Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Why I'm happy with the Garden Weasel Weed Popper Step and Twist tool (vs. the other weed puller tools).

So this old style of weed puller - "Grandma's tool" - it has a "scissor" action that "severs" or cuts the root.

So the weed will grow back. This was just pointed out in a review.

Fiskar's was selling a fancy 4 prong weeder only it has a plastic lever that snaps easily. The product is currently not available - is that why? too many returns on it?

There are half a dozen similar products also using plastic that snaps.

https://www.gardenweasel.com/garden-weasel-products/garden-weasel-tools/weasel-weedpopper-step-twist/ 


 

 I really like how well this tool made. It is made of welded steel. I had a similar tool that was made out of thin aluminum tubing and plastic. It repeatedly broke and I would have try and repair the tool. I find the GardenWeasel weed remover was well worth the price I payed

 The tines are long enough to grab the whole root and pull them out.

 


 So the Corona version is the closest match - as it is also all metal.

This is an awesome weed removing tool. Follow the directions and use it on damp ground! If you jam into hard dry soil or mulch beds you will damage the knife blades and it will be difficult to remove the weed clump plus you wont get the whole weed root.

 On this tool, it's just a simple plunger attached to a spring... tap your wrist on top of the tool and it ejects the soil plug. On the other manufactures tool you have to rotate the tool body and slide something down the shaft (like you're wringing out a mop) - it's an overly complex mechanism and movement that really wears you down after a few minutes of use. By comparison, I used this weedslayer for almost an hour and didn't feel fatigued at all because the motions are so simple and take no effort at all. It does a pretty good job at removing the weed - no better or worse than the other tool. The build quality is amazing on this though. Big beefy metal with some real heft to it and comfortable grips. It's clearly built to last. I did ding it a star for the size of the soil plug removed... it's far too large and in my opinion just creates a nice place for a weed seed to settle down and start a new weed. All things considered, I'll pick this weed puller up before my other one any day of the week just for the simple ease of use.

Only the top plunger comes off easily on the Corona model - according to the reviews.

 The little red knob is "screw-on" but it does not screw at all and therefore pops off every time you pop out a weed! Very aggravating and inconvenient when you have a big weed project like I do...having to put it back in place each and every time a weed is popped.

So yes the Weed Popper metal prongs also will bend - if the ground is not damp. I just used it after it had rained - and it worked great. 

Yes it does remove big plugs but this also aerates the soil.

As an added benefit - it doubles (serendipitously) as a yard aerator.

 To those who say it leaves big plug holes, so what! Think of it as areating at the same time. A twofer!!

So way back a LOCAL company tried to argue that the Weed Popper removed too much soil.

https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/1997/06/09/smallb1.html 

Cersine said the Weed Hound faces no real competition from existing products. The only similar tool on the market is a "weed popper" that costs about $10 more and gouges holes in lawn.

Wow - that's 24 years ago!!

 This tool is ingenious and I believe The Garden Weasel was the first to invent. They deserve my business.

So the company that made the Weed Hound - no longer makes it and their new version uses a similar "spiral" design at the  Weed Popper - hilarious. It also "aerates" the lawn.

It removes way too much ground with it. If I used it for my whole yard I would have pot holes everywhere.

So why did they switch from their "Weed Hound" design that used straight tines instead of the spiral blades of the Weed Popper? Because the straight tines are less effective at removing the weeds! So you want a weed remover tool that works - and guess what - you're gonna have pot holes in your yard.

 I recommend having a bag of topsoil to fill in the holes, but that's a small price to pay.

 Yes I will fill in the holes.

People on here are complaining about holes... um... if your yard has a bunch of weeds, aerating it is not a bad idea because it obviously needs some love.

 Then again maybe I won't! haha.

But it does make a nice little plug/hole in the ground which is better than paying for aeration. Does two jobs at once.

The hole closed up once it rained or I watered.

The Fiskars and Ames weeders both had better marketing - and so more reviews, etc.

The Weed Popper does not seem as well known. I found ONE local hardware store selling it - in stock - and that was a half hour drive to get there. So...

The other thing is you have to twist it CLOCKWISE - and this is not explained by anyone (only one youtube review explained this).

and with over 1000 recommendations

 Some folks have complained about the holes it makes after pulling the weeds - I just consider it aerating my yard. I really like using it.

 The hole left in the yard is about 1" dia, only slight larger than those left by a professional lawn company's "aeration" machine, which leaves holes about 3/4" dia.

 It does take out too much dirt at times but you can lessen it if you don't twist all the way.

 The grass will quickly cover this within a few weeks if you give it no further attention. I did try pulling some weeds out of a part of the yard that doesn't get sprinkler coverage, so the dirt is very hard. After a few successful removals I realized that the tines were bending outward in the hard soil. Easy to avoid by watering first, but it would be nice if the tines were made of stronger steel. The rest of the tool appears to be very durable.

  even though it left holes it was good for the lawn and the holes filed it quickly.

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