Not too long ago many people thought that a small garden tractor was just a grownup's "toy." This was when you could find handyman or high-school boy eager to spade up a garden, hoe the vegetable patch or mow the lawn at a price you could afford. The picture has certainly changed. Today, if you can even find anybody to do the work you are lucky. Then you have to compete with business and pay a comparable scale of wages. In many localities this is an impossible situation. Therefore, many people have had to get a small tractor and "do it themselves? Now the tractor is recognized as a valuable piece of garden equipment-definitely not a toy.
As soon as these people began operating their tractors they discovered some things never before realized. Actually the machine is fun to operate and maintain... gone are the tinkering days of the Model T when an owner took pride in keeping it running in top shape himself. They also found that the tractor did an excellent job - comparable to any job done by hand in a fraction of the time. In fact, a garden tractor has spurred many into doing more gardening than they had done previously.
If we can take a hint from people who already own garden tractors, we will select our tractor for the job it is to do. There are many different types of tractors and each one fits into one garden or another.
The smallest machine available is the small pulling-type. This tractor is basically a cultivating machine-and it does a good job, too. It is usually powered by a small engine of 1 to 2 horsepower. This may not seem like too much but it is ample for all cultivation and for using some attachments. The small size and light weight make the machine very easy to handle and maneuver, and even the women operate this type machine quite easily. But don't expect this machine to do the impossible-it is an inexpensive tractor for light work.
Small rotary tillers are first cousins to the small pulling type. This machine is a tiller with revolving tines or hooks, generally mounted in front of, or just below, the engine, which dig and chop the soil. The tines revolve in the same direction as wheels would and the action of the tines pulls the machine forward. There are some which also have propelling wheels. but the majority depend on the tines to pull the machine.
This machine is primarily a soil-working tool. The same chopping action is used both for preparation and cultivation of course, when preparing the soil the tines are allowed to go in deeper than when cultivating. Again, it is a small machine, which makes it easy to handle. It usually has an engine of 2 to 3 horsepower.
You may ask, "ls the engine powerful enough to turn and chop soil'?" It is, if you know what to expect of the machine. For instance, in a light sandy soil you may have to take care that the machine doesn't go in too deep. On the other hand, a heavy soil may demand two or three passes over the ground before it is worked to the depth and condition you desire. Also, don't expect this machine to chop up and pulverize a piece of heavy turf with heavy matted roots and stems with one pass. On these tough jobs you have to take your time. Still it is a lot easier and quicker than doing it by hand!
For real tough jobs of pulverizing soil, you may have to step up to the larger rotary tiller, which is the third machine from the left. This type of machine has a more powerful engine, 3 horsepower or more. The tiller is mounted behind the engine and it has power in the wheels. The tines, then, only chop soil and do not pull the engine. In fact, on some large tillers the tines revolve in the opposite direction of the wheels to provide better chopping.
This type of tiller is a workhorse. I have seen heavy turf pulverized into a seedbed with one pass. It, too, is used for both soil preparation and cultivation. This tiller is a fairly large machine and although the newer models are a lot easier to handle than some of the earlier ones, there are still times when a strong hand is needed when the going gets tough.
The large pulling tractor is comparable to the large tiller. It, too, is powered with engines of 3 horsepower and over and is designed for heavier work than its little brother. With this machine you will be able to tackle larger jobs with more ease. One such job is plowing. The plow used is a smaller version of the ones used by farmers. It does a good job on almost any kind of soil. In fact, there are many vegetable farmers who do all their work with tractors of this size.
Plowing isn't the only thing it does, however. It is also a cultivator and can operate many other attachments. Like the large tiller, it, too, is a man's machine.
The four-wheeled riding tractor is the largest for garden use. Actually it is a light farm machine but of course not nearly as large as the standard farm tractor. It has a more powerful engine than the large two-wheeled tractors usually 5 to 8 horsepower, which is ample to carry the operator and do work, too. The riding tractor is very easy to operate. In many cases, owners of this type of machine say the whole family uses it, even the children. But you need room to maneuver this type tractor; it certainly would be out of place on a property that was only 50 by 100 feet.
Size of property, then, is the next consideration, but by no means the most important. In surveying garden tractor owners we found that people selected the machines for the job they wanted done, regardless of the size of property. There were actual cases where, people with property of less than an acre used machines of the larger type because they wanted to do both plowing and cultivating. In other cases; people with five acres or more were perfectly satisfied with the smaller machines because they had their heavy plowing done for them. Even the "city-lot" boys found use for a small tractor. These people fell into that large "can't-get-anybody-to-help" group. Their tractors are used to get the jobs done and still allow them time for golf and the beach.
Tractor attachments are another consideration. Although most people purchase tractors for cultivating and plowing, many also find their additional attachments very much worthwhile. The various mowing attachments rank high on the preferred list. These include the sickle-bar mower for hay and tall grass, as well as the standard lawn mowers - rotary and reel type.
These attachments are available for almost all garden tractors. Other attachments available include hauling cart, bulldozer blade, snow plow, snow blower and lawn edger. Again, the size of the machine will govern how much work can be expected from the attachment. The various mowing attachments work well on all sizes of tractors and they are even available for some of the rotary tillers because very little power is demanded. On the other hand, the use of the dozer blade may be limited on the smaller machines. It will do its share of work, but don't expect it to push the same amount of soil as a large machine.
One problem with attachments is the ease, or difficulty, of getting them on and off the tractor. Yes, there are complaints, but mostly on the older models. Manufacturers have this problem in mind and are doing all in their power to make appropriate design changes to improve the ease of changing attachments.
Buying a tractor should be considered as carefully as buying an automobile or large household appliance. Shop around and know exactly what you are buying. Some tractors are sold only through garden stores. Still others are only available through exclusive dealers. Don't hesitate to ask for a demonstration preferably on your own garden... if you are buying in a store or through a dealer. Also check on service. Very few machines are absolutely perfect when they come from the factory and some adjustments will be necessary. Above all, take care of your machine and it, in turn, will take care of your garden chores for many years.
