No contest! About 35yrs ago I received a Mothering Sunday gift from my daughter. I believe the official name for it is a daisy grubber It is in constant use as a weeder, planter etc but to me it will always be known as Rachel's tool
My best tool bought nearly 10 years ago now. A pair of extendible ratchet loppers designed by women for women. In that time have oiled maybe a couple of times and tightened one screw.
Worst tool a hand trowel designed for "alpine gardening" liked the fact that it was long and narrow...bent the first time I put it in the ground!
I'm pretty happy with my Bosch Rotak40 lawn mower.
Only had to buy one replacement blade so far in about 3 years. That was only because I unwisely tried to mow in a bit of a dip in the lawn by tilting it (the mower, not the lawn!) and the blade caught on the edge of the hole and in a split second, before I could let go or switch off, the whole machine started to dig another channel tunnel by trying to bury itself in the garden.
As the whole machine twisted and wrenched out of my grasp it mangled the blade and nearly broke my wrist. Be warned - don't mow in holes!
Anyone got any advice yet about electric hedge clippers since mine burnt out? I can't do all my hedges with hand shears - as 'green' as I'd like to be.
I would not even consider trying to repair your old machine, if you can still get the parts it will cost more than the machine did when you bought it, sad I know, but we live in a throwaway world now.
my most treasured garden tool are my straight secateurs given to me by my father this year,they are so sharp and neat.
worst tool = I wasted £1 at Poundland on one of the crappiest pair of secateurs known to man!!!!(they didnt cut and then had the cheek to fall apart!) should have known better for that price
A bit academic now as I've committed to a machine just for this season which is cheap (less than £40 inc Vat and free delivery) which has had good reviews. I'll let this thread know how I get on with it after using it for a bit
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No contest! About 35yrs ago I received a Mothering Sunday gift from my daughter. I believe the official name for it is a daisy grubber It is in constant use as a weeder, planter etc but to me it will always be known as Rachel's tool
I agree, a mattock is hard to beat in a crisis.
That makes me think "with a mattock in the library"!
You must read Maud is in the Garden's account of spiky shoes on the thread called:
The daftest thing you've done in your garden - Page 3Can anyone recommend a good electric hedge clipper - preferably below £100.
My B&D (GT545) was great for several years until the motor burnt out today. I'm not sure whether to pet it repaired of replaced.
My best tool bought nearly 10 years ago now. A pair of extendible ratchet loppers designed by women for women. In that time have oiled maybe a couple of times and tightened one screw.
Worst tool a hand trowel designed for "alpine gardening" liked the fact that it was long and narrow...bent the first time I put it in the ground!
I'm pretty happy with my Bosch Rotak40 lawn mower.
Only had to buy one replacement blade so far in about 3 years. That was only because I unwisely tried to mow in a bit of a dip in the lawn by tilting it (the mower, not the lawn!) and the blade caught on the edge of the hole and in a split second, before I could let go or switch off, the whole machine started to dig another channel tunnel by trying to bury itself in the garden.
As the whole machine twisted and wrenched out of my grasp it mangled the blade and nearly broke my wrist. Be warned - don't mow in holes!
Anyone got any advice yet about electric hedge clippers since mine burnt out? I can't do all my hedges with hand shears - as 'green' as I'd like to be.
Son-in-law bought one of these
http://www.diy.com/nav/garden/garden-power-tools/hedge-trimmers/electric_hedge_trimmers/Bosch-AHS-45-16-Electric-Hedge-Trimmer-11337550?ecamp=SEAPLA11848256&ef_id=UZDN5AAAALBWwGZi:20130819140231
Works very well,but he only has 20 feet of privet to trim, can't say how it would cope with Laurel,Beech or Hornbeam.
With your budget in mind I personally would go for something like this though, can't really beat stihl for quality
http://www.alanwadkinstoolstore.co.uk/machinery-c111/hedge-trimmers-c149/hse52-electric-hedgetrimmer-50cm-bar-length-p23893?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=stihl-hse52-electric-hedgetrimmer-50cm-bar-length-hse52&utm_campaign=product+listing+ads#26272
I would not even consider trying to repair your old machine, if you can still get the parts it will cost more than the machine did when you bought it, sad I know, but we live in a throwaway world now.
my most treasured garden tool are my straight secateurs given to me by my father this year,they are so sharp and neat.
worst tool = I wasted £1 at Poundland on one of the crappiest pair of secateurs known to man!!!!(they didnt cut and then had the cheek to fall apart!) should have known better for that price
Thanks Netherfield,
I'll follow up those links for the future.
A bit academic now as I've committed to a machine just for this season which is cheap (less than £40 inc Vat and free delivery) which has had good reviews. I'll let this thread know how I get on with it after using it for a bit