For what the cultivator is needed today, practically every farmer knows. In order to facilitate the processing of land, gardeners acquire various agricultural equipment - sowing, irrigation, harvesting and equipment for the care of the soil. The latter is the most time-consuming process for growing any crops, because the land requires frequent digging, harrowing, loosening, weeding, etc.
If the land is small, a manual cultivator that will provide fast and high-quality cultivation of the land will be a good helper in these processes. As it is rather difficult to choose a hand cultivator to give among the wide variety on the market, experienced gardeners approach the purchase with special care. The choice depends on for what purposes, how often and on which sites the use of inventory is planned. Below are examples of existing manual cultivators with an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses in terms of their greatest efficiency.
What can a manual cultivator at the dacha
On a small plot of land or in narrow, hard-to-reach places, for example, among trees, where large machinery does not pass, a small hand-held cultivator will help. This is the most inexpensive and easy-to-use type of agricultural equipment that everyone can handle. Manual cultivator is able to perform almost all the operations of tillage. Weeding, loosening the soil, removing weeds, mixing fertilizer in the ground, digging holes for flowers and transplanting crops, tilling the soil around trees is what makes a hand-held cultivator on the plot. Hand cultivators are especially popular among women gardeners: this is an ideal option for treating alpine gardens, rose gardens, flower beds, rabatok, greenhouses, etc.
Description and photos of hand cultivators
Cultivators for manual cultivation of land are of two types: rotary and rippers.
Rotary (star)
A star (rotary, disc) cultivator is an excellent option for loosening soft soils. It consists of a cutting mechanism (shaft) on which disks with stars resembling stars are put on. The number of such gears depends on the width of the cultivator. The star cultivator is placed on a long handle, comfortable under the height of growth, so as not to bend down when tilling the soil. It is quite easy to use: it is installed vertically in the ground, in a standard position the sprockets are located between the rows, and the connecting arc is above the bed. With the help of physical effort, the cultivator is set in motion. 
Due to the uneven peaked shape of the stars, the tool cuts into the soil, seizes it, lifts it and turns it upside down. So, at the same time the tool loosens the soil, cuts and chops weeds. The star cultivator is especially suitable for giving: it is convenient to spud varietal potatoes, process cucumber plantations, and also loosen the soil on lawns and flower beds. Even taking into account the fact that a person has to make efforts to set the mechanism in motion, the processing of the section is still faster and physically easier than digging with a shovel.
The star cultivator has one major drawback - the inability to break up clay soils and poorly handle heavy, crusty soils.
Root remover
Root remover - another type of hand cultivators for the garden. The central core of the cultivator is equipped with sharp spiral teeth, which are directed in different directions, and convenient to control the handle. When loosening, it can cut deep into the ground (up to 20 cm), while not damaging the plantations.
Easy to operate: To use the tool, you need to place it vertically, teeth into the ground, slightly press and turn the knob clockwise. The cultivator will go deep into the ground, thanks to the bending of sharp teeth, will capture a lump of earth and at the same time cut the weed root, so that it can be easily pulled out. Thus, it remains only to shake the tool off the ground and throw away the weed. It is important that when using a root remover, the structure of the soil is not disturbed, as is the case with a shovel digging. The cultivator does not shovel soil layers, keeping moisture and useful microorganisms in it. The tool can handle both soft soil and the one that has never been treated.
There are disadvantages of this type of cultivator. Manual root remover may not be suitable for people with weak hands, because in order to use it, it is necessary to apply precisely the power of the hands. For example, to process harder soils, it is necessary to press hard on the tool handle.
Did you know? Hand cultivator for giving you can do it yourself. To do this, you will need ordinary forks, plastic nozzle for a spade handle and a piece of plastic pipe. To make the handle, the plastic pipe should be carefully cut along, then turn the edges of the cut to the side and put it on a plastic nozzle for a spade handle. It is better to wind a pipe handle well to a nozzle that it did not move during the work. Then, using a hammer, you need to bend the forks to resemble a corkscrew, while comparing it with a photo of the original cultivator in order to repeat the bends of the teeth correctly. After that, put the nozzle with the handle on the bent forks - and the tool is ready.
