Best Weed Puller – Choice and Reviews

Are you looking for the best weed remover? Today I will tell you which are the most interesting models, and I will explain to you what it is and how to choose the manual grubber.

A quick and easy to use weed weeding tool, and also inexpensive? It is not a dream but reality. Today it is in fact possible to find for sale these very particular rods, equipped with teeth, which are driven into the ground and which help you to extract the weed starting from the roots. If you have a lawn or garden, and you want to keep it beautiful and well-kept, you will surely fall in love with this tool. Thanks to the weed removers, in fact, you will say goodbye to back and knee pains.

What is a weed puller

As I mentioned above, the real strength of this tool lies in its simplicity. Almost all models, in fact, have a metal shaft equipped with teeth or pliers at the base, a pedal board just above the tips, and a thick telescopic handle.

In practice, all you have to do is stick this tool over the weed, push with your foot to plant it deeply, make a short rotation with the handle and finally take out the awl. To get rid of the plant, stuck between the pliers, just give it a tap on the head of the club. This is a kind of button that will allow you to “shoot” the captured weed away.

The only real flaw of these tools is the following: they leave a hole in the ground, because during the uprooting the roots of the weed also take away the earth. However, it is a small sacrifice to be taken into account.

How this tool works

This is the final result you will get, but surely you will want to better understand how the mechanics of a weed grubber work for weeds and other weeds. To understand this, I must first explain to you better how the components of the stick work.

• Telescopic rod: the shaft is equipped with an internal piston, which you will operate by pushing the awl downwards, using your foot. It is a so-called “leverage” system.

• Base with pliers or spikes: the base generally has four pliers or points, which have the task of drilling the ground and “surrounding” the plant. Consider that in some models at the base of the tips there is a perforated metal stop, inside which the pliers will slide.

• Side handle: the side handle allows you to rotate the grubber, after having stuck it on the weed. By turning it sideways, you will allow the spikes or pliers to close around the roots of the plant, which will then be captured by the tool.

How do you use a manual weeder?

The first thing you need to do is plant the stake on top of the weed you want to weed out. I advise you to place the circular base with the pliers exactly in the center of the plant. Once this is done, you can stick the tool into the ground by pushing the pedal downwards. While doing so, hold the knob at the top of the piston with one hand, so as not to lose your balance, and with the other hand lower the handle as well.

What happens at this stage? In practice, the metal circle will remain on the surface by squeezing the top of the plant, while the pliers will penetrate the earth, sliding inside the holes in the circle, surrounding the weed and its roots.

Now you can turn the handle sideways with a sharp and decisive movement, in such a way as to activate the rotation of the pliers, which will thus capture the seedling. At this point, all you have to do is take out the tool and tap the knob on top of the shaft, to activate the lever mechanism again and eject the plant.

The most modern models are even easier to use, as you just need to press the pedal to extract the weed. The pedal, in these cases, also works as a lever for the extraction, so you don’t even have to turn the rod. The structure can however change according to the product: some tools do not have the pedal board, others do not have handles, others still have a lower number of pliers (from 2 to 4).

Best weed pickers

1. Fiskars Weeder Xact 1020126 in Stainless Steel

If you are looking for the best weed remover, you have found it. The Xact is in fact one of the most performing and modern models that you will find for sale, offered among other things at a not excessive price. It is a latest generation tool, therefore only equipped with a pedal unit, and with a spring ejection system. The rod is made of stainless steel, as are the calipers, and the pedal is very resistant.

The maximum diameter of the pliers is 4 centimeters, and it is a generous measure, which allows you to extract quite large weeds, such as nettles and thistles. Furthermore, the pliers are able to penetrate up to a depth of 10 centimeters, so as to enclose the roots of the weed in an excellent way. And it is a very easy tool to use, since you just plant it on the weed, sink by pushing on the pedal, and then pull the handle towards you, always pressing the pedal.

