Pulling weeds is tedious, exhausting and will almost certainly cause back pain. With a special garden tool, the shovel, you can remove the annoying weeds much easier and, above all, faster. In this guide you will find out what a Schuffel is, how to use it correctly and what you should pay attention to when buying one.

A shovel makes weeding easier

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. What is a shovel?
  3. correct application
  4. Buy shovel
  5. frequently asked Questions

    6. the essentials in brief

    • A shovel is somewhat reminiscent of a hoe, but is used for quick and easy removal of weeds from beds and from gravelly and stony surfaces.
    • Thanks to the long handle, you no longer have to bend down, and weeding is done by simply moving the shovel forwards and backwards. A specially designed blade makes it possible.
    • Shovels are available in different shapes and blade widths. They are suitable for use on flower beds and paths as well as for narrow and difficult-to-access garden areas.
    • The best time for shuffling is in dry weather. Then simply leave the weeds on the ground as mulch (€239.00) or collect them - it's up to you.

    What is a shovel?

    On dry and sunny summer days, the Schuffel is just the right gardening tool to quickly remove unwanted weeds from beds and paths. The Dutch Schuffel is not very well known here, but is widespread among our Dutch neighbors and in the English-speaking world.

    The tool usually consists of a long wooden handle - which should ideally reach up to your chest, then it is the right length - and a flat metal plate. In addition to the stick shovels, there are also so-called hand shovels, which only have a short handle. The Schuffel is sometimes also referred to as the Stieger.

    Types of shovels - The right shovel for every application

    There are different types of shovels, which differ mainly in the shape and size of the metal blade. As a rule, these devices have a rectangular or diamond-shaped blade, which is usually made of stainless steel. Depending on the manufacturer and intended use, the handles are available in different lengths - to suit the height of the user - as well as the metal blades in different blade widths. Basically, you should choose wider shovels for larger areas, while the smaller and narrower shapes work well for smaller or harder-to-reach areas.

    In addition to the leaf width and stem length, shovels also differ in the shape of their leaves:

    leaf shape features benefits disadvantage
    rectangular, diamond-shaped in different sizes and widths, with rounded or straight edges easy handling, weeds are removed quickly and easily, back-friendly work on larger, loosely planted areas (beds, paths) not suitable for densely planted or angular garden areas
    heart shaped heart-shaped, pointed and smaller metal plate well suited for areas with dense planting and for corners, back-friendly work not suitable for larger areas, as the processing of these takes a long time
    round (garden disc) circular, small sheet of metal very flexible, works in all directions as well as in narrow and difficult-to-access garden areas, can also be pushed sideways not suitable for larger areas, expensive to buy

    Advantages and disadvantages

    The shovel enables back-friendly weed removal

    Are you unsure whether a Schuffel is the right gardening tool for you? First of all, it should be said that this tool is particularly useful on larger, loosely planted bed areas and paths - namely where rampant weeds such as stinging nettles, chickweed, etc. find the best growth conditions and have to be removed regularly anyway. Otherwise, the table below shows you the most important advantages and disadvantages of this garden tool.

    benefits disadvantage
    upright and back-friendly working posture only useful when the soil is dry, but weeding is still necessary in damp summers
    easy removal of weeds, it is simply "cut off" Hardly effective against root weeds, as their roots remain in the ground and sprout again
    Weeds that are cut off can remain in the bed or be raked out Regular (at least weekly) use required
    superficial loosening of the soil Depending on the manufacturer and brand, it can be quite expensive to buy
    Destruction of the cavities in the soil means that more water is directly available to the plants

    Shovel correctly - How to use a shovel correctly

    The use of the Schuffel needs some practice at the beginning. However, once you get the hang of it, weed removal practically takes care of itself. Here's how it works:

    1. Push the metal plate just below the dry surface of the earth.
    2. Now slowly move them back and forth.
    3. Cut the roots of weeds just below the surface.
    4. Then let the weeds dry out in the sun.
    5. Gather or rake away the weeds.

