The most popular mini or small garden tillers would probably consist of tillers and cultivators by Troy Bilt and Mantis. You will find small 2 cycle or 4 cycle engines, some louder than others, some till deeper than others, and some are heavier. You really want to take note of your specific gardening needs, such as how much rocky and rooty your land is.

You also have to decide if you are looking for an electric or gas powered tiller. Electric tillers may have more convenience and are easier to start and are quieter, but gas tillers may be more reliable and powerful. It depends on your needs and your yard.

Some gardeners are concerned about small tillers being too bouncy and hard to control. It depends on which little tiller you are considering. For example the popular Mantis 7225 2 cycle gas powered tiller weighs only 22 pounds and you might find it a little bouncy. But the Troy Bilt TB154 electric garden cultivator is 34 pounds which is still not too heavy but may be easier to control.

Either way it might be a good idea to have a good pair of gripping gloves to help you control your tiller.

If you are looking for the extra durability factor, you may go along with the decision of many others and choose a tiller that features a Honda engine. The Mantis 7262 is a 4 cycle gas tiller that is powered by a Honda engine and is very popular.

So you can see that there are many different features to consider and not all tiller and cultivators will have every feature. So take note of what you need for your yard so that you can by a tiller that will do the work your garden needs.

Whether you go with the Troy Bilt TB154 or the Mantis 7225 or the Mantis 7262, you will want to keep in mind that these are small tillers which cannot handle large rocks and giant roots. They should deal with smaller rocks and roots just fine but they only have so much power. Also mini tillers are not usually meant for tilling hard ground.

I recommend you go with either the TB154, the 7225 or the 7262 if one of these is right for your situation. But mini tillers are powerful, efficient, and usually easy to store in your garage or shed. If you're sick of the manual back breaking labor of hand tilling, it may be time to invest in a small garden tiller.