I affectionately call my mattock the “Mad Axe” because of its incredible strength. It has a sturdy fiberglass handle and a stout steel head with a horizontal adze on one side and a pick on the other. This is my go-to tool for breaking up thick clay soil, digging trenches, and chopping through roots. I use it to score the sides of planting holes to encourage root penetration and to pry well-established plants from the ground. The heavy head takes advantage of gravity to add more force to every swing, making this one powerful tool. I plan on replacing my older mattock soon with the 5-pound fiberglass-handle steel pick mattock currently available from Kobalt (pictured).
—Kimberly Toscano is a horticulturist based in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She is the previous host of Oklahoma Gardening, a weekly PBS television program.
Source: lowes.com
Price: $30
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This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features:
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Ashman Garden Cultivator (1Pack)
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Solid Build—The Ashman Garden Cultivator/Tiller is strong in construction so that it can withstand heavy work in the garden. The blade and the shaft are coupled well for deep digging and uprooting the soil from the depths. It serves the purpose of cultivation very well. Create a blooming crop and watch it blossom and reap the benefits. Sharpened Fine piercing Blade—The blades are razor sharp and are made to pierce into any kind of soil and to serve digging, loosening soil, and weeding. The blades are rust-proof and have chip-resistant coating enhancing durability. Use it to control weeds, bury crop residue in the soil, and for preparing a proper seed bed.
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