Weed Pullers

[Sue_CT]

I have heard good things about the Fiskar 39” weed pullers. Many people seem to have the 3 prong but it seems like the 4 prong would probably work better, especially on dandelions. I also read somewhere that Costco has one that is good and heavier duty, but it must be seasonal because they have little on their site for gardening right now and nothing like that. Anyone have one of these and how do they work? Since I got so sick for months after putting down mulch I want to keep doing things, but without breathing in the soil, and I also don’t want to waste my money.

Not lazy, and although I don’t need a lung transplant right now, they said at the transplant center that if I get another bad infection like that that could change pretty quickly. I am looking for safer ways to do the things I still want to do.

Any recommendations?

[karstopography]

https://kalinzy.com/products/gardening- ... nUQAvD_BwE

What about a weeding hoe? Rather than pulling weeds out, cut them away.

[zeuspaul]

I do most of my weeding with a kana hoe. I panic when I can't find it therefore have several. I like this one with the curved blade. Either slice the weed off towards the top of the root or turn it downward to get deeper. I also use it for hole prep for transplants. I find it easier on my back than the stand-up hoes.

Kana hoe.png

[MissS]

I too use a Kana Hoe

[Sue_CT]

Thank you. The biggest part of the problem here is that I need to keep my face away from the soil. No shaking off dirt from the weeds, bending over freshly disturbed soil, etc. I have the physical ability to just sit on the ground and pull weeds and shake them off, etc. I can’t count the number of times I blew my nose after working in the garden and there was dirt in my nose, lol, or wiped my face and found the dirt had gotten on my face. That is all a no-no for me now because there are organisms in the soil that can make me very sick and they INCREASED by immune suppressant so I will be even more vulnerable. I need to be able to do it with a mask on and while standing up so I am not breathing in dirt. Maybe it’s impossible. Sighhhh.

[rossomendblot]

I have a Fiskars puller. It's pretty good, sometimes struggles with very long roots. How well it works it quite dependent on the moisture level and compactness of the soil. You sort of pump it to release whatever it's pulled up, so you don't have to bend down to pick it out. Even if the root does snap off, the process is quick and easy, so not the same frustration as when being down on your hands and knees carefully digging the taproot out.

[MissS]

@Sue_CT check out the link below for long handled tools. I also use the stirrup hoe. It's great for early in the season before the weeds get big. The Push Pull Hoe looks like a winner too. It goes deeper and still looks light enough for me to use.
https://growhoss.com/collections/hand-t ... st-selling

[CrazyAboutOrchids]

We have a Weed Hound I bought oh about 23 years ago when I was uber pregnant with a new house and a lawn made of crabgrass and dandelions. Mine is all metal, solid, it's awesome! Just about as simple as it gets for weeding - PLUS, it's a stand up weeder so your face and hands would be far away from the soil. I don't see them for sale at Home Depot anymore but did find some on Ebay - the cost is exorbitant! https://www.ebay.com/p/1900103758 Home Depot does have a Fiskars 4 claw weeder - it appears plastic but is well rated. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fiskars-Sta ... /206837521

Mine won't always pull all the roots - you need to center the prongs over the center of the weed and sometimes that can be a challenge. When you step down on it, the claws go in, grab and you pull up, out and then push down on the handle up top to release. Super simple. I would knock them into a black garbage bag when pregnant - now I knock them into a bucket. I am in CT as well so can tell you it DOES work here. Husband flipped when I loaned it out to a new neighbor 2 years ago who in turn, didn't return it. I stopped in and thankfully got it back this fall. Only trouble I have had is in the driest of summers, but spring and fall it is amazingly simple.

[bower]

I could never figure out how those 3-4 pronged ones work - there's at least one old rusty one in my Dad's shed but he never taught me to use it. We didn't use the hoe much either, so using hoes at the farm has been a bit of a struggle, and TBH I don't think I've advanced beyond 'clumsy novice' stage in spite of some long rows of practice. The hoe might actually use muscle groups in the upper body that have never been activated LOL or that's what it feels like. (I had the same reaction to whippersnipper fwiw). It's pretty effective though for most weeds and you can dig up deeper ones by turning on its end.
A wheel hoe is a great standup tool for weeding between rows. All you have to do is push it, so it's really light work. It will only take out the roots to the depth of its wheel though. Just looking at pics, I think the one at the farm might be an antique LOL of the 'rotary wheel hoe' type. This would be no good for weeding around tomato plants though, and they're expensive I see.

What about the simple garden fork for those deeper rooted things? At least, it's ideal for digging them up, and you could then use the Fiskars or Weed Hound for picking them out if you can't pull and toss with the fork itself. My mom has a two pronged fork, like this Dewitt 'two pronged weeder'.
https://www.crocus.co.uk/product/_/dewi ... 000010057/
It is really effective for getting deep roots without disturbing nearby plants.

Where the issue is not to get close enough to breathe any soil, your main issue with weeders is going to be stuff that gets stuck on the weeder and has to be removed. I think with the two prong fork, most things that get skewered are easy enough to remove with your boot. Bigger problem with forks generally here, is now and then, a perfectly sized rock gets in between the tines, and it's some trouble to get them out.
A simple hoe does have the advantage that nothing gets stuck to it except dirt, which you can easily scrape or hose off from a distance.
Keep us posted, I'd love to hear how the new tools work for this issue.

[Sue_CT]

That fork is interesting, have never seen them locally but I am sure they are available on the internet. I will wait until closer to spring to buy something and make sure it is returnable if it doesn’t work for me. I will let you know how it works out. Thanks for the ideas.

[zeuspaul]

Clear weeds without bending over — this gizmo 'saves your back and time'
Twist away your gardening woes, and save your joints, with this anti-crouch, stand-up grass-grooming tool.
Yahoo Life Shopping Editors
Wed, June 26, 2024 at 1:58 PM PDT

So your garden is being overtaken by weeds — we get it. But squatting and bending is tough on your back — we get that too. The way we see it, you have three options: 1. Let the weeds win; 2. Shell out hundreds for a pro service; or 3. Grab this smart tool that gets the job done without crouching. Grampa's Weeder, named for its old-school design, is a big hit among Walmart shoppers and no wonder: Engineered to work from a standing position, it pulls weeds without straining joints.

Amazon
Grampa's Weeder
Simply place the tool over a weed, push it into the ground and lean on the long handle to unearth the roots and the pesky plant in one fell swoop.

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https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/clear-w ... 23567.html

weeder.jpg