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Manual VS Powered
Richard Oconnor
Posts: 5
Hi All,
Where do you stand on manual tools Vs Powered tools?
I personally am an advocate of manual tools for gardening, I find it somewhat therapeutic along with the added benefits of the exercise and no noise/pollution.
Now I’m not for a moment saying that powered tools don't have their place, I daren't imagine some jobs without them. I just mean where there is choice between.
I ask because I see a lot of people talking about how Powered tools have made manual tools redundant, whereas I really don't feel that way.
A good example tool here is a favourite I recently used, the Grass Whip. It was fair bit of exercise to use but I wouldn't have done it any other way.
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I mow the lawns and strim the wild garden, every thing else manual, theraputic and good excercise, 84 next month and still grow a lot of veg, and look after herbaceous borders as well as said mow the lawns and do a bit of strimming, as well as enjoy country walks.
I've just looked it up and to my surprise, I've got one! I inherited it from my brother when he moved to Prague and apartment living, and I never knew what it was, just call it the Slasher!
It's great, it has got rid of loads of nettles in my sheep field, just keep cutting them back as they regrow until they give up. It's nice to go out for half an hour or so in the evening and bash a few nettles and it's good at getting into awkward corners too. It doesn't like rushes much though, so I have them on my 'One a day' job list and dig them out.
We used to have another really useful tool called a Thistlestick that was somewhat similar, with a curved steel blade that let you get right under the thistle's rosette of leaves and whipped it off, but it got so much use reclaiming our new big field that we wore it out, and sadly they don't seem to be available any more.
I agree about using manual tools. I don't like noise and you feel more in contact with the job somehow. Have even cut down trees with a bow saw, because you can hear every fibre tear and feel when it is nearly ready to go. I then give it a yank with a long rope from a safe distance and avoid being in the danger zone! Too terrified ever to use a chain saw!
Last edited: 10 February 2017 17:55:37
It's like a straight bladed scythe with serrated teeth on both sides, so can be used with either hand
I notice that there has been no comment from those of the other persuasion! I, too, avoid anything with a motor or engine but a gentleman quite close to me lights up at the very mention of horse power. Attachments - yes please; three speeds - I think so; suitable for any terrain - bring it on....
I'd have to say I'm not 100% wedded to one or the other.
If it's easier with a motor , so be it .If I get better results with manual so be it.
How many of eschew a vacuum cleaner in favour of a dust pan and brush when doing our HW?
For once I'm in total agreement with Hostafan1
Why make a job more difficult than it has to be. I use a petrol mower, petrol rotovator and use powered tools for strimming and lawn edging. Since all our old, large plants were removed I no longer need to use chainsaws etc but would if they were the most practical, and speedy, way to get the wanted results.
Power tools aren't always the answer, but I'm not one to do things the hard way just for the sake of it.
Without power tools I would disappear into a forest.
In the sticks near Peterborough
As with housework and DIY, some power tools are essential - lawnmower, strimmer, lawn edger, branch chipper - but for digging planting holes, raking, hoeing and pruning it's hand tools for me.
As we've just taken on a 3 acre plot we're considering a motorised cultivator/tiller to make new beds for our new potager and some new ornamental beds and, whatever we decide, a chappy will come with a mini digger to turn the soil and level it all before we get planting..
Very happy to see all the responses
Yes, the grass whip isn't something I've seen very often either but I can assure you it's incredibly handy and in no way SM (LOL)
I do completely agree with not making a job harder than it needs to be, I'd jump at the chance to get something done in a fraction of the time. I'm just really like the idea of finding manual tools that can do the job just as well
I use secateurs for topiary , but a petrol hedge trimmer for hedges. Both leave a warm fuzzy glow if satisfaction.