding bright pops of color throughout local gardens. But my poor puny plants, direct seeded in the ground in late May, had shivered in the cold and then struggled in the drought. I watered only when they started bending over as if they were going to crawl back underground.

That one bright pink bloom will soon be joined by others thanks to the recent rains. And the cosmos are perking up and popping open, too.

The perennials have mostly withstood my cruel withholding of water. They're a hardy bunch, and they did what they were supposed to do -- persevered under less-than-ideal conditions. In fact, the black-eyed Susans started blooming earlier than usual and continue to put on a good display along with the phlox.

But for those of you growing potatoes and tomatoes, the UW-Extension is warning gardeners to be on the lookout for signs of late blight, which was found in a Dane County garden first and then in gardens in southern Wisconsin.

Late blight is what caused the potato famine in Ireland in 1845 to 1852, and it's why so many of us ended up growing our potatoes in America. The disease can affect potato, tomato and eggplant. The spores are spread by rain, wind, people, machinery and wildlife -- and under the right conditions it can spread rapidly enough to kill an entire field of plants in two weeks.

To see a picture of what late blight does to plants, check out www.plantpath.wisc.edu/wivegdis. If you suspect you have late blight, call your local extension office. Here in La Crosse, that number is (608) 785-9593.

Landscape Preparation kit with Mantis Tiller Honda Engine

From tillers to power rakes, we put the latest machines through their paces in trying conditions. By Sally Dairy

THE REVIEW PANEL

Rob Pinion, grounds person, College of West Anglia, Wisbech

Barbara Welbourn, assistant grounds person, College of West Anglia, Wisbech

Carrying out a test of cultivation equipment in December was always likely to be plagued by the vagaries of the British weather. That is why we chose to test the equipment in the eastern part of the country. But even at Wisbech the rain can be torrential - so much so that the normally free-draining soil became saturated.

Although the conditions for testing could hardly be further from ideal, we were able to look at six items of cultivation equipment. In the pedestrian section we chose the Husqvarna CRT51 as an example of a wheeled rotary cultivator. It turned out to be a surprise when it came to coping with sticky, waterlogged soil.

The Husqvarna T200 compact and Mantis tiller were selected as examples of small, narrow-width rotary tillers, while the Efco MZ2090R is a full-width tiller. Finally, we looked at two machines from BLEC. The BLEC/ Harley power box rake is a tractormounted, PTO-driven unit for preparing seedbeds and the BLEC SR3H pedestrian rotor rake is a walk-behind unit for use with Honda power tillers.

The rains eased for the duration of the tests but the soil remained saturated throughout this time. The wind was a cold easterly.

It's a traditional-looking cultivator that could have come straight out of BBC TV series The Good Life. But it's a winner. When the tillers in our test finally succumb to the weight and stickiness of the unseasonably wet soil, the tines on the CRT51 keep on turning. This rotary cultivator doesn't know when to give up.

The principle for turning the soil is a tried and tested one, but there is nothing old-fashioned about this machine. In fact, it has a lot of nice, modern features. For starters, it has a modern 5hp (3.7kW) B&S OHV engine, making it easy to start and giving it all the muscle needed for an effective job in densely packed earth and even in the treacle-like conditions encountered on our test site.

We find the machine highly manoeuvrable, thanks, no doubt, to the large 41cm chain-driven wheels with heavy chevron treads that really grip. A counterweight at the front also helps increase the weight on the wheels and gives the machine near-perfect balance.

The working width is just 43cm. But while some contractors might be looking for a little more productivity, there can be no disputing that the CRT51 does an excellent job. Its counter-rotating tines ensure the soil, despite the conditions, is cultivated to an enviable standard. This cultivator digs deep into heavy soils. It can also be used to prepare the surface for a seed bed. The CRT51 can operate at seven different depths down to a maximum of 16cm.

Controls are simple to use and operator comfort is assured by height-adjustable handlebars. The handles do not offset but with OPC on both sides, our testers have no difficulty walking to one side of the machine to eliminate footprints in the freshly turned earth.

The CRT51 has two gears - one forward and a very handy reverse gear. The drive can be disengaged, enabling the unit to be pushed in free-wheel mode. We find it quicker and easier to travel between sites this way but it will also be a useful feature for moving the machine around the shed.

We are impressed with the handlebars and the layout of controls. Everything is within easy reach and where you would expect to find it. This really is a comfortable machine to use. Top marks to Husqvarna.

SPECIFICATIONS!

Engine B&S OHV 5hp

Working width 43cm

Working depth Seven-stage adjustment down to 15cm

Rotation speed 190rpm

Transmission One forward and one reverse

Wheels 41 cm with chevron tyres

Fuel tank 2.8 litres

Weight 90kg

Price ex VAT £730

Contact Husqvarna on 01453 820300

Mantis tiller

If, like us, you have wondered what the point is of a small, handheld, narrowwidth cultivator such as the Mantis, then it is time you took a closer look. The Mantis is muscle without bulk.

