Grubbers

The Xact weed puller from Fiskars is the product we chose to kick off our reviews. It is one of the new batch of weeders that differ from the traditional design.

One advantage of this weeder’s new design is that it has a 1 metre long shaft so you don’t have to bend or squat down to dig the weeds out, reducing the risk of strains, aches, and injuries.
Using a grabbing mechanism that is activated by the controls on the handle, the stainless steel tines can grip and remove the weed’s roots buried up to 10cm under the ground.

At the bottom of the tool, just before the tines, there is a foot pedal protruding from the side. This is for you to press your foot down on to aid the weeder digging into the ground much like you do with a spade.

To make sure their product provides the right combination of robustness and manoeuvrability, Fiskars have chosen to make the shaft of this weeder out of a strong glass-fibre reinforced plastic that keeps the overall weight down to under a kilogram.
The top of the shaft, the handle has been covered in a soft, non-slip rubberised material for better grip.

• Long shaft means you don’t have to bend or squat down
• Stainless steel tines act like a claw to remove roots up to 10cm deep
• Made from robust fibreglass
• Lightweight materials mean it weighs less a kilogram (930 grams)
• Protrusion for you to press down with your foot and help the tines dig down
• Comfortable, non-slip coated handle

Daisies can be a pain to get rid of. Those tiny flowers actually hide a much larger root under the surface, and those weeds will just keep coming back until you get rid of it.

This daisy grubber from trusted manufacturer Spear & Jackson is part of their ‘elements’ range that is proving to be very popular with customers.

These elements models have been made with hard wearing materials to a high standard but sell at a very reasonable price. The head of this tool, like the rest of the range, has been made out of heat treated carbon steel, which makes it extremely strong and durable so you don’t have to worry about accidentally hitting a stone or two hidden under the soil.

The carbon steel has even been given an epoxy coating to step up its longevity and protects it from things like rust, corrosion, humidity, and more.

Ash is the wood of choice for the handle and it has been coated with a clear lacquer to make it waterproof and prevent it getting weather damage.
 This Spear & Jackson daisy grubber is 28.5cm long and weighs next to nothing at only 150 grams.

• Part of the ‘Elements” range from Spear & Jackson
• Hardened carbon steel head makes this tool very robust
• Epoxy coating will prevent rust and corrosion and protect from other elemental damage
• Solid ash handle has been coated with a clear lacquer to make it waterproof
• A very popular tool with plenty of good feedback

We continue our weeder and grubber reviews with another modern style garden tool, this time from Orientools.

Similar in design and function (but with some differences) to the Fiskars Xact weed puller, this is another weeder that allows you to work standing upright, thanks to the 103cm long shaft.

To keep the tool’s weight down to a minimum, this shaft has been made out of rust proof aluminium, a material also known to have strength well above its light weight. The top handle and middle handle are covered in polypropylene plastic and give you a strong grip on the tool.
 The tines that dig in and grab the roots are made from stainless steel, again known to be rust resistant and also good for preventing soil sticking to it. To activate the grabbing motion, you simply slide the middle ‘handle’ forward towards the tines, then tilt the tool back and remove the weed and roots.

It’s a simple mechanism that works very well. 
Like the Xact weed puller there is a foot pedal to press on to help with penetrating the soil.

• 103cm long means that you can work while standing upright
• Rust proof aluminium shaft keeps the weight to a minimum while providing strength
• Stainless steel tines will prevent soil adhering to them
• Comfortable polypropylene handles allow you a firm grip
• Simple ‘sliding’ movement operates the tines

Our next weeder is another Spear & Jackson product, their Stainless Steel Weeder and fulcrum model.
 The fulcrum that has been added to the standard weeder design is there for the purpose of providing you with extra leverage. This comes in very handy when you come across a particularly stubborn weed root that needs a little more elbow grease to rip out.

It has been given an ergonomically shaped handle made out of polypropoylene and it feels soft to hold while also giving just enough friction to secure a nice grip on it.

Spear & Jackson have opted for stainless steel for the head and fulcrum and it has been mirror polished to give it an eye catching finish, which also helps to combat soil sticking to it. The shine from the polished steel is a beautiful contrast to the blue and red colour scheme of the handle.

This weeder is 33cm long and, at 240 grams in weight, is easy to handle without wrist strain.

• Has a fulcrum to provide you with extra leverage
• ergonomically shaped polypropoylene handle gives you a good grip without blisters
• Mirror polished stainless steel head and fulcrum to fight rust and soil adhesion
• Eye catching design and colour
• Lightweight tool

This light weeder is the next product in our best garden weeder reviews. 
It works differently to its sister product though and is meant to be used to quickly remove weeds from soft soil while turning over the soil as you move it back and forth. Great for flower beds and such but not for lawns.

The 15cm working width is actually a very good fit for getting in the spaces between your plants where weeds just love to grow. It is narrow enough to get in the spaces while being wide enough to remove a nice amount of weeds at once.

The steel tines are good quality and very durable, and the extra-long (172cm) aluminium shaft is also tough for something so light.
At the top of the shaft there is a plastic handle that has a hole in it for hanging the tool up in the shed.
This is a very well made garden tool, that is worth shelling a little extra out for as its durability and longevity will no doubt save you money and headache in the long run.

• Excellent quality product and will last a long time
• Extra-long 172cm shaft makes it comfortable to use even for tall people
• Lightweight aluminium shaft
• Strong steel tines and 15cm working width
• Great for fast weed removal from soft, stony soil like flower beds

From the same ‘elements’ range as the daisy grubber we reviewed earlier, this dandelion weeder is another exceptional product offering very good value for money.

It shares the daisy grubber’s build quality and is made of the same materials- a heat treated, epoxy coated carbon steel head for hardness and longevity, and a waterproofed, solid ash handle.

So what’s the difference? Well, this weeder is designed to tackle that most annoying of weeds- the dandelion.

The long straight shaft of this tool is meant to be pushed down vertically right next to the dandelion, a few times to loosen it up somewhat, then dig down again and lift out the plant by its roots. 
Its streamlined design means that you can do the same weeding work as with a trowel but without causing a lot of damage to your lawn or beds.

• Very good value for money
• Waterproofed ash handle
• Long streamlined head is perfect for digging up dandelions without damaging your garden
• Hardened carbon steel with epoxy coating for longevity
• Rust and corrosion resistant

We bring this article to a close with this review of a low cost weed puller from AMOS.

It is yet another weeder that you can use standing up and measures 100cm long, with 7cm long prongs to get a hold of those weeds.

To use this tool, you simple press the prongs into the ground by pushing down on the ‘crossbar’ handles. Then the grabbing action is produced by you twisting the tool. You then tilt it slightly and lift the weed out and release it into a trash bag or a place of your choosing by pushing the handle down again.

This product is comprised of an aluminium shaft so it won’t ever rust, and plastic parts for the handles and connectors. This makes it extremely lightweight for such a large tool at only 372 grams.

Like most of these types of weeder, it does leave a hole in the ground where the root was pulled out, so to reduce the damage, I suggest performing your weeding when the soil is wet and be prepared to replace what comes out.

• Low cost for this type of weeder
• Aluminium and plastic construction makes this very lightweight and rust free
• Easy push, twist and pull mechanism
• 100cm long with 7cm long metal prongs
• Can use standing upright and will reduce injury risk