Wheelbarrow Buyers Guide

Choose the Perfect Wheelbarrow

There are tons of different wheelbarrows, with many different designs.  You would be surprised at how many - how do you choose the right one for you?

Wheelbarrows have been around for donkeys years, and fill many needs, from hauling manure from the stable to the compost bin, to mixing concrete mortar on building sites. I use one to sift compost into, with a screen that sits over it.

All of the different permutations may look similar, but the slight alterations in dimension and size, not to mention weight, make them perfect, or not so perfect, for a particular task.

Flatter and shallower wheelbarrows sold as homeowner types are good for general use - a few twigs or grass clippings are all it will hold.  Deeper ones are designed to hold concrete to transport it, so they are much more sturdy to carry the weight.

If you're lucky enough to be able to purchase a new wheelbarrow, and you know what it will most likely be used for, here are a few things to look for;

• Steel construction is much more durable than plastic or aluminum.

• What you give up in weight will add more maneuverability.

• Size matters; heavy when empty means that if you load it up with heavy materials like compost or manure, it will be extremely hard to move.

• The construction of the wheelbarrow reflects the quality; flimsy and poorly made tools will be horrible to use; buy the best quality you can afford and make it last a lot longer.

• The shape of a wheelbarrow is what makes the construction wheelbarrow a bad choice for gardening; steep sides and a narrow box are great for transporting concrete, not so good for loading with garden mulch or waste.

• For a gardening wheelbarrow, look for one with an inflatable tire, not a solid one, and a wider box.  This will make it easier to push on uneven ground.