For questions about the maintenance, usage, techniques, evaluating, and storage of gardening tools.
3
votes
2answers
163 views
How can I weed trim without damaging a fence?
I keep damaging the bottom of my fence with my gas weed trimmer. What is the best way to prevent damage to my fence while using a gas trimmer?
2
votes
1answer
55 views
How to replace my gas hedge trimmer rope starter
The rope starter for my Craftsman Gas Hedge Trimmer disconnected from the engine while pulling to start.
Please explain how to reattach this rope starter. I am a DIY individual.
Thanks for your help.
...
2
votes
2answers
198 views
What could cause a weak or no spark from a string trimmer's spark plug?
I got a free string trimmer from a buddy who couldn't get it to start.
I did a compression check by pulling the pull starter and the compression seemed good. Next I pulled the spark plug, put it ...
2
votes
3answers
101 views
Getting gardening stakes in stony ground
I need to get some stakes into the ground surrounding my garden, as my neighborhood has large populations of deer. However, the ground is pretty stony, so just physically forcing the stakes down into ...
4
votes
1answer
47 views
What to look for in a good electric chainsaw?
I will need it for clearing large tree limbs and small trees, mostly for storm cleanup in a medium sized yard surrounded by mature, healthy trees.
I am looking for recommendations for safety and ...
5
votes
2answers
80 views
What is the risk of using 4% 2T mixture in a chainsaw that needs 2% 2T?
I accidentally ran a Stihl MS 261 chainsaw on a 4% mixture for 3 tanks instead of the 2% oil to gas mixture it should have had.
Would this have done any damage to the machine should I do anything ...
1
vote
3answers
859 views
What is the difference between a spade and a shovel?
I was just reading this article, When would I prefer a shovel with a rounded blade over one with a pointed blade?. The answers said something like, "That's a spade not a shovel".
So what is the ...
4
votes
2answers
103 views
When would I prefer a shovel with a rounded blade over one with a pointed blade?
I've got used to shovels that have a pointed blade like this:
which is more or less the right shape for digging ground. Now the very same shovel (same handle, same everything) comes in this design ...
4
votes
2answers
163 views
Is shovel made of spring steel really worth it?
A local shop offers a shovel made of spring steel (specifically - steel used for leaf springs) which is like twice as expensive as a regular one. The implication is that using special steel makes a ...
5
votes
1answer
79 views
Identify a doughnut-shaped free-spinning mower part
I serviced my mower this morning and gave it a clean with a hose with a moderate level of water pressure. It appears that I have blown a part off the lawn mower though I am not sure how. I can't ...
2
votes
1answer
116 views
What could be wrong with this leaf blower?
A little over a year ago, after complaining about the amount of cord I had to use with our electric leaf blower I was gifted an inexpensive gas blower. A Ryobi 150 mph 400 CFM Gas Blower Vac from home ...
-2
votes
1answer
102 views
1
vote
1answer
66 views
How do string trimmer accessories compare to dedicated tools
I'm considering purchasing a gas powered string trimmer, after my previous electric one died.
I've noticed that some offer accessories. I have also been thinking of getting a cultivator, and that's ...
7
votes
0answers
92 views
What to look for in a robotic lawnmower?
The idea of a robotic lawn mower is appealing, but it seems that most of the robotic lawn mowers currently on sale are overpromising their delivery somewhat. Amazon reviews are in many cases a mixed ...
5
votes
1answer
416 views
Taming the jungle, power heads vs old fashioned “weed eater”
I have a back yard I need to tame. Lots of Kudzu and small brush (< 1/2" diameter). Growing up we always used the old fashioned string trimmers. However going to shop now I see very, very few ...
7
votes
1answer
354 views
I need to mow a lawn filled with Rocks galore
I need a lawn mower that can handle rocks and tall thistle bushes. I go through a lawn mower a year it seems. 90% of our ground is granite with a shallow ground covering. Any suggestions?
5
votes
1answer
122 views
Which style of weeding tool for small, densely planted flower beds and raised gardens?
I bought a house with beautiful landscaping: small flowerbeds and decorative shrubs and trees, tucked away in various corners of a hilly, rocky lot. The flower beds are very densely planted.
There ...
5
votes
1answer
156 views
Are cordless electric string trimmers “good enough” for a medium sized yard?
I recognize that gas trimmers will be less expensive and won't have the battery life issues cordless electric trimmers have (and corded is impractical - too many obstacles in the yard.) BUT! I would ...
8
votes
1answer
182 views
What is the proper technique for using a flame weeder?
How do I use a propane flame weeder in my garden? I want to use it to keep weeds under control but I do not want to harm my vegetables.
4
votes
1answer
87 views
What is the typical “mileage” for a gasoline chainsaw?
I want to roughly compare a gasoline-powered chainsaw to a battery-powered one. I can't find any quotes on how many cuts (and of what specific material) a gasoline chainsaw can do on some specific ...
7
votes
1answer
184 views
What is the right type of rake for oak leaves, twigs, acorns on a Zoysia lawn?
I haven't had a lawn to speak of in my current home, but am having it sodded with Empire Zoysia in the next couple of weeks. I'll need to clean up oak leaves, twigs and acorns in the front yard on an ...
7
votes
1answer
391 views
What sort of hose nozzle should I look for such that it won't spring a leak after just one frosty night?
I bought a hose nozzle that looked robust (though made mainly of plastic) last year and let it sit out over the winter (temperatures get down to -30 ºC). This spring, naturally, the nozzle was ...
3
votes
1answer
36 views
How can I dissolve the gunked up fertilizer in a Scotts Turfbuilder drop spreader?
My spreader is gunked up with fertilizer so that the agitator does not spread out the fertilizer and seed anymore. How can I dissolve the fertilizer that is gunked in the agitator so that the spreader ...
7
votes
5answers
2k views
How do I choose a good tiller (cultivator) for a 1000 sq. ft. garden?
I'm getting ready to till about 1,000 square feet, but the problem is I have no experience buying tillers. However, I don't know much about buying them. What should one look for in a garden tiller ...
7
votes
1answer
147 views
What qualities should I look for in gardening tools so that they're long lasting?
I've been purchasing most of my lawn equipment from a home improvement store and most of the equipment (rakes, shovels, etc) I have bought from them over the last 2 years has broken during what I ...
10
votes
3answers
658 views
Lawn Dethatching tools
My lawn is full of so much thatch that I can bend down and pull up handfuls. I used a steel rake to pull up some today but it is still full of thatch. I feel like I could continue raking for days and ...
20
votes
18answers
1k views
What are the (essential) Tools that every gardener should own?
Credit where credit is due, this idea is pinched from over here: Tools that every Do-it-Yourselfer must own
What tools should every gardener own, have at their disposal (preferably essential tools)? ...
9
votes
3answers
423 views
What can I use to quickly and inexpensively create metal plant labels?
Has anyone had experience with creating their own permanent metal plant labels/tags?
My grandfather has an old Graphotype machine that he uses to label his metal plant tags, but they're rather ...
11
votes
4answers
474 views
Should I paint old garden tools?
I've got some old tools (shovels and pitchforks) that were my grandparents. The metal parts look like they were painted (a lot has worn off), I want to sharpen them and fix them up following the ...