There is no disputing that this tiller is compact. It only weighs 11 kg, arrives at our test site in a handy easy-to-carry forthat and is uncurled to give a comfortable working tool. So, the first thing to recognise about the Mantis is that it could be useful if you are short on space in the van or trailer when travelling from job to job or if you need to carry equipment across site.

The second thing to realise about the Mantis is that it is vigorous and a hard worker. It's also quick. There is nothing unusual about starting the unit. There's an "on" switch, a primer bulb, choke and pull cord. If you are not used to small tillers, you find it takes a few minutes to discover the best method of working. With the Mantis the tines turn forwards so you should let the tines dig down to create a hole and then pull the unit backwards.

With a little practice it becomes a relatively easy process to create a decent tilth to a depth of 25cm. It's certainly a very quick process - these tines travel at a speed of 240rpm. It's not a clay breaker, but it could improve the soil with regular use. And, by swapping the tines over, you can also cultivate to a shallow depth for weed management purposes. It should prove useful for working narrow rows or between plants in a border.

There is a choice of electric, twostroke or four-stroke versions of the Mantis. We use the four-stroke in our test. Noise is not an issue with this model. Pinion senses some vibration but, as with most cultivation equipment, vibration does partly depend on the soil and conditions at the time of use.

We reckon there are plenty of situations where the Mantis could prove beneficial. We used it to work a section of border in a glasshouse but it could be used to rip through the soil of old bedding displays in preparation for replanting - especially on those hard-to-get-to sites such as roundabouts. We also suggest the Mantis could be used to "fluff" up compacted surfaces - such as hardened bunker sand.

A range of attachments, including furrower, border edger, de-thatcher and lawn aerator, further extend the use of the Mantis.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine L1hp(25cc) single cylinder four-stroke

Working width 22cm in tiller mode

Working depth 25cm

Rotation speed 240rpm

Fuel tank 0.55 litres

Weight 11 kg

Accessories Planter, plough, plant guard, edger, de-thatcher, aerator, crevice cleaner, weed reducer, wheel set, kick-stand

Price ex VAT £300

Contact Mantis UK on 08454 585868

Husqvarna T200 compact

Its working width is fractionally larger than the Mantis, but the T200 has the appearance of a more "regular" tiller. It has the two-handled styling we expect of a typical "kitchen-garden tiller".

The T200 is lightweight - just 12kg - and the handles fold, so it's easy to lift the machine in and out of a van. Carrying the unit is made even easier by an appropriately positioned grip handle.

We put the T200 to work in the wet, sticky soil and waited for the tines to clog. We don't expect it to take long. And sure enough, the awful conditions on the day of the test prove too much. However, before the tiller picks up more soil than the unit itself weighs, we're able to see the potential to do a good job. Certainly vibration levels are low on this machine.

Before the work was abandoned we noted that, for the small size of tiller, this one has plenty of power. It is equipped with an easy-starting 1,5hp Honda GX31 OHV engine and has a heavy-duty worm gear transmission with triple bearings, giving one forward speed. There is no reverse. The tines rotate at 190rpm and easily dig to a depth of 15cm.

We reckon the price of £320 ex VAT represents good value for money. It is also worth noting that there are various attachments - moss rake, ridger, edger, scarifer - to increase the versatility of theT200.

We would like to work with this tiller again - but in more suitable conditions - and perhaps get a chance to try some of the accessories.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine 1.5hp Honda GX31 OHV

Working width 24cm

Working depth 15cm

Rotation speed 190rpm

Transmission One forward

Fuel tank 0.7 litres

Weight 12kg

Price ex VAT £320

Contact Husqvarna on 01453 820300

Efco MZ2090R

Designed for market gardens, ornamental gardens and smallholdings, the MZ2090R is a tough but nimble tiller, with a useful 80cm working width, that could find work with landscapers and professional gardeners. But like all equipment, it should be used in the right conditions.

The MZ2090R is powered by a Honda GC160 5hp engine and has one forward gear and one reverse. Lifting the tiller from the back of a van is really a twoperson job but, once it is on the ground, its front transport wheels make it a doddle to push it to the work area. Lateral transport wheels would make travel even easier but are only available as an optional extra.

The MZ2090R is of typical "tiller" design - the rotor element bearing three sets of tines on either side of the drive. The tines and rotor are protected by discs on the outside. In fact, this model brims with good engineering and solid construction. The chain transmission has a reinforced guard to protect it from the impact of projected stones and accidental bumps.

Operation of a rotary tiller is something you either love or hate. It can be a battle to hold some tillers in position while they cultivate down to the required depth. Our testers, however, find the MZ2090R is trying to bury itself on more than one occasion.

Using and controlling the MZ2090R is aided by the adjustable handlebars. These adjust up and down as well as sideways - all at the turn of a lever - to ensure an optimum working position can be attained for any given terrain and condition.

Controls are always only a fingertip's reach away and are very simple to use. The MZ2090R has a safety clutch that stops the machine in the event of loss of control but it is also useful when transporting the machine or if you wish to suspend the work temporarily without stopping the engine. Standard equipment includes a drag bar - making it possible to adjust tilling depth and working speed. In use we also find the reverse gear is a must-have feature for manoeuvring the machine and repositioning it for work.

