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New build

Holly 3Holly 3 Posts: 36
in Tools and techniques
Hi,

I bought a new build in December and its just an empty plot.
I have planted some bare root plants but half a spade down below the great top soil is bricks and hard clay style rocks. 

I ordered a mattock tonight as I heard they can cut through rocks and hardcore etc. Is this a good tool to use?

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    oh yes.
    Devon.
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Definitely.  Saves bending the tines of your digging fork and breaking your spade... it's still hard work though...   ;)
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
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  • Holly 3Holly 3 Posts: 36
    Sure. I’ll let you know :-)
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    The mattock I use has 2 short blades at right angles,  one a bit like an axe for chopping through roots etc, the other an excellent strong lever for getting out rocks.
    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mattock-Wooden-Grubbing-Biggest-Discount/dp/B008C7HYNO
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    Freddies Dad said:
    Never heard of that took before, so had to look it up. Looks like a pick axe with a sharp chisel like part instead of a point. If it works wel do let us know please.

    We are fortunate in Scotland that we do not have a lot of the really hard clay or flinty soil they get in some parts of England, with the result that there are not many gardeners in Scotland that need a mattock. I have always thought of it as a particularly English tool! . With all our rain, our clay soil is almost soft enough to make pots all the year!
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    Freddies Dad said:
    Never heard of that took before, so had to look it up. Looks like a pick axe with a sharp chisel like part instead of a point. If it works wel do let us know please.

    We are fortunate in Scotland that we do not have a lot of the really hard clay or flinty soil they get in some parts of England, with the result that there are not many gardeners in Scotland that need a mattock. I have always thought of it as a particularly English tool! . With all our rain, our clay soil is almost soft enough to make pots all the year!
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
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  • Holly 3Holly 3 Posts: 36
    Freddies Dad said:
    Never heard of that took before, so had to look it up. Looks like a pick axe with a sharp chisel like part instead of a point. If it works wel do let us know please.
    Its too wet to try the full garden but I tried a small patch of clay and its amazing! It crumbles it right up.

    As its a very heavy tool I dont need to put much effort in or raise it very high (which app your'e not supposed to anyway)

    Recommend it!
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    They're great tools: used pretty much all over Europe from Portugal eastwards and down through Africa and into Asia. I bought a nice "head" for one in India. 
    It always amazes me that we've never really "caught on" to them in UK.
    Devon.
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