My garden was full of weeds until my mum introduced me to the Root Slayer - the ultimate gardening tool for tackling tough roots
Here's why I'm digging this multipurpose shovel for weeding and more
Weeding season is well and truly upon us and if, like me, it's a struggle to keep up with the relentless task, I have a tool you might want to give a whirl. Enter the Root Slayer.
My dandelion garden was a tad out of hand and had started to cause havoc with my flower beds. So, in sheer desperation, I called in the big guns in the form of my gardening pro mum. She brought along her weeding weapon of choice: The Root Slayer. I can safely say I'm a convert.
If you're a seasoned gardener, you'll know all about the complexities of successful root removal to avoid weeding mistakes and it usually involves a root saw and a set of loppers which seems a little complicated/terrifying for garden novices (like myself). Luckily, this is where the Root Slayer comes in pretty handy.
Using the Root Slayer shovel
The Root Slayer is designed in the shape of a spade but with serrated sides so you can do a multitude of garden jobs like digging, sawing, cutting, slicing and raking.
Plus, it's also super ergonomic with an O-shaped handle that Radius say 'features four-times the gripping surface of conventional tools,' so you can say goodbye to sore wrists, making it great for those who suffer from aches and pains. Talk about an easy garden idea, huh?
The end of the spade has a curved, inverted-V edge which penetrates the roughest ground making it super easy to dig, while the serrated sides of the blade chop through the roots. Pushing down and forward, the roots lift right out of the ground with zero effort. I'm not even exaggerating.
And it doesn't stop there. The Root Slayer is also really handy if you’ve ever hit roots while trying to plant a perennial, or been stymied by roots when trying to dig up a shrub, or tried to propagate peonies by division with a spade only to have them slide away from your shovel, this tool will make these gardening jobs a breeze.
Get the Ideal Home Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter for style and decor inspiration, house makeovers, project advice and more.
Take, for example, getting rid of dandelions, a large dandelion plant can be eased out quickly and the whole root resembling a parsnip will come clean out of the ground. Getting rid of weeds has never been so satisfying and dare I say, fun.
So, instead of spending ages on my hands and knees painstakingly pulling out weeds, I'm now using this instead and honestly, it's a game changer this weeding season.
Although I have only tried the original Root Slayer shovel, there are a a range of other Root Slayer tools available with specific root slaying properties and features, so there's an ergonomic root slaying tool for your garden's specific needs.
If there's one thing for sure, it's that we'll be referring to this handy tool all season long. And all I can say is, thanks, mum!
Jenny is Senior Digital Editor and joined the team in 2021, working across Ideal Home, Real Homes, Homes & Gardens, Livingetc and Gardeningetc. Since getting on the property ladder, her passion for interior design and gardening has taken on a new lease of life. She loves collecting and salvaging unique items (much to her other half's despair) but sniffing out stylish home bargains is her one true love.
-
How to remove ice from a driveway – and the popular method paving experts are warning against
Is salt safe for driveways? Here's what the experts say...
By Sophie King
-
How to isolate a radiator in 3 simple steps - experts explain how to carry out this task yourself at home
Learn how to isolate a radiator now just in time for any winter repairs
By Kezia Reynolds
-
I put the Simba Hybrid Duvet to the test to see if its 'cool tech' would stop me overheating in bed - here's what happened
As Ideal Home's Sleep Editor and a self-certified hot sleeper, I tested the Simba Hybrid Duvet on my own bed to see if it's 'cool tech' is worth the investment
By Amy Lockwood
-
How to remove ice from a driveway – and the popular method paving experts are warning against
Is salt safe for driveways? Here's what the experts say...
By Sophie King
-
These are the 4 things I wish I knew before buying outdoor solar lights, so you don’t make the same mistakes I did
Outdoor solar lights can be both effective and aesthetic, but only if you buy the right ones
By Lauren Bradbury
-
Can you save a plant that's been exposed to frost? How to tell if it's too late, and what to do with frostbitten plants
Here's what the experts say...
By Sophie King
-
How deep to plant crocus bulbs - experts reveal the exact depth required to prevent bulb rot and encourage growth
You definitely don’t want to plant too deep…
By Lauren Bradbury
-
5 houseplants that can replace a Christmas tree – with styling tips from indoor plant experts
You can decorate these houseplants like a Christmas tree
By Sophie King
-
Can you kill weeds in autumn? Experts reveal that completing this task now could keep your garden weed-free next year
Get a head start to keep next year’s garden weed-free
By Lauren Bradbury
-
Why is my cyclamen drooping? 5 reasons this happens - and how to perk it up in time for Christmas, according to experts
Don’t worry; there’s plenty you can do to perk your cyclamen back up
By Lauren Bradbury
-
How to prune forsythia – the all-important task to tackle to guarantee spring flowering
It's the key to vibrant blooms
By Sophie King