[jimbeekeeper]

Like you, my plot at bottom of my garden used to be farmers field.

Hired a Rotovator first off to dig over as farmer had not used the land for a couple of years.

Yes for first couple of seasons weeds where quite bad due to being chopped up, but now I would say they are in control

A couple of weeks after rotorvating, yes the couch grass springs up, but the soil is that light that I can slowly pull the whole root section up.

I have both the mantis tiller and a Howard 350, both great machines and each suited to their own roles in the plot.

No issue with bowl effect, as you will get that what ever you do.

[veggieman]

I have an ancient rotovator bought on ebay, about 6 years back, for £80. It is a boon for me but I would always dig the ground roughly by fork first. I have very stoney soil and, no matter how many times I have dug it, I am always finding more big stones that it is best to remove before going over it with the rotovator.

If you have the facility use it in reverse gear, rather than in forward gear, so that you don't walk over and immediately compress the soil that you have just rotovated. I am surprised at the number of folks who only use a forward gear when they have a reverse one on the machine.

[totalnovice]

Our allotment site has a couple of rotovators to hire, and i wouldn't be without them! My soil is so heavey and so compacted from not being cultivated for a long while that digging by hand, even roughly, would kill me off!

Use what ever means makes life easier for you, and ignore the funny looks. 

[zazen999]

Rotavate away; just manage the ground afterwards.

For example; weed as soon as the roots start sprouting after the rotavation.

And cover what you aren't going to grow on asap; to keep the weeds from getting any light - it really helps.

Just do what I do when anyone makes a disparaging comment; 'It's part of a trial'; and make a few notes on a piece of paper before you go and everyone will think 'ooh, it's part of a trial'. It really really works.

[jimbeekeeper]

If you have the facility use it in reverse gear, rather than in forward gear, so that you don't walk over and immediately compress the soil that you have just rotovated. I am surprised at the number of folks who only use a forward gear when they have a reverse one on the machine.

I would be carful walking backwards with a Rotovator just in case you trip up and the machine carries on over the top of you.

On my howard 350 yes it has a reverse but it is on a "dead mans handle" i.e you let go and it stops, and is really only for manovering the unit.

Far better and again on my howard, is the ability to slew the handles to one side or the other thus still walking forward but you are on the un-dug side.