Wheelbarrow advice

[smallblueplanet]

We perhaps need a small wheelbarrow for mostly moving compost. We're getting to the stage of not being able to lift big bags, plus when shovelling compost from the compost bin it would be easier in a barrow than a trug. We've got a path to wheel a barrow along, and don't need a huge capacity. Is there a reasonably priced one that maybe could be left outside most of the year? Are 'non-metal' ones any good?
I see there's a useful looking garden barrow but it's nearly £90!
https://www.suttons.co.uk/garden-equ...lbarrow_mh8740

[Nicos]

Not sure if this would help, but my MIL used to use a cheap porters trolley to move bags of compost from her car to the garden.
I’m pretty sure she also had a plastic bin she’d half fill with her homemade compost, then transport that on the trolly. Light enough so she could tip it over and upend it in situ.

[smallblueplanet]

Not sure if this would help, but my MIL used to use a cheap porters trolley to move bags of compost from her car to the garden.
I’m pretty sure she also had a plastic bin she’d half fill with her homemade compost, then transport that on the trolly. Light enough so she could tip it over and upend it in situ.

I'd probably buy one that the bags fell through the handles gap!

I think a wheelbarrow would be best, more versatile. I just wondered if there were any good value garden barrows, or plastic ones, and does and don't.

[Mark Rand]

I've got a 'ball barrow' that came from either Lidl or Aldi. Much lighter than the proper wheelbarrow that I also use. The height isn't any different though.

[DannyK]

Whilst no good for shifting compost, old shopping trolley frames are good for shifting 25kg bags of salt.

[smallblueplanet]

Whilst no good for shifting compost, old shopping trolley frames are good for shifting 25kg bags of salt.

We live in a posh area, ain't none of them round here!

[DannyK]

Here houses are £650,000 up! I have a 150' garden and am in band F.

Are you confusing supermarket trollies with shopping trollies?

The problem with plastic barrows is that they go brittle.

[smallblueplanet]

Here houses are £650,000 up! I have a 150' garden and am in band F.

Are you confusing supermarket trollies with shopping trollies?

The problem with plastic barrows is that they go brittle.

Ah it must be a 'local' naming thing, you know like tea and dinner!

[mothhawk]

Looking back on 20+ years experience of shovelling/moving horse manure and bags of feed, I would not choose a two wheeled barrow. With a single wheel, you can use narrower paths, it is easier to tip either straight up or to the side, steering is easier and more versatile in tight spaces or round obstacles. I also prefer the regular wheel to the ball wheel. It collects less mud/grass/weed entanglement, and means the front end is not over-wide.

[smallblueplanet]

Looking back on 20+ years experience of shovelling/moving horse manure and bags of feed, I would not choose a two wheeled barrow. With a single wheel, you can use narrower paths, it is easier to tip either straight up or to the side, steering is easier and more versatile in tight spaces or round obstacles. I also prefer the regular wheel to the ball wheel. It collects less mud/grass/weed entanglement, and means the front end is not over-wide.

Yeah I know where you're coming from, and have when doing archaeological work, run many barrows up and down scaffold plank barrow runs. But for our current garden it's very flat with wide paths, and ease of use is most important and two wheels less likely to tip sideways when filling etc.

[Nicos]

We regularly use about 4 wheelbarrows.Some left holding manure, molehills , firewood,weeds etc
A couple are most definitely on their last legs , being plastic, cracked and very UV damaged.
We have a couple of wide metal ones which are great. The galvanised one looking great but the other one is starting to show rust after several years of being abused.
I’m now thinking of replacing the two plastic ones with a double wheeled metal one- for the reasons you suggest SPB, but use the other two most of the time for ease of tipping as MH suggests. Best of both worlds tbh.

Thanks for starting this thread SPB, it’s helped me focus my mind for sure.
Now I just need to find a double wheeled metal one, then raid a bank!