With so many good features, we are disappointed not to be able to use this tiller for longer. However, we have no control over the weather and, with torrential rain during the previous 24 hours, the soil is saturated. It is not long before the rotor is turning a giant roll of mud.

We hope to review the Efco again under more suitable conditions.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine 5hp Honda GC 160

Working width 80cm

Working depth Down to 15cm

Transmission One forward and one reverse

Price ex VAT £657.90

Contact Emak UK on 01543 687660

BLEC/Harley power box rake

As the BLEC's representative unloads this machine from the lorry, he tells us it is one of the company's biggest sellers and that it is not often that he has to put it back on the lorry after completing a demonstration. Half an hour later we can see why that is the case.

The BLEC/Harley power box rake is a time saver. It is a three-in-one, singlepass machine and works as a rotary tiller, a box grader and a stone rake - all at the same time. We test the T-6 model; it requires a 25-45hp tractor, features hydraulic bi-angling to left or right and has a 1.82m working width. It is also available in 1.27m, 1.45m, 2.1m and 2.3m sizes.

We put the power box rake to work on a spare piece of grassland. The first things we notice are the simple design and remarkable strength built into this machine. We are talking heavy-duty frame, oiled-bath double-fifty roller chain and triple-sealed bearings. The teeth on the rotor are carbide-tipped and shaped to give the best possible tilth. On our grassland site, the machine has no trouble tilling into the hard compacted surface, pulverising it and leaving a perfect "fluffy" seedbed.

Speed and depth of cultivation can be matched to soil conditions. You can also choose the size of material you want to leave in the seedbed. Adjusting the gauge wheels also allows for skimming ifyouwanttooverseed.

And with this power box rake, what you see is what you get. There are no hidden extras. The unit comes with all electrical and hydraulic connections included. We reckon this implement represents serious value for money.

This is a machine you should look at if you need to increase work rates when creating areas for seeding or turfing. In addition, BLEC offers a laser system to give total accuracy in preparing new sports pitches.

SPECIFICATIONS

Working width! 82m

Working depth Adjustable

Tractor 25hp to 45hp required

Weight 425kg

Price ex VAT £5,600

Contact BLEC on 01 778 346222

BLEC SR3H pedestrian rotor rake

This is the machine to place your trust in if the site can't be accessed and worked by the tractor-mounted BLEC/Harley power box rake. We test it in the glasshouse border soil at Wisbech College.

The SR3H has been designed specifically to attach to power tillers such as the Honda F720 or F810, and does a three-in-one job to level, grade and rake the soil into a condition ready for seeding or accepting turf. It beats hand-raking and will save a lot of time and effort. BLEC sells the rake already fitted to the F720 or on its own for fitting to your own power tiller or some two-wheel tractors such as BLEC, BCS.Agria and SEP.

The design is simple but remarkably effective.The hydraulically powered rake, bearing all-steel tines, is mounted to a heavy-duty frame with adjustable rear castor wheels. The rotor teeth penetrate soil - even heavily-compacted soil - and fork out stones and debris. At the same time, the contra-rotating tines also level and grade the surface. The adjustable rear castor wheels control the depth

Setting up the machine is straightforward and angling the rotor is controlled hydraulically - just nudge the lever. With the Honda power unit equipped with high- and low-speed PTO, you can make the rotor work at slow speed for initial raking or high speed to give the desired finish. Steering the machine is simple thanks to slewing clutches fitted to the power unit.

What we especially like about the BLEC rotor rake is the smoothness of running. It doesn't take long to master the controls and, attached to a Honda power unit, we find it is easy to manoeuvre into position. Taking the rake off takes seconds to allow access through gateways. Other attachments, including rotary brush and spring-tine rotor, further extend the use of this kit.

Top: the rotor angles hydraulically. Above: SR3H has been designed to fit power tillers

SPECIFICATIONS

Working width 91cm

Working depth Adjustable via rear castor wheels

Transmission Depends on power unit

Weight 145kg alone, 440kg when fitted to Honda F720

Price ex VAT £3,350 for the rake, £5,400 as a complete system with Honda F720

mantis tiller

Mantis Garden Products Assembled Mantis Electric Tiller

The Mantis Electric Tiller/Cultivator makes gardening extra easy! The powerful electric motor is so easy to start, and is so quiet to operate. Includes a FREE Border Edger and Kickstand, plus a FREE Owners Video. When you buy direct from Mantis, you get the most complete electric tiller package, PLUS, free shipping. And, your tiller is delivered direct to your door... what could be more convenient! The Mantis Electric Tiller/Cultivator is backed by a two-year warranty, plus a lifetime warranty on the tines against breakage. That's not all. The Mantis Tiller is backed by the Mantis Promise. Click here to see the Mantis Electric Tiller features. You can get the Mantis Electric Tiller/Cultivator fully-assembled ...just take it out of the box, and you're ready to go! Can it get any better?


See Pricing Here