There is also a second version with a telescopic handle, more expensive but also more comfortable, due to the possibility of adjusting the height of the rod according to your needs:

Finally, you will need the spring mechanism to expel the plant. Compared to other models, it has a handle with an ergonomic and non-slip grip, comfortable and ideal for avoiding corns. Secondly, it can be easily cleaned under running water, and is so robust that it will last you for many years. I use it extensively both in the garden and in the vineyard, and I must say that it has always behaved excellently. The pliers, then, are really “bad”.

PRO

• High quality materials
• Very resistant pedal set
• Ergonomic handle
• Diameter up to 4 centimeters

AGAINST

• Leave a slightly wider hole

2. Gardena 3517-20 Grubber in Hardened Steel

Here we are in front of an inexpensive and very basic manual grubber, with double handle and completely without pedal board. In this case there are only two pliers, but the tool still works very effectively. It should be planted in the center of the weed, then turned by leveraging the two side handles, and finally extracted. At that point, a tap on the upper knob is enough to activate a piston, which shoots the plant away from the calipers.

While not as modern as other models, it knows how to be appreciated, thanks to a rather long (110 centimeters) and super resistant cane. The blades are also very performing, given the presence of two pliers that easily penetrate the earth. The construction quality is excellent, considering that this weed eradicator is made of hardened steel, and coated in Duroplast (thermo-hardening plastic). Finally, there is a handy piston for the expulsion of the plant.

Do not be fooled by the low price, because the roots catch them well, and without making you work too much or forcing you to bend down. Of course, it is not as comfortable as the models with modern pedals, but it represents a good solution if you want to go on a budget, but without sacrificing quality. Of course, like all tools of this type, it leaves a hole in the ground due to the extraction of the roots with the earth.

PRO

• Economical price
• Excellent construction materials
• Rather long shaft
• Ergonomic tool

AGAINST

• You can’t help yourself with your foot

3. TACKLIFE 100cm in GSW1A Stainless Steel

The TACKLIFE is a latest generation weed grubber, therefore belonging to the high range, and it can also be understood from the price. It has three serrated and very large teeth, with a particular blade with a curved interior, designed to facilitate the movement of the lever when you pull towards you by pressing the pedal. It is made of stainless steel and is really resistant, it is also easy to use and the plant is released by “shooting” it with a spring.

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The stainless steel claws and the reinforced pedal ensure a record life of the product, and allow you to weed out even the most difficult weeds. It leaves a nice hole in the ground, but this is normal, considering the width of the knives and their “brutality”. The model does not have a side handle: this means that it must not be turned on itself. All you have to do is plant it on top of the weed, pull towards you by pressing on the pedal, and thus detach the plant from the ground.

The length of the shaft reaches 100 centimeters, so it adapts to any user, giving you the possibility of not burdening your back when you pull out the weed. What’s more, the 3 tines are so strong that this weed puller can effortlessly penetrate even the toughest and most complex earth. Once you have captured the plant, you can “shoot” it away by acting on the spring mechanism located above the rod. Remember that it has an ergonomic handle, so it is very comfortable to hold and use.

PRO

• High quality steel
• Very resistant pedal set
• Sturdy and stainless steel knives
• Ergonomic handle
• Very easy to use

AGAINST

• Leave a bigger hole than others

4. Fiskars Light Series 1020127 Extractor 90 CM

I have decided to introduce you to another Fiskars product, which rightfully enters the list of the best weed removers. It is the light version of the previous one, therefore it has the same characteristics, but has a lighter weight and a lower shaft height (90 centimeters overall). It is a pedal model without side handles, so it should not be turned in the ground, but works thanks to the leverage effect with the foot.

It is not the most powerful of all, but it is an excellent compromise between quality and cost, given the lower than average price. Being a model without side handles, you just need to plant it on the weed by helping you by pushing the pedal, then lever with your foot and weed out the weed. There is a convenient gripping mechanism, which tightens the 3 knives around the roots, so as to capture them more effectively. The blades, for the record, can reach 10 cm in depth.

