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Best Tools For Digging Stony Ground and Removing
Roots Most people will use a fork or spade to try
to remove large roots or rocks from soil and the most likely result of
this is a broken tool. Over the last 10 years I have received hundreds
of e-mails from readers who have broken their tools by using them
inappropriately. Forks and spades were actually designed for digging
SOIL and even the strongest of these tools can be broken if you lever it
against an immovable object.
There are much better tools than forks and spades for
removing roots, stumps and rocks. Also they are relatively cheap and
will save you a fortune in broken tools and time and effort too.
The Mattock is an
incredibly strong tool that uses gravity to break into the soil. It
origins go back thousands of years when primitive man used animal bones to
dig and variations have been found through all ages and parts of the
world.
Apart from digging holes, and moving soil this tool is fantastic at
clearing weeds and removing smaller root systems.
Available in a range of sizes and qualities from many manufacturers. .
If you are removing large roots or breaking stony soil buy a
proper pickaxe, or the specialist root digger shown below. So many
people try to lever out roots and stones with their fork or spade which
will most likely cause it to bend or break. The big red metal bar shown
right is the best tool for levering out roots and stones. However, if
you have not cut the roots properly even this wont work so make sure you
have all the roots cuts before you lever. Having the right tool for
the right job makes work more enjoyable and saves time too.
A wooden pick axe handle should last years but if you
want the ultimate strength and a material not effected by heat and
moisture
then buy the roughneck fibreglass handled Mattock axe
using the link in the box above.
The Faithfull digging bar or pry bar will save your fork and spade from
destruction.
The Silverline digging bar has a flat end for your hand and tamping down
Use a root digger and pry bar for deep work when removing stumps and large roots
( the Silverline root digger could be a bit sharper so you might want to put a
grinder or stone over it) |
A
Mattock like this is the best tool to move roots and rocks
a pry bar and root digger may help too.
Pick axe, Pry Bar and Root Digger
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