Autumn is a good time to tidy up the yard and garden after all that summer activity. There is a range of tools and accessories to help you in this process, and here are a few we selected to put to the test
GARDEN-GEAR-TWO-WHEELED-WHEELBARROW
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This two-wheeled barrow has 78 litre capacity and can manage loads up to 120kg.The chassis is made from hardwearing powder-coated steel paired with a highly durable polypropylene tub. The handles have rubberised grips for comfort. The next weight of the wheelbarrow is 12kg with a tray size of L90 X W65 X D27cm (L36 x W25½ x D10½in).
DOBIES
www.dobies.co.uk
TEL: 0333 240 5933
PRODUCT CODE: G4057
PRICE GUIDE: £79.99
KG VERDICT
Some self-assembly required with this but nothing major- just a few nuts and bolts and the instructions are good. You may find with one wheeled barrows that they tend to topple over if you don’t spread the load evenly or if it’s resting on a bit of an incline. With this two-wheeled barrow you may have less manoeuvrability but it makes up for it in stability. The tray has a good capacity to accommodate heavy loads, such as soil, manure or bags of compost, and for lighter loads, such as hedge cuttings or weeds. A very user-friendly and effective garden accessory.
18-INCH GARDEN BRUSH
This RHS-endorsed 45cm (18in) sweeping brush can be used for sweeping and cleaning jobs, especially for larger outdoor areas. The stiff and dense bristles are made from bassine, a natural material of coarse leaf fibres from the palmyra palm tree. The head and handle are made from FSC-certified hardwood with a leather hanging loop for storage. It comes with a two-year guarantee.
BURGON & BALL
www.burgonandball.com
TEL: 0144 233 8262
PRODUCT CODE: N/A
PRICE: £18.99
KG VERDICT
This is a very effective sweeping brush, especially useful for sweeping larger yards because of the width of the actual brush itself. The bristles are closely packed and strong to gather together petals, leaves, dust and any litter blown in from elsewhere. The tool comes in two parts – the handle needs to be screwed into the top of the brush. The leather toggle at the top will come in useful for hanging the brush up after use.
3 IN 1 LEAF RAKE
This Kent & Stowe 3 in 1 Leaf Rake has a wide head which is attached in two halves. In this combination is can be used for gathering leaves in larger areas. The two halves are detachable and also serve as handheld leaf grabbers. For narrower areas, you can just leave one half of the rake in situ for tighter spots in beds and borders. This rake comes with a 10 year guarantee.
WESTLAND
www.gardenhealth.com
TEL: 01480 443789
PRODUCT CODE: Go to website for stockists
PRICE: £24.99
KG VERDICT
The plastic head comes in two parts, both detachable. With both in place the head gives you a width of 60cm (24in). which gives you plenty of raking capacity if you have a lot of ground to cover. Where borders are concerned, you can just detach one of the two parts, and when you want to lift a heap of gather leaves you can detach both parts and use has handheld leaf grabbers. A versatile leaf rake that can be used for both large and small areas of the garden.
GARDMAN LARGE POP-UP BIN
Useful for gathering up garden waste and clippings this pop-up bin is made from durable polyester. Its steel spring frame allows it to be compressed flat for storage and easily popped up when required. It has three strong handles for moving it about the garden. Dimensions: Height 60 x Diameter 46cm (24 x14in). Volume: 100 litres.
MARSHALLS GARDEN
www.marshallsgarden.com
TEL: 01480 774555
PRODUCT CODE: 10907199
PRICE: £24.99
KG VERDICT
Great for collecting hedge trimmings, leaves and weeds, it is very light and, with the strategically placed handles, very transportable when filled. With a 100 litre volume, it can take a lot of matter. When not in use, it can be easily stored it is collapsible. This is a very useful accessory to have about the garden for a good autumn tidy up and for use the rest of the year too.
LEAF GRABBER
With long handles and wide collecting blades, this leaf grabber enables you to collect leaves and hedge cuttings without the need to bend down and work at ground level. The handles have non-slip grip and the grabbers can be removed for cleaning. Dimensions: 50cm (19½in) width collecting blades. Overall length: 92cm (36in)
SPEAR & JACKSON
www.spear-and-jackson.com
TEL: Go to website for stockists
PRODUCT CODE: LEAFGRABBER
PRICE GUIDE: £26.99
KG VERDICT
The grabbers have enough capacity for picking up a fair quantity of autumn leaves but they are also very good for picking up thorny hedgerow clippings without the need for you to use your hands. The teeth of each grabber are very effective in closing in and securing whatever is being picked up with little spillage. Lightweight and strong, these leaf grabbers are great if you want to avoid bending for whatever reason.
