[header] How to use a tiller [title] Remove existing sod, plants, and weeds. [step] To make the job of tilling easier and more effective, it's important to remove any grass or plants that are already growing in the soil you want to till. The purpose of tilling is to prepare the soil for new plants, so you start by removing the old growth. 
[substeps] Use a shovel to dig into the ground around the roots of existing plants or weeds. Start a few inches (several centimeters) away from the plant and dig in at a 45-degree angle toward the center of the roots.