tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736928270390224037.post1690837162392335775..comments2024-03-28T11:53:52.593+00:00Comments on Rachel the Gardener: Hoeing: why I don't do itRachel the Gardenerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17025126472323801610noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736928270390224037.post-59915410277579903182018-08-19T09:21:36.619+01:002018-08-19T09:21:36.619+01:00All good points, Mal, but of course I am talking a...All good points, Mal, but of course I am talking about gardening, not about allotments: as I said, "perfect for allotments"!<br /><br />And yes, I forgot to include a para on "how to actually use the darned thing", good point!<br />Rachel the Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17025126472323801610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736928270390224037.post-90243299352433337552018-08-17T08:48:40.597+01:002018-08-17T08:48:40.597+01:00I would go along with all you say, but for my rece...I would go along with all you say, but for my recent conversion to the "oscillating hoe". It was described to me as a life changer. A bit strong, but only a bit. As a vegetable grower on an allotment everything grows in rows. A regular hoeing and all is taken care of (apart from the interplant gaps where they are smaller than the hoe). The oscillating hoe has a sharp stirrup shaped blade that is mounted on the end of a pole in a way that allows it to wobble 30 degrees or so back and forth. In practical terms it halves the hoeing time. The ease of use means it is deployed more frequently. Even with weeds that have grown shamefully large I found this week that it acted as a sort of hoe/rake gathering the now disconnected weeds into a ball. Provisos: not so good with taproots or the other nasties you mention. I only use it in the vegetable patch. My home garden is, as you describe - a real jumble with everything crammed in far too close together. But for what it is worth the oscillating hoe gets my vote. I got mine on the net but since spotted it as a line stocked by B&Q at a reasonable price. The golden rule of hoeing? Always work backwards so you don't replant the dislodged weeds and compact the fluffed up soil.Malhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17169050358049841998noreply@blogger.com