I am having a brutaly hard time digging in the grass with my garden trowel, I saw a guy going psycho with a screwdriver, but how could you not scratch up your find, and I dont really want to lug around a shovel, will the plug even grow back, there has got to be a better way, anybody, please help
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Stoopid question
- Thread starter 5IXX
- Start date
mwaynebennett
New member
TruTemper makes a cool stainless steel serrated cutting digger that comports with the 2" maximum width digging tool rule used in some jurisdictions.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.drillspot.com/pimages/2595/259589_300.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.drillspot.com/products/420089/Ames_True_Temper_682474_GT_7_IN_1_MP_Gdn_Tool&usg=__rhGirZt9w8xznp6tBDHU6Mk5Jrs=&h=300&w=300&sz=40&hl=en&start=5&itbs=1&tbnid=ueHp44XwDAbY9M:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtru%2Btemper%2Bgarden%2Btool%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1
Lowes has them for less $$$.
Mark
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.drillspot.com/pimages/2595/259589_300.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.drillspot.com/products/420089/Ames_True_Temper_682474_GT_7_IN_1_MP_Gdn_Tool&usg=__rhGirZt9w8xznp6tBDHU6Mk5Jrs=&h=300&w=300&sz=40&hl=en&start=5&itbs=1&tbnid=ueHp44XwDAbY9M:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtru%2Btemper%2Bgarden%2Btool%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1
Lowes has them for less $$$.
Mark
Although I'm just learning myself, you might want to try a Bulb planter. You can buy them in any garden center like Lowes, or Walmart. It is a circular tool with a handle on top, that you push in the ground and twist. It makes a hole about 3 inches around and about 3 to 4 inches deep to make a hole, to place a flower bulb in the ground. It will cut right through the sand, or the dirt and it is smaller than a scoop and easy to carry. Hope this helps.
Ive been detecting off and on for ten years, now that im watching you tube videos it seems that the professionals are using that serrated tool mentioned above.
im using a nice metal garden shovel but i didn't realize there were width restrictions like mentioned above. it seems to me like the screw driver destroyes the ground more and the plugs do grow back if you dont chop the roots. hope that was a little help
im using a nice metal garden shovel but i didn't realize there were width restrictions like mentioned above. it seems to me like the screw driver destroyes the ground more and the plugs do grow back if you dont chop the roots. hope that was a little help
Ed in SoDak
Member
It's too rocky here to ever be neat and tidy and we avoid manicured lawns. We hunt tot lots and in the woods where you can just kick it back and level it with your foot.
For lawns, I've read before and it makes sense, if you cut only three sides, with the fourth side serving as a hinge, you can lift up the sod as a flap. That leaves some roots connected and it will recover more easily. Fold the flap over and you have access for more invasive digging.
Maybe the bulb planter could be modified to have a wide gap on one side to leave some roots. I've tried this on a lawn once and it works well enough, but I never went back to see if the grass benefitted from it. As I say, it sure makes sense when you consider how grass grows mostly from rhizomes and travelling, intertwined roots just under the soil's surface.
Some people carry an old kerchief to lay the dirt on. Pour the dirt back in after digging and replace the flap. If the soil is dry, give it a drink from your canteen and move on. But not too much water, or it makes a green spot in an otherwise dry lawn, which is just as noticeable as a dead spot in a healthy lawn!
A little practice with these techniques on your own lawn should give you good results elsewhere and a chance to observe what happens to your plugs over time.
-Ed
For lawns, I've read before and it makes sense, if you cut only three sides, with the fourth side serving as a hinge, you can lift up the sod as a flap. That leaves some roots connected and it will recover more easily. Fold the flap over and you have access for more invasive digging.
Maybe the bulb planter could be modified to have a wide gap on one side to leave some roots. I've tried this on a lawn once and it works well enough, but I never went back to see if the grass benefitted from it. As I say, it sure makes sense when you consider how grass grows mostly from rhizomes and travelling, intertwined roots just under the soil's surface.
Some people carry an old kerchief to lay the dirt on. Pour the dirt back in after digging and replace the flap. If the soil is dry, give it a drink from your canteen and move on. But not too much water, or it makes a green spot in an otherwise dry lawn, which is just as noticeable as a dead spot in a healthy lawn!
A little practice with these techniques on your own lawn should give you good results elsewhere and a chance to observe what happens to your plugs over time.
-Ed
I use both of the methods described above. I tend to use the plug cutter when the ground is wetter and the "hinge" method when it is drier. No scientific data as to which one is the best it just comes down to the target size and a personal preference. One thing to remember when using the hinge method is to make sure you cut it deep enough so it does not get drawn up by the suction of the lawn mower if this is a contributing factor.
Jeff
Jeff
drummerman
New member
mwaynebennett
That knife you posted with the link looks kinda like the one used on Stargate SG1 to kill symbiotes in the Jaffa's pouch.
Jaffa! Kree!
That knife you posted with the link looks kinda like the one used on Stargate SG1 to kill symbiotes in the Jaffa's pouch.
Jaffa! Kree!
mwaynebennett
New member
Ya drummerman, they come in handy in that regard also. I just HATE it when I have to kill symbiotes.
On another note... I have tried the "hinge" method but a commonly occurring problem I have is that the target will be within the "flap" and I have to dissect the "flap" anyway.
Mark
On another note... I have tried the "hinge" method but a commonly occurring problem I have is that the target will be within the "flap" and I have to dissect the "flap" anyway.
Mark
drummerman
New member
I have been thinking of carrying a small bag of that new grass seed I saw on TV. Can't remember the name of the company, but it's advertised as being able to grow grass just about anywhere. Maybe put a little bin on the plug just before replacing and packing it down? What do you guys think? Anybody ever try that kind of method?
mwaynebennett
New member
I think I'll just carry a can of green spray paint.
Mark
Mark
ireland919
New member
i am relatively new but i use and old hunting knife to cut the square and then pry it up with the blade
Ed in SoDak
Member
How about a probe to find the target first and minimize the hole size? Use a long rod or screwdriver with a long shaft but small tip. To the tip you weld a ball bearing to avoid making scratches. Probe by pushing it into the ground in a straight line and you'll note when it strikes metal.
Besides my main machine, a good electronic pinpointing detector is a must for me no matter where I dig. The ball bearing probe would locate the actual target.
Maybe a neodymium magnet could be epoxy glued onto a rod instead of a bearing. You might find out if the target is iron by the probe sticking to it and resisting withdrawal from the soil. The magnet must be glued, it can't be welded because when heated it will lose its magnetism. Found that out the hard way!
-Ed
Besides my main machine, a good electronic pinpointing detector is a must for me no matter where I dig. The ball bearing probe would locate the actual target.
Maybe a neodymium magnet could be epoxy glued onto a rod instead of a bearing. You might find out if the target is iron by the probe sticking to it and resisting withdrawal from the soil. The magnet must be glued, it can't be welded because when heated it will lose its magnetism. Found that out the hard way!
-Ed
m_j_henry73
New member
I'm new to this hobby but I use the Tru Temper Garden Tool mentioned above and love it. It has a nice flat spot on the end so you can use the palm of your hand to push it in without your hand getting sore. I bought this at my local Lowe's store when I bent a brand new garden trowl that I bought just for this hobby. You definitely will not bend this thing. Hope this helps. Happy Hunting!