Does anyone else use the Garden Claw?

Since we've had all of our rain, I have weeds everywhere and some of them are rooted pretty good and I can't just pull them up. I was thinking about getting the Garden Claw, but didn't want to waste the money if no one liked it. Any suggestions?

I used one years ago at my old house and couldn't get it to go into the gumbo soil, even when I stood on it. It's my impression that if your soil is nice and loose, then it works.

I have mulch down and its easy enough to do in there, plus where I have lots of sand its very easy to do the claw.

Any other place I get out the tiller(well i have hubby do it) All I have to do is cook for him he is my man. The "claw" I have to do. Anyway, I am trying to build muscles. :)
L2G

I always wanted one, also.

My sister bought one. She said it was useless unless the ground was already loose enough to pluck the weeds. I suppose if there are lots of weeds in a recently tilled area it would save some time.

Gary

I agree that they don't work as advertised. I bought one and cannot use it. My 22-year-old grandson can use it for me. LOL If you have loose, fluffy, lovely soil -- fine -- but otherwise, you need a lot of muscle for it.

Karen

I use a hand claw all the time, my Dad who was the one who obviously taught me gardening when I was a child, spent several years trying to teach me how to use a hoe properly so the small weeds got their tops cut off, but he gave up after most of his flowering plants got cut off too, so you should always just use the tools you are comfortable using, it's your weeds, your soil, your plants, so why go with the flow, go with what you like the feel of, I use my claw constantly in my beds and borders as I have more control when bending or kneeling, but I am too useless with the long handled ones you buy, it's like the hoe, I cant control it, my hand held one, I can dig with it, shallow, or scrape, hook up things or flick things with it, so give it a try, dont get a fancy one that has the claws too close together as they dont go into the soil deep enough and only scrape the surface, get one with open claws (talons) and see how it feels, if you buy a hand one, get one with either a wooden handle or a nice fat rubber handle so it is more comfortable in your hand, I still use my dad's old one and it is now almost 90 years old so I have really enjoyed using it all the years I have been gardening, it is the first thing I get out of my tool box when I go into the garden. good luck. WeeNel.

I do have a garden claw and I love it. However, I have never used mine for weeding. I have used it to help loosen up soil for new plantings. Previously, when I was taking up sod, I found this to be extremely useful. It does require a lot of muscle to use it if the soil isn't loose.

This message was edited Jun 18, 2008 5:47 PM

I just use a garden pitchfork.