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Chillington hoe, or baby hoe, as alternative to a mattock.

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  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    I got my mini mattock today. The handle is obviously very short, so won’t help with the bending, but I’ll certainly find it useful. We have a couple of extremely steep slopes which I’ll be able to wield the lightweight mattock at. 
    I will still need something with a long handle and the azada/ digging hoe sounds just what I need, thanks, Ceres. Any recommendations for brand or where to buy will be most welcome. I’d prefer to buy in person, but unless I can brave the local garden centre, it may have to be an online purchase.
  • NorthernJoeNorthernJoe Posts: 660
    Just bought a bulldog mattock with chopping and pick ends. I thought I had need of it to deal with a tree stump. The stump ended up being too big for us. What else are they good for than chopping roots. Digging around stumps and root/stone infested ground?
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    Ergates said:
    I got my mini mattock today. The handle is obviously very short, so won’t help with the bending, but I’ll certainly find it useful. We have a couple of extremely steep slopes which I’ll be able to wield the lightweight mattock at. 
    I will still need something with a long handle and the azada/ digging hoe sounds just what I need, thanks, Ceres. Any recommendations for brand or where to buy will be most welcome. I’d prefer to buy in person, but unless I can brave the local garden centre, it may have to be an online purchase.

    I bought my azada from these people http://www.get-digging.co.uk/tools.htm but at present they have nothing for sale. May be worth contacting them to see if they are still in business.

  • I bought my partner an azada for Christmas from here https://www.rinkit.com/products/garden-hoe-with-handle-azada-garden-tool?variant=3471084035&gclid=CjwKCAiAjp6BBhAIEiwAkO9WupYX1d_VjYjoE-abD-c4Z_EoXF4Pu1mQC-MwpOlwZcbWSwZIHAVA2hoC67cQAvD_BwE but they don't seem to have any either. Really useful tool - I dug a hole for a clematis and had to chop through a golden hop root the size of my wrist all without having to change tools!
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    Just been out to try my new mini mattock! It made short work of some bramble roots, although I did have to bend to wield it, as it just has a short handle. Still planning to track down an azada which would keep me upright, but the mini mattock was very efficient. I’m glad I got the one with flat blades on both sides, I nearly ordered the one with a pick on one side, which I don’t think I’d find so useful.
    Still not quite what I need, but a very useful item to have, and at £12.99, it’ll come in very handy.
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    @Ergates - I tend to use my mini mattock from a kneeling position (no bending) - a bit like an old miner working in a low ceiling heading.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    @Topbird, I should try that. Will need to make sure I’m not accidentally kneeling on any critters though, I can’t get up in a hurry!
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    I finally ordered my Chillington light hoe last week. Got it from the manufacturer as couldn’t find one in the garden centres near here. Post and packing was eyewatering, but it did get here the very next day.
    So far, have only done a few trial jobs with it to try it out, but it does seem to be what I wanted. Light enough to work with, but seems very strong. I’ve been clearing ivy which has covered big chunks of the garden, and digging out bramble roots, and it’s doing the job very well so far, no bending needed and no back aches yet.
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    Well, had another session with the chillington light hoe. Good and bad. It’s certainly easier than a spade for digging over the surface ground, at least it is for me. However, the head keeps coming loose. I’ve followed the instructions for seating it, by banging the handle on the ground, but it hasn’t gone down as far as the instructions suggest. I’ll take a photo and contact the manufacturer for advice.
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