You can use this mechanical weed grinder on plants with a diameter of no more than 4 centimeters, therefore even with rather large weeds. Nothing to object to the quality of the materials, with the stainless steel blades, and the ergonomic handle gives you the possibility to use it effortlessly. The height of the pole is lower than other models (90 cm), so it may be unsuitable for taller than average people. Otherwise, it works flawlessly and is quite effective.

PRO

• Convenient price
• Jaws that tighten
• It reaches an excellent depth
• Stainless steel blades
• Ergonomic handle

AGAINST

• Shaft height below average

Advantages of mechanical weeders

If you have a beautiful lawn or garden, you know that weed control can become a titanic mission, especially since they tend to proliferate at the speed of light. And here is where the weeding is necessary, but doing it by hand means bending over continuously, resulting in pain in the back and in the joints of the knees.

The weed remover allows you to solve this problem first, relieving fatigue, until it is completely eliminated. This is thanks to the telescopic stick, the lever system and the capture of the plant with a helical movement.

The second advantage? You will be sure to also catch the roots of the weed, so that you can eradicate it completely. In fact, if you tear the plant without the roots, it will be like having done nothing, because it will grow back immediately.

It is a risk that is run above all with very resistant weeds: if the weeding is done by hand, grabbing the stem with your thumb and forefinger, you could break it in an attempt to extract it, and the roots would remain where they are.

It goes without saying that weed removal benefits the health of your lawn or garden. In fact, you have the possibility of eliminating the “intruders” who steal the nutrients from your dear plants, and this is an obligation especially for those who cultivate a home garden.

Finally, these weed removers are also cheap, since they cost between 30 and 50 euros (for the more advanced models).

How to choose the weeder for weeds

1. Types of grubbers

In this guide I refer exclusively to manual and mechanical products, but around you can also find models of electric weeders. In reality there is a lot of confusion on this issue, because in that case we refer to the electric brushes for removing weeds, which instead serve to eliminate the grass that grows between the joints of the tiles.

In this regard, I also want to mention another tool, namely the weed burner. It is not a real grubber, but an electric or gas tool. Thanks to its combustion mechanism, this tool destroys the cellular structure of weeds, causing them to die in a few days.

2. Structural characteristics

Any weed-eradicating tool works the same way, at least if you stay within the range of mechanical ones. However, there are a number of details that can distinguish certain products from others, and which inevitably end up also raising the price.

• Quality of materials: Better to avoid hard plastic, and prefer grubbers made of solid stainless steel. Consider that a fragile product will break almost immediately, as soon as you force your foot to plant it in the ground.

• Sturdiness of the tips: the tips or pliers should also be made of stainless steel, so that they can penetrate even medium-hard or stony soils. As for the number, sometimes there are 3 pliers, other times 4.

• Pedal resistance: The pedal board is the most sensitive section, as this is where you will need to exert force with your foot. A poor quality pedal set, therefore, will break at the first attempt to push.

• Height of the stick: it is clear that, in order not to bend on your knees or strain your back, you will have to choose a long stick. On average, the height of these tools is about 1 meter, which is a sufficient value.

• Comfort of the handle: it is important that the handle is ergonomic and possibly covered in non-slip rubber. So it will never get out of your hands, even if you are sweaty and hot. Finally, the ergonomic handles improve grip and reduce the stress suffered by the wrist joints.

• Type of handle: the handle is not always lateral lever. The most recent models of manual weeder, in fact, do not have the handle on the side, because they extract the plants with the sole force of the pedal. Still others have a spade handle.

Possible alternative uses

Most weed removers are designed exclusively for this task, but there are also multi-function models. The latter are less effective in eradicating weeds, because they have less powerful pincers, but they can also become useful for other purposes. Here is a small list of possible alternative uses:

• Weeding
• Tilling
• Crushing of clods
• Surface digging

There are even those who use these punches to aerate the ground, although perhaps in that case it is better to rely on a manual scarifier, definitely more comfortable.