Typically relate with vintage farmers and hayrick , a New pitchfork in reality merit a place in your garden toolshed . interchangeable in appearance to a garden fork , a pitchfork has a long handgrip and fragile , pointier prongs . If you do n’t already own one , you might consider a trip to a agriculture supply or hardware store and see about stupefy a pitchfork for these tasks :
1 . Working garden soil
Maybe you move around to a rototiller for prepping your garden soil in the outpouring . But if you tend more“no - till ” and prefer not to heavily work the soil , a pitchfork makes a overnice tool for loosen up the primer coat just enough to make it comfortable to set . Because of how the prongs are designed , it ’s well-fixed to advertise a pitchfork into the soil than a shovel , and when you turn the grime over , the pitchfork aerates and gently relax up severely - packed section that have become to a fault compressed from winter nose candy . Renegade early smoke can also be keep in check at this time . keep an eye on out for louse and be careful not to harm them ! ( If you have a orotund garden , you might look into a broadfork . )
2 . Removing sod
When clearing way for a new garden or expanding your current location , you may need to take away existing sod in edict to enter the soil below ( though you may also be interested in build up a upraise bed above intact sod ) . Again , if you ’re looking to do this in the least encroaching room possible ( or if you just have a small surface area to clearly ) , your pitchfork is helpful . For this , a true pitchfork ( not a garden branching ) , has the lean and sharp prongs needed to penetrate even thick superoxide dismutase . Once you ’ve agitate the pitchfork in the grass ( do n’t seize with teeth off more than you’re able to manage ) , rip the grip down , forward , and side to side until the modest square of sod break loose . While it ’s still attached to the pitchfork prong , go ahead and give the piece of sod a few bangs on the land to dampen complimentary any wanton surface soil that you definitely want to keep in the garden . Then use the pitchfork to discard the sod into a waiting barrow or garden cart . Easy !
3 & 4 . Mulching and compost
Perhaps you have a large plenty of grass clippings that you plan to target around the substructure of a bed to help oneself keep the soil moist . A pitchfork can help you make quick work of the pile and is precise enough to help oneself you place themulchjust where you want it . A pitchfork is also an idealistic shaft for turning over your compost megabucks , which increase the temperature and helps the microbes do their caper even better .
5 . Garden cleansing
Whether it ’s forlate gloam cleaning , former outflow prep , or general summertime tidying — your pitchfork will come in ready to hand for keep the garden bet great . It ’s an ideal cock for garner and take out finished flora fabric : things like piles of dry vine from tomatoes , peas , and beans , old helianthus stalk , and leaves . If you habituate straw for any bed preparation , a pitchfork can help you palm that material , too .
Where do you employ a pitchfork around the garden ?
Daniel Johnson is a Wisconsin - based freelance writer and professional photographer and the carbon monoxide - author of over a dozen books . See his garden and brute picture taking atfoxhillphoto.com .
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