Forum home› Tools and techniques

Missing planting tool

micearguersmicearguers Posts: 614
in Tools and techniques
Hopefully one of those students will pop up and get this to market. I often use a bulb planter if I have small seedlings; with one screwing motion I can excavate roughly the shape of a circular pot. It is exceedingly efficient compared to scraping out the soil with a trowel, a small spade, a hori hori knife, or whatever else. However, its diameter is 6cm. I have seedlings often in trays re-used from garden centres, and their diameters are 9, 12 and 14 centimeters. I'd pay good money for larger bulb planters, say with diameters 8, 10, 12 and 14 centimeters. Perhaps it wouldn't work as well in sandy soils, but on more clayy soil I'm sure they will.
«1

Posts

  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,323
    I suppose an auger on a powerful drill would work well in that scenario...they're getting a bit modish by this stage...and not sure all of us like the sound of a power tool in the garden when planting. But they could easily be swapped for the correct size. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • micearguersmicearguers Posts: 614
    @amancalledgeorge I have a hand-held auger that I've used as well, but the bulb-style tapered cylinder works much better in my experience, a much cleaner excavation, easier to control and less cumbersome.
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 3,860
    @micearguers Good idea! I recently used my bulb planter to extract (!) some self-seeded specimens of Dorycnium hirsutum ‘Fréjorgues’ aka hairy canary clover from my lawn!

    You are invited to a virtual visit of my garden (in English or in French).
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,239
    That's a great idea @micearguers!
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,179
    I've used my bulb planter as well for that purpose and find it works well.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • CharlotteFCharlotteF Posts: 337
    Yes! I used mine for planting wildflower plugs in the lawn and it worked perfectly!
  • Lena_vs_DeerLena_vs_Deer Posts: 203
    edited June 2021
    Now I really want one too haha...
    I wonder if it would be easy enough to make one using a big tin can? They seem pretty sturdy, should be possible to make a DIY short handle planter of various diameters. Put a pull door handle on it somehow maybe... 
  • B3B3 Posts: 25,239
    It's always the way. It's  obvious .Why didn't I think of that?
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • micearguersmicearguers Posts: 614
    @Lena_vs_Deer good idea! I suspect the tapering is important though, it really helps in lifting and retaining the excavated spoil as you screw the tool into the soil, as is the sharp 'dentate' edge to work it into the soil. I tried making one from a plastic plant pot (it has the tapering but otherwise hopeless) and that drove home the message how sturdy such a thing needs to be. I really think we just need bigger bulb planters under a different name. A "scrade"?
  • gondorgondor Posts: 135
    My bulb planter is awful. Which one do you have @micearguers ?
Sign In or Register to comment.