QUESTION: Each spring, my husband rents a tiller to till the garden before we plant it. It's getting expensive and I hate being so dependent on him. I'm interested in buying something that I can use on my own. Do we need a cultivator or a tiller? What is the difference?ANSWER: I don't know how big your garden is, but I have some ideas that could reduce your dependence on rented tillers.First some definitions: A cultivator is any tool that loosens the soil for crops. These include garden fork, hoe, spade and mechanical tiller. A tiller is commonly thought of as a gasoline-powered rototiller that cuts into soil to loosen it.If you have been working your garden for some years now, the soil should be loose enough that a tiller is unnecessary. The annual addition of compost to the soil will keep it loose and fertile. If this has not been your practice, start now. At the same time, work in packaged cow manure.A second thought I have is to set up the arrangement of your crops so that you do not walk on these planting areas - ever. I am not kidding. When you plant in single-file straight rows like soldiers on parade, you create rows between these lines that you will walk on. This also wastes space.But if you create blocks, say 3 feet by 3 feet within the garden, you can plant, tend and harvest from outside these areas. Every footstep on a planting area means compacted soil that restricts plant growth. These blocks, often called wide rows, also save space because you devote less terrain to paths. They conserve water because you don't water paths.The more carefully you prepare your soil with good compost and other organic materials, the looser and richer it will become. I know people who never use tillers any more because their soil is so good.This spring, I encourage you to define these planting spaces and cover them with a rich layer of compost, say about 2 inches. Then use a garden fork to dig it into the soil in advance of planting time.If you don't have a garden fork, buy one today. You will be amazed at how useful it is. They come in several weights and sizes. I have three and always reach for the smallest, lightest one because it is so easy for me to handle. Make this your cultivator. It's much better than a shovel, which is best for moving heaps of soil, rather than digging in the soil.Send your gardening questions to Nancy Brachey, The Charlotte Observer, P.O. Box 30308, Charlotte, N.C. 28230.