Cultivator-ripper
The cultivator-ripper is a metal rod with several (three or five) curved sharp steel teeth that are designed to remove weeds and cut even into tamped, crusty soil. From above the tool is equipped with the arc-shaped handle. When using a manual ripper, you need to swing well and lower the cultivator in order for the teeth to cut deep into the soil. Then turn the knob clockwise and pull it towards you. Thus, loosening of the soil and cutting of weeds occurs, which is convenient for preplant preparation.
The plus of the manual ripper is that when it is used, the load on the spine is relieved and evenly distributed to the muscles of the legs, arms and back. The lack of a tool is that it is suitable mainly for small areas with a small number of weeds. If the weed has actively grown on the plot, then the treatment with a hand cultivator-ripper will be ineffective, as it will require more physical resources and repeat actions. There is also a risk of damage to the root system of the crops.
Important! When working with a ripper, safety precautions must be followed to avoid injury to the legs with sharp teeth. During work, be sure to wear closed, solid shoes. After using the tool, the sharp part needs to be buried in the sod or soil.
Potato Maker
Every potato grower knows what a potato-cultivator looks like, because this is the first assistant when harvesting. If you dig potatoes with a shovel, you can not only get tired quickly, but also get a serious load on the lumbar spine. Here, the cottager comes to the aid of a convenient potato digger. Its design is rotary forks: a sharpened metal rod, a handle and sharp elongated steel teeth from below. The handle is convenient because it can be adjusted to the height of growth. Using the potato digger is quite simple. You need to install the rod on the ground next to the potato bush with the tip down. Then turn the handle around its axis, deepening the teeth under the potato bush.
Continuing the turn, you need to remove the tool up. In this way, the forks of the implement will take the tubers with them and lift them to the surface. The great advantage of this device is that with its help you can quickly harvest, without the need to bend down and load the lower back. In addition, unlike a shovel, digging does not damage the fruit, grabbing them from the side and bottom. Potato digger can also be used for the purpose of loosening, while preparing the soil for planting. The disadvantage of this device is that it extracts one or two tubers at a time, therefore repetition of manipulations for the same bush is possible.
Pot cultivator
For plants that are grown in small greenhouses, containers and pots, there are also special manual cultivators. This is the same as the cultivators for the garden, the only difference between them - small size and short handles. With their help, you can make holes for planting bulbous, loosen the soil around the flowers and fight weeds in small greenhouses. Small cultivators for potted plants are the most convenient, practical and justify the money spent, since the processing of a container with a plant with such a tool practically does not require physical effort.
Advantages and disadvantages of a manual cultivator
Farming is, above all, hard physical labor, so the undeniable advantage of hand cultivators for dacha is minimizing the efforts that must be made in tillage and planting care. Also among advantages this garden tools can distinguish the following:
- ease of use: the only principle of operation is to rest against the ground and push in the right direction;
- no need for maintenance (lubrication, fueling);
- careful cutting of weeds: hand cultivators do not pull them apart between rows, as self-propelled counterparts;
- possibility of processing delicate and hard-to-reach places on the site (flower beds, greenhouses, alpine hills, areas between trees and bushes);
- availability of price.
obsolete in front of modern self-propelled counterparts;- the need to replace discs in manual rotary cultivators;
- low productivity - suitable only for tasks on limited, small areas;
- the need to use physical force;
- low efficiency on virgin soil and solid ground.
obsolete in front of modern self-propelled counterparts;Important! When using manual cultivators, you need to be careful, be careful and count the force of pressure on the handle. The working elements and mechanisms of manual cultivators cannot be adjusted to the depth of tillage. Therefore, it all depends on the physical strength of the person. When pressed hard, the cultivator can go too deep into the soil and damage the root system of the planted crops. And, conversely, with insufficient strength, it will be impossible to penetrate harder soils or cut off the weed root.
