Forum home› Tools and techniques
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Chillington Hoe

Dave115Dave115 Posts: 25
in Tools and techniques
I`m thinking of investing in a Chillington hoe as I`ve read so many reports of how much quicker and easier on the back it is to use . I may be missing something here,but what is the technique when turning over compressed soil ? Do you still progress backwards as with a spade or fork ? Moving forward with a chopping action means you end up treading on the turned over soil . Some enlightenment,please !

Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IeKKaw5Lc6c
    Found this when I was looking to see what it was
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    They're wonderful tools.
    It always surprises me why we Brits have never really taken to them. .They're certainly used all over Southern Europe and right over into Asia. 
    They can be used like a pick axe, a spade, a rake etc.
    I brought my first "blade" back from a holiday in Kefalonia after watching the " old boy" tend his allotment next to our apartment.
    As for the query about compacted soil. I'd work forward and stand on a plank.
    Devon.
  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,847
    I have one for digging out potato trenches on my clay soil but I wouldn't attempt to use it for turning over the whole plot, a spade is much easier for that job. I can see how it would be good for turning over light soil though.
  • glasgowdanglasgowdan Posts: 632
    Work forwards... your feet won't compact the soil to any significant degree. They're great for certain tasks. If you want to hoe the surface off, the absolute best tool is an oscillating hoe, especially the Glaser one (as I know it's durable, having had one for 7 years!). 
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    I use a double headed one with a 3 prong fork on one side and a medium width hoe on the other. It's not a Chillington but the style is similar. I got it from Tools for Self Reliance and apparently it was made out of old car parts. A really useful tool for all kinds of jobs especially skimming weeds if you keep it sharp. The fork end is great for prying out bramble roots too.
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Hmm, I would call that a Mattock  - ancient and very useful tool universally used in allotments and by builders for a huge range of tasks over here. I have seen larger ones used to dig out huge tree roots, smaller ones great for saplings, brambles, etc. and for breaking new ground. The allotment guys here do use it for turning over their whole plots, a spade is a rarity, available in the German and French DIY stores but probably largely bought by the expats. I can’t remember which way they work though, forwards or backwards, must pay attention when I next see the locals in action!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Dave115Dave115 Posts: 25
    Thanks everyone for some interesting comments. Right now the soil on my plot in Fife
    is pretty wet,believe it or not, so digging with anything is hard work.Maybe better left until later.
Sign In or Register to comment.