Chillington hoe, or baby hoe, as alternative to a mattock.

Ergates

I frequently resort to the mattock for pulling out entanglements of ivy, plus shrubs rooted where I don’t want them. It is quite heavy though, and I’m not getting any younger!
Would a Chillington hoe be more suitable, and is the ‘baby’ version too small and light to be very useful? I want something for fairly rough work, but a bit easier to use. 
Anyone with experience of these tools? Would be grateful for the benefit of your suggestions.
Thanks

BobTheGardener

You can get 1lb mattocks rather than the usual 5lb ones, like this one, with a 15" handle:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/roughneck-1lb-micro-cutter-mattock-15/11152#product_additional_details_container

Ergates

Thanks, bob, that’s certainly worth a look, and reasonably priced. Also easy to get from local screwfix. I’ll try and pick one up this week.

Topbird

@Ergates - I am a weak and feeble 5 foot nothing lady gardener - absolutely pathetic when it comes to wielding heavy tools - and I have one of those 1lb mattocks. Just right for me.

Desi_in_London

Please could I ask @Topbird or @BobTheGardener .. what is the usage difference between the 1lb micro-cutter / mattock ( as per Bob's link) or a similar looking 1lb pick-mattock ( with a pointy end) . I'm a similar build to you Topbird, and purpose would be to break up soil and some weeding of bits of ivy etc - are these both suitable and just a case of some people prefer one vs the other? Thanks very much in advance.

Allotment Boy

I have a large and small chillington hoes , the large can get a bit heavy after a while.  The smaller one is a double header, with flat blade and 2 prongs, it's very sharp so surprisingly effective even in tough conditions.  My only gripe is that at 5'10 I find the handle a bit short. 

Topbird

@Desi_in_London I think the one in Bob's link is the same as mine. One end is a flattish 2" blade which is good for chipping through and levering underneath roots. The other side is a pointed pick which is good for getting a purchase into heavy clay when it's set like concrete or for starting work in tiny spaces between roots. I have also used it to break up huge clods of set clay. Sounds much the same as you need it for. 

A word of warning - you can get chips of stone / roots flying up when chopping into stuff in the ground. A pair of safety goggles is a wise investment....

Desi_in_London

thanks very much @Topbird .. that helps a lot!

Ergates

I’ll certainly pick up a lightweight mattock, but I think I’ll also like something with a longer handle to stop me bending. Five foot four and female, relatively tough, but my back has always been a weak area, and having hit 70, I’m trying, not very successfully, not to tackle the gardening as if I was in my thirties! I make a point of stopping when joints start to complain, but there always seems to be one more weed or bramble that I can’t resist on my way back to the house!

NorthernJoe

I saw a root chopper IIRC in the crocus website but I've been looking at many tool sites recently, could be wrong. It's a long handled tool with a flat blade on the end. I think it's a heavy tool too like a wrecking bar. I reckon that could chop through even thick roots. Might be better for your back than a mattock or other tool with a similar action.

Ceres

Ergates said:

I’ll certainly pick up a lightweight mattock, but I think I’ll also like something with a longer handle to stop me bending. Five foot four and female, relatively tough, but my back has always been a weak area, and having hit 70, I’m trying, not very successfully, not to tackle the gardening as if I was in my thirties! I make a point of stopping when joints start to complain, but there always seems to be one more weed or bramble that I can’t resist on my way back to the house!

I have an azada, or digging hoe, which is great for hacking things out of the soil as well as for digging. I too am not able to tackle gardening with as much vigour as in my youth, in fact I am very angry about the deterioration brought on by age, so finding a tool that makes things easier has been a boon.