I use stainless steel border fork on my heavy clay but I'm gentle with it and always give it a sort of circular wiggle before I lever out clay if it's compacted. I'm forever leaving them out so mine doesn't have a wooden handle. It was out since before Christmas when I used it today. No rust . No rot. I find the carbon steel tines snap off whereas if the undergardener bends the SS tines, they can be put back into shape
I think the problem is that I need a spade or fork for when I need more leverage than I can do with a trowel. So anything that requires gentle use can't stand up to it (I do loads of wiggling, unsticking etc). Our carbon digging spade is fine and strong but I have got injured using it so a smaller, lighter border spade might be better (mainly so I don't need to dig into or lift as much soil at once). A trenching spade might also work? Our soil sticks to any tool so they become much heavier.
No problems with wooden handles here so far as I tend to put them away. I did forget and leave the digging spade in a bucket of water for a few days to try to soak the sticky clay off after digging out a tree and it went slightly rusty but that wiped off no problem with a brush.
Bending back the tines on the fork doesn't work unfortunately as they bend back out of position as soon as it is used.
Thanks! I don't know what caused mine (I'd been doing quite a lot of DIY and shifting stuff about in the house that summer, as well as gardening) but the gloves might be worth the investment to help prevent a recurrence.
Edit: on closer inspection only the fingerless liners come in anything close to being small enough, and that's out of stock . I'll maybe have a hunt around now that I know that such a thing exists.
The hand physio said a really common cause for it is people painting their house over a bank holiday weekend! So DIY, digging or anything out of normal routine can cause it and it won't necessarily hurt at the time (mine didn't, then got worse over a week until I couldn't use my hand at all any more and it was awfully painful).
Much depends on the plants you grow now or intend to grow in future. You may not need loppers now but as your shrubs get woody, you might! I bought a new lightweight stainless steel spring tine rake this week and can't believe how much easier it is to use for lawn care/moss removal after the heavy one I've had for many years. [...]
Thank you for your ideas. That is a really good point about shrubs growing chunky enough to need loppers. I will keep the loppers and they are good quality and work nicely.
A spring tine rake is a possibility. I think we can manage with just the lawnmower to pick up leaves but my husband wants a rake.... What lightweight one did you find? I have seen that folding ones exist as well so that would take less space. We have the WolfGarten handles but buying a new rake head is so expensive!
@B3 Also, what is it about undergardeners that mean they have to bend or break so many tools?! Mine said he better not use my Felco secateurs, Silky saw or loppers after managing to bend and chip in multiple places my previous secateurs, in about 5 minutes of use!... Forks don't last either. Our digging spade (builders type) and pickaxe are about the only garden tools he can use his strength freely without damaging them.
A spring tine rake is a possibility. I think we can manage with just the lawnmower to pick up leaves but my husband wants a rake.... What lightweight one did you find? I have seen that folding ones exist as well so that would take less space. We have the WolfGarten handles but buying a new rake head is so expensive!
I have the Wolf Garten multi-change system too @Randommoose1 but I agree, the rake attachment is too expensive! I bought this Spear and Jackson rake from my local garden centre and am pleased to learn from this link that it has had an award! I particularly like the fact that is lightweight and has a comfortable grip handle.
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No problems with wooden handles here so far as I tend to put them away. I did forget and leave the digging spade in a bucket of water for a few days to try to soak the sticky clay off after digging out a tree and it went slightly rusty but that wiped off no problem with a brush.
Bending back the tines on the fork doesn't work unfortunately as they bend back out of position as soon as it is used.
The Clip Gloves also come in a ladies small and medium versions which are 7cm and 8cm respectively. Some places only sell the men's version (9 and 10cm). For instance here:
https://www.theglovestore.co.uk/products/clip-glove-shock-absorber-ladies-gardening-gloves-heavy-duty?variant=32857639518293
A spring tine rake is a possibility. I think we can manage with just the lawnmower to pick up leaves but my husband wants a rake.... What lightweight one did you find? I have seen that folding ones exist as well so that would take less space. We have the WolfGarten handles but buying a new rake head is so expensive!
Also, what is it about undergardeners that mean they have to bend or break so many tools?!
Mine said he better not use my Felco secateurs, Silky saw or loppers after managing to bend and chip in multiple places my previous secateurs, in about 5 minutes of use!... Forks don't last either. Our digging spade (builders type) and pickaxe are about the only garden tools he can use his strength freely without damaging them.
Spear & Jackson 3155EL Select Stainless Flexo Lawn Rake : Amazon.co.uk: Garden