    In this way, weed removal works very quickly: you need less than an hour for this job for a kitchen garden of around 400 square meters. The correct application can be shown in this video:

    youtube

    However, a Schuffel cannot be used in every case. For example, if the weeds grow very close to the garden plants - especially perennials, vegetable plants or shrubs - you still have to remove them by hand, otherwise you will unintentionally damage the plants.

    areas of application

    Shovels are primarily intended for cleaning larger, open areas such as fallow or only sparsely planted beds and paths (including paths paved with stones or gravel) from weeds. This work should be done about once a week in dry weather. On the other hand, if it rains, you should either dig more often or remove the weeds by hand. In wet soil, the metal blade does not slide easily.

    digression

    Doesn't the shovel become blunt on stone or gravel?

    Shovels are the perfect tool for removing weeds from gravel and stone paths. If you have chosen a product made of hardened and high-quality steel plates, the application works very well - especially since a shovel does not have to be particularly sharp. In addition, the device can be sharpened again and again if necessary.

    Buy Schufflen - providers, prices and important purchase criteria

    Buying a Schuffel is worthwhile

    "The investment in high-quality garden tools is worth it - gardening is less tedious and more fun!"

    You can buy shovels in stationary shops - for example in your trusted gardening shop - as well as in various online shops. These devices are available from a wide variety of suppliers, from large Internet department stores (e.g. Amazon or eBay) to the online shops of garden and hardware stores (Obi, Toom, etc.) to the specialist shops themselves. The selection of shovels with a rectangular or straight blade is particularly large, with well-known brands such as Gardena, Wolf or Tom-Garten having their own products ahead of the game.

    How much does a shovel cost?

    There are big differences between the different manufacturers and brands, both in terms of price and quality. Schufflen are available for purchase prices from only around five to more than 70 euros. The Sneeboer Schuffel, which is significantly more expensive than the competition, stands out in particular.

    Basically, we advise you to invest a little more in good quality and high-quality materials - the easier it is to work with the device and the happier you will be with the result. Very cheap shovels often have the problem that they quickly become blunt or the material is brittle - they only have a short lifespan and therefore have to be bought more often.

    digression

    What is special about a Sneeboer Schuffel? Wouldn't a cheaper model do the trick?

    The expensive Sneeboer Schuffel is purely handcrafted, forged from high-quality stainless steel and welded in the Dutch tool forge of the same name. This is also the big difference to conventional garden shovels, which are often industrially manufactured and only rolled or punched. Another difference between the Sneerboer and other shovels is the nature of the blade: The Sneerboer blade does not have a straight edge, but a serrated edge.

    frequently asked Questions

    What alternatives to the Schuffel are there? Which garden tools make weeding easier?

    Iron weeders can also remove stubborn weeds

    If you want to make it easy to remove the weeds, you can use a shovel, a pendulum hoe or a weeder. Both can be used in a standing, back-friendly position and work in a similar way to the Schuffel. The advantage of the bow weeder is that it also removes stubborn, woody weeds and is also very good for use on heavy, hardened soil.

    How do I properly clean my Schuffel? And above all, with what?

    To ensure that garden tools last a long time and do not rust prematurely, occasional care is necessary. Like spades and the like, a shovel is best cleaned with clear water and a brush, which should be done after every gardening season at the latest. Otherwise, the Schuffel should be thoroughly cleaned of soil after each use.

    How do you properly sharpen a shovel?

    Newly purchased shovels do not need to be sharpened, they are already ready for use. It is only after a while that cheaper models in particular become dull and no longer achieve such good results. In such a case, you can sharpen the blade with a sharpening stone (available at hardware stores, for example). Make sure you only grind out the resulting bumps. But be careful: Not every material can be resharpened without further ado! Therefore, ensure that the device does not lose its sharpness with careful care and the occasional derusting of the blade.

    tips

    If you mulch beds - especially closely planted ones - or plant ground cover, you have to remove fewer weeds.

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