Beginner Gardening: Recommendations for smaller tiller/WORKHORSE, 1 by valal

valal wrote:
Need a tiller that's on the smaller side. A friend has a SMALL one she bought for $100 but her beds are set and it's just upkeep. That works great. I'm looking for a small tiller (relatively) and dont want to spend more than I have to ($300-400?) but dont know if this is realistic. I am converting a grassy area to flower beds, a little at a time. So far, I have been digging by hand, then friend told me about hers. I want a tiller that will dig up the grass and dig a trench. Saw a great video on Youtube, but it's a UK company/item. Am I being unrealistic? I finally have a sunny backyard and want to fill the border with beds of lovely plants to attract butterflies, hummingbirds, bees...have been doing my homework re: perennials, bought some starter bushes like butterfly bushes, weiglea, etc and planning for fall planting. So ideally would like to buy in August and prep areas. The soil is rather compacted/hard with some stones. Unfortunately my backyard is "up a level" so it's not condusive to bringing in soil or mulch by delivery/truckload, we have been bringing it up by bags, and both my husband and I are getting on in years. We bought our retirement home fairly recently and the front yard is mostly professionally landscaped by the previous owner. I am VERY excited about this project, but have to pace myself as my back is not the best....and a "workhorse" tiller that would dig up the lawn and trench down would be heavenly! :o)
Photo of area attached