Tine weeding, or blind harrowing, is a favorite technique among organic growers. The tool’s flexible spring-loaded steel tines allow you to weave around your established plants (and drip tape!) while uprooting newly germinated weeds, killing 80–90% of them.
The Groundskeeper II is also an outstanding general-purpose rake for loosening crusted soil; collecting leaves and twigs; spreading mulch; and de-thatching the lawn. If you flip the head, you can use it to level out new beds. Requires little or no downward pressure, so you expend less energy and reduce the risk of repetitive strain. To free debris from the tines, simply flip the head and sweep it over the ground. Because of its versatility and efficacy, some landscaping tool aficionados have referred to it as “One Rake to Rule Them All.”
Tine weeding tips:
- Aim for the tines to dig about ½” into the soil.
- Before tine-weeding an entire young crop, test a small area to make sure it is established enough to withstand the disturbance.
- Line up the weeder head at the beginning of a row, place one hand at the top of the handle and the other halfway down, and drag the weeder along as you walk, applying consistent gentle pressure to the soil.
- Tine weeding is best done on hot, sunny days to ensure the weeds don’t re-root.
- Any tines can be removed if you need to customize your cultivation.
The swivel hanger on top of the handle makes the tool easy to store. The strong copolymer rake head is 21" wide; fiberglass handle is 55" long. Tines are replaceable. Lifetime warranty against defects in manufacturing. Head and handle ship separately.
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