No poison is needed to remove stubborn weeds in the garden. With a weed puller you even have an environmentally friendly and ecological alternative at hand that kills even stubborn root weeds. In this detailed guide we will show you what types of weed pullers there are, which ones are particularly recommended and how to use the device correctly.
A weed puller makes it easier to remove unwanted plants
Our recommendations
our recommendation
Fiskars Telescopic Weeder, Length 1 - 1.19 m, Stainless Steel Arms/Plastic Handle, Black/Orange, Smart-Fit, 1020125
50.64 EUR To the product| overall length | 100 - 119 centimeters |
|---|---|
| working depth | 10 centimeters |
| Handle | D handle, plastic |
| claws | 2 steel claws |
| kick | Yes |
| Adjustable length | Yes |
| Weight | 1.25 kilograms |
The extendable telescopic weed puller from the brand manufacturer Fiskars is ideal for removing stubborn root weeds such as dandelions, sorrels, nettles, thistles etc. from soft, stone-poor soils - for example in lawns, beds and borders. The product is very easy to use: you sink the claws into the ground, enclosing the weeds, and then use the leverage to pull them out together with the roots. You don't even have to bend down or even slip around on your knees in the garden. With a few exceptions (some of whom complained about the device after hundreds of successful uses or use on hard floors not recommended by the manufacturer due to material wear), Amazon users were extremely enthusiastic. our recommendation
GARDENA weed puller: weed remover for efficient removal of weeds, with ejector, made of hardened steel, duroplast coated (3517-20)
EUR 29.95 To the product| overall length | 110 centimeters |
|---|---|
| working depth | not specified |
| Handle | T handle |
| claws | 2 steel claws, coated with Duroplast |
| kick | no |
| Adjustable length | no |
| Weight | 500 grams |
This weed puller from the quality manufacturer Gardena is particularly suitable for long and deep-rooted weeds such as dandelions, sorrels and thistles. The product has a total length of 110 centimeters, which also allows larger users to work comfortably. After removing the weeds and their roots from the ground, simply dispose of them using the integrated ejector and you don't even have to get your hands dirty.
our recommendation
Freund Victoria 1590500 dock piercer 28072, silver/brown, 40 x 25 x 15 cm
64.99 EUR To the product| overall length | 112 centimeters, handle 85 centimeters |
|---|---|
| working depth | 27 centimeters |
| Handle | T-handle, lacquered ash wood |
| claws | 2 steel tines |
| kick | Yes |
| Adjustable length | no |
| Weight | 1 kilogram |
Due to the stable and robust construction, the use of hard ash wood and steel as well as the practical foot pedal, this sorrel spike from the German brand manufacturer Freund Viktoria can not only be used on soft but also on firmer surfaces. The product is primarily suitable for deep-rooted weeds such as sorrel, dandelions and thistles, but (in contrast to many other weed extractors) it leaves less damage to the subsoil, according to customer reports on Amazon. However, a weed puller will of course not work without holes, although you can often simply close them. If required, the ash handle can be ordered separately.
Purchase Criteria
Types of weeders
Depending on the chosen purpose, you have the choice between different types of weed cutters. Basically, there is a distinction between models with a long handle or handy devices with a short handle. You use the latter primarily for individual weeds and for shallow-rooted species such as couch grass. With the long-handled models, you have the choice between rotary and treadle diggers, with treadle rakes usually delivering the more lasting results - they lever the weeds out of the ground together with the root, while rotary rakes only cut off the roots and the unwanted growth then comes back all the faster.
overall length
Long-handled weeders have the advantage that you don't have to kneel on the ground to remove weeds. Instead, it can be easily weeded while standing, which is easy on the back. Depending on the length of the handle, this also works well for very tall users. If several people are to work with the device, an extendable telescopic handle is recommended. This allows you to determine the optimal length yourself. Long-handled weed pullers are particularly suitable if you want to work on larger areas (e.g. on lawns and pastures).
underground
Long-stemmed weeders are only suitable for soft, stone-poor substrates such as lawns, flower beds and borders. For use on gravel paths or gardens, stony ground and paved or otherwise paved paths and areas, it is better to use handy weed pullers with short handles, joint scrapers and similar devices. Please note that these usually cause quite considerable holes in the ground, which you then have to close again by hand.
material
Weeders often have to withstand strong forces, especially when using long-handled varieties. You should therefore pay attention to high-quality materials, so that the blades are made of steel and the handle is ideally made of hardwood (e.g. ash or beech) or also made of metal. Plastic blades and handles, on the other hand, have a very limited lifespan, while you can easily replace wooden handles if necessary. Another sign of poor quality are handles made of cheap plastic. Not only do these break quickly, but they also offer little grip when used and you slip away quickly.
blade length
The right blade length is also decisive for the success of the application. If you want to use a long-handled weed remover, the blades or claws should be at least ten, but preferably 20 centimeters long - this is the only way to literally grab the evil "at the root" and tear out the weeds together with them. Kick stabbers in particular should have blades that are at least 25 centimeters long. Handy weed pullers with a short handle, on the other hand, usually have shorter blades. However, this is not particularly dramatic, since these devices are used on harder surfaces or for shallow-rooted weeds anyway and therefore do not need a long blade at all.
Weight
The different types of weed cutters have very different weights. Note that long-stemmed models should not be too light. A weight of at least one kilogram is usually sensible as it allows you to achieve better leverage. In addition, devices that are too light are usually not particularly robust or even unstable, because the low weight indicates the use of inferior material (often cheap and not very durable plastic).
youtubefrequently asked Questions
Why not just use a spray against the weeds?
"Sprays" usually mean herbicides and other crop protection products that are also available from specialist retailers for use in the home garden. Tackling weeds with poison produces quick results, but it also has serious downsides. In fact, the toxins remain in the environment, where they also kill other plants and animals such as insects, hedgehogs or shrews, which are very useful in the garden. When used in the kitchen garden, the poison also enters your body via the vegetables and fruit. Quite apart from this problem, pesticides destroy the delicate balance in the soil, so that soil life dies off and no new humus is formed. Incidentally, the same applies to certain household remedies such as vinegar.
What is the difference between a weed puller and a dock puller?
A sorrel weeder is a long-handled weeder designed primarily for removing sorrel, dandelions and thistles. The term weed cutter, on the other hand, is kept rather general and combines both the long-handled and the handy variants.
How deep do you have to prick to get dandelions out all the way?
The leaves and flowers of the dandelion usually do not exceed 40 centimeters in height. Many gardeners are all the more surprised when they see one of the roots of the stubborn herb, which can be up to one meter long. In order to remove dandelions in the long term, you have to pierce as deeply as possible - and not just above the ground or below the surface of the earth. This works best when the plant is young and not too tall - the shorter its roots are. You should therefore remove dandelions early in the year and not let them get too big in the first place.
Which manufacturers offer high-quality weed cutters?
In the garden sector in particular, there are many manufacturers who stand out with their inexpensive goods and dubious quality. In order not to throw the money out of the window from the start - you probably know the old saying "buy cheap, buy twice" - you should rely on proven quality from tried and tested brand manufacturers. With products from companies like Gardena, Wolf Garten, Fiskars or Freund Viktoria, you definitely won't go wrong. The hand-forged weed pullers from SHW-FIRE are also of very good quality.