[Thamesmeadhammer]

It's an early Christmas present for me !

All weekend I shall be working my new hoe in,

I shall banish all those nasty brumbles, weeds and cout (sp) grass !

Haha
I'm now the King of my Plot

[AndyRVTR]

What kind/make of Hoe is it... I managed to break two last weekend and I now need a new one...

[Thamesmeadhammer]

It's a 8inch Azada Hoe from get digging.co.uk

£27 with P + P

Happy days

[She'sinthegarden]

Please go easy with it. There must be a certain technique as I used mine for the first time the weekend before last and spent the rest of the week in agony with my neck and back. To be honest, I didn't find it as thorough as a fork on my long-uncultivated new lottie. The soil is heavy clay,though. The azada (sp?) just chopped it (and the weed roots) into big chunks. I then had to smash them up with the fork anyway so I gave up and went back to the fork. I could feel the strain in the back of my neck so I probably wasn't using it properly. It's a shame the Get Digging site doesn't have a video clip to have a look at.
Anyway, I hope you have a better experience. I just don't think it's as easy peasy as it sounds on the site.

[Thamesmeadhammer]

Please go easy with it. There must be a certain technique as I used mine for the first time the weekend before last and spent the rest of the week in agony with my neck and back. To be honest, I didn't find it as thorough as a fork on my long-uncultivated new lottie. The soil is heavy clay,though. The azada (sp?) just chopped it (and the weed roots) into big chunks. I then had to smash them up with the fork anyway so I gave up and went back to the fork. I could feel the strain in the back of my neck so I probably wasn't using it properly. It's a shame the Get Digging site doesn't have a video clip to have a look at.
Anyway, I hope you have a better experience. I just don't think it's as easy peasy as it sounds on the site.

What a great tool ! Easy to use even the wife had a couple of swings ! only downside the handle could be a bit longer.
Yes it does chop thru the clay and roots but my lottie is covered in couttgrass (sp) and it's like a carpet !The hoe gets right under this blanket and it becomes easy to lift away.
There is a knack to it, but if you let the head do the work rather then swing it's very easy !

[Minty]

I thought about buying one of these but I'm still trying to find one with a longer handle.....if anyone comes across one could you please let me know

[Pete C]

I thought about buying one of these but I'm still trying to find one with a longer handle.....if anyone comes across one could you please let me know

Chillington Hoes look very similar and have a 5ft handle. They are in a catalogue I have from Edwin Tucker and Sons (seeds)
HTH

[loubylou29]

I have a chillington Hoe, and I cannot get the hang of it. It has a long handle but the 'head' swings around the end of it, I keep meaning to put a nail in it to keep it from knocking me out when I am mid swing!

I don't use it really, I have heard it's meant to be this wonder tool, but I am obviously doing something very wrong!

[Christine]

Hmm - I'm intrigued but think that I shall stick with spade and fork for clearing as I'm used to jungle clearing with those after having a look at this item. Old habits die hard.

To me a hoe is for those wonderful summer weeds and I've used a swoe for so many years I can't use any other one. If you don't like stainless steel as you can't sharpen these tools it is not the one for you - but it really does outlast other tools that I've met in the dim and distant past.

[Minty]

Christine,I was looking at the swoe the other day and I'v got to say I'm tempted to get one for the summer as they are really well made and I like the way they are either push or pull.

Pete C,Thanks for the info I will check Tuckers out.

Loubylou,I think the head is usually a push fit onto the handle so it might just be a case of holding the head and tamping the handle in on something hard to stop it moving.Btw where in this fine city are you a plotter?

[NICK.STONE]

I'm new to this aswell. Got a plot late summer i took it on and was only the 3rd person on the site with another 20 + plots not been used. My plot was completly covered in switch grass. i hired a rotovator for 3 days and went at it like a mad man. After 3 days it looked like i hadn't even touched it, devastated. i went on the web and got on to get digging and went straight for the Heavy Duty Azada. it arrived i bunked off work early and went to the plot with my new purchase. what a god send it cut through the grass like a hot knife through butter. good by to roots, docs everything, it is my pride and joy.

[PinkTequila]

Hmm - I'm intrigued but think that I shall stick with spade and fork for clearing as I'm used to jungle clearing with those after having a look at this item. Old habits die hard.

To me a hoe is for those wonderful summer weeds and I've used a swoe for so many years I can't use any other one. If you don't like stainless steel as you can't sharpen these tools it is not the one for you - but it really does outlast other tools that I've met in the dim and distant past.

You can get a carbon steel swoe, harder to find but I managed to get one, much better as I can keep it razor sharp. This replaced myfather's swoe that he bought in about 1970 that I felt needed retiring.

I have just bought a chillington hoe to deail with a thickly rooted border, I have attached the head properly though so it does not swing around.

[PansyPotter]

Hi there, I can certainly recommend my hoe, Ive had it since Feb this year, and used it on at least a weekly basis right through the summer, it is a long handled hoe from wolf tools. It is part of the Wolf Garten range which you purchase a handle, then buy all the snap on attachable heads seperately, they are not cheap, but I have the hoe head, and the rake head. Click on the hoe head, do your stuff, then swap to the rake head etc. It's fab for us ladies, very light, but also indestructable. I have spent a good couple of hours merrily hoeing my plot, and havn't had any aches or pains following such a stint.

Another plus, is that I leave the handle in my shed up the plot, and take the heads home with me in a carrier bag. So I just take up which head I want to use on that particular occasion, and lessen the risk of theft from my shed while I'm at it.

I'm 5'7" tall, and I don't have to stoop at all with it. Another chap 4 plots up from me has the same hoe, and he swears by it. Hope that helps  

[leafmould]

I bought a Chillington hoe earlier this year, it's brilliant, proper quality piece of kit this, best gardening tool I've bought..... ever.

[diggerjoe]

I couldn't manage without my azada - same as Thamesmeadhammer great for getting under the carpet of grass and levering it up  -also brilliant for earthing up spuds and making trenches for peas sowing etc I went for the medium weight and manage it ok.