Garden Tools

rossk26

rossk26

rossk26

Soldato
Joined
23 Nov 2009
Posts
5,409
Location
North East of England
Wanting to embark on a massive clear out of the overgrown back garden.

There's no lawn, as the majority of the garden is taken up by the conservatory and decking.

I need:

Shears
Spade
Bags
Gloves

What else?

Wanting fairly decent quality tools, so it makes light work of it all, but not wanting to spend £100 on a spade!
 
A digging fork is useful if you're digging up soil. they penetrate a lot easier and most of the time what you dig up with them stays in tact and you can use them like a spade; but they make much lighter work of it. I prefer digging with a fork - unless you're digging sand then they're a bit useless :P

This entire range:
http://www.screwfix.com/search?search=neverbend

was recently half price for one day only so I pretty much bought the whole lot as I was in a similar position to you. I'm happy with the spade and the fork. the shovel is useful but you probably don't need such a gucci one (but can if you want) I'm not entirely sure if there's better you can get for around £30 - there might be but I'm not sure!


These are the best rubble sacks I've come across:
http://www.screwfix.com/p/rubble-sacks-roll-pack-of-30/88855
you will be surprised by the size of the roll!

You mention shears - they're okay for.... shearing but if you're truly clearing stuff out you may want to add some ratchet secateurs like thses:
http://www.screwfix.com/p/spear-jackson-ratchet-twist-secateurs/91293
they can go through pretty big branches very easily as they have a rathchet action. Anything bigger (like trunks or very heavy branches) and you will need a hand saw or a bow saw.

Other than that a wheelbarrow or handful of £4 flexibucket tubs from B&Q are handy to have for moving things around. Wheelbarrows are cheapest from B&Q at the moment for a basic one. around £24.

depending on what you're doing you may want a little hatched or mini mattock too.
 
If you need things like rake, hoe, broom etc then I couldn't recommend Wolfgarten tools more. These can be used with interchangeable handles (different sizes available) and are really solid and save on storage space.

Loppers are useful too as cheesyboy has said. I think mine are Spears and Jackson and with keeping up maintenance have lasted me years.

Shears may be useful too - I have some Wolfgarten telescopic ones and they are really good and stay nice and sharp (again do need a little maintenance to keep them like new, as with all these things).

Some good quality secatures may be of use too
 
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nIckEl101 said:
if you have any big roots to dig up, I'd recommend a mattock. (like a pickaxe but with flat blades)
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Definately this, I removed the root ball of a small shrub using a spade and fork.

Took me ages and ended up breaking the fork and bending the spade!
 
Another vote for loppers. A pruning saw comes in very handy as does a long handle prunner for those bits you can't reach. You should have a fork. Don't forget a garden broom. A pair of safety googles.

If you do have a lot of hacking/cutting to do then an electric saw works wonders. :D
 
Thanks everyone!

Was planning on popping to my local Wilko's to pick up a spade and some shears. But might try and do it properly and get some quality tools that will last.
 
rossk26 said:
Thanks everyone!

Was planning on popping to my local Wilko's to pick up a spade and some shears. But might try and do it properly and get some quality tools that will last.
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you will just end up paying their premium range prices for average tools! don't bother.

places like screwfix seem unlikely for this kind of thing but are often the best.


re: mattock I never found a full sized one too useful, and after watching my brother doing this kind of work he uses a newcastle drainer spade / spit (they go by a few names but you will know it when you see it) for that kind of work. he's removed a few tree stumps and roots with one of those. it's probably my mattock tecnique at fault to be honest though
 
R B Customs said:
you will just end up paying their premium range prices for average tools! don't bother.

places like screwfix seem unlikely for this kind of thing but are often the best.


re: mattock I never found a full sized one too useful, and after watching my brother doing this kind of work he uses a newcastle drainer spade / spit (they go by a few names but you will know it when you see it) for that kind of work. he's removed a few tree stumps and roots with one of those. it's probably my mattock tecnique at fault to be honest though
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Ive never used a Newcastle spade but cant imagine how it will even come close to a 5lb mattock being swung from 12 foot up in the air smashing through everything underneath it. I need to replace some fence posts so will pick up a Newcastle spade and give it a try on some remaining root balls.
 
maccapacca said:
Having just been forced to purchase tools from the place I hate buying stuff from (Homebase) I bought some of the Wolf range of Multi Change Tools http://www.wolfgarten-tools.co.uk/multi-change-tools-main/multi-change-tools-inner I'm actually surprisingly impressed
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They are really good quality (exceptionally solid) - I've had mine for years and years and nothing but impressed.

I've got the push-pull weeder (hoe), soil rake, springtine rake, cultivator, edging tool, fork and a few sized handles. About to get myself a decking brush for it as well. Amazon seem to be cheapest I can find.

I also have one of their electric lawn mowers (10 year warranty finally sold it to me) and it's been brilliant, much better than Flymo rubbish.
 
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Mattock definitely. Remember though, much like a sledge hammer, you shouldn't actually be swinging it behind and overhead that often, it's just as effective swinging from the side and in front but uses much less energy IMO. They are also great to lever roots out of the ground and the flat mattock edge is great to scrape the topsoil and remove bigger weeds before digging. It's almost a one stop shop for garden/scrub clearance.
 
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