A rotary hoe is the ideal piece of equipment for turning clay or soil to prepare the garden for planting. The four-stroke motor is located at the front of the machine with an adjustable cutting tool at the back.
The machine has an adjustable handle that can be set to the height you require. Push the clutch in, then turn on the motor. For added protection, you should wear eye protection, gloves and earmuffs. These safety items can be added to the rotary hoe hire agreement.
Before you start the engine make sure the flap in front of the tines is down because this will protect your feet and prevent the soil from shooting up at you.
Not sure what this equipment is really all about? Let’s start from the top.
Did you Know?
It’s called a hydraulic rotary hoe because it’s self-propelled and doesn’t use any belts or chains. This type of hoe is heavy so you can’t use your arms as a brake as you can with the smaller versions. Other interesting facts:
- It can go forwards and backwards by itself. This means it won’t get stuck in tight corners.
- You only need one to get the job done.
- Prepares the soil in half the time a manual hoe would take.
Rotary Hoe Defined
A rotary hoe is a piece of equipment, and its specific purpose is to loosen and turn compacted soil. The soil in the garden can become hard from the rain and other factors. Planting seeds in this type of soil will be difficult and once the plants start growing, they will struggle to find oxygen and water in the ground.
Using a hydraulic rotary hoe to turn the soil makes it soft and easier to plant the seeds. The tines turn the soil by moving with hydraulic cylinders. The tines dig down about 20cm and drive it forwards and backwards until the soil is prepared.
What’s the Difference Between a Rotary Hoe and a Rotary Tiller?
Rotary tiller and hoe machines are quite similar and often get mistaken for each other. A rotary hoe has slightly different blades that are angled to be able to break up hard and compacted soil.
A rotary tiller has blades that angle to the right and should only be used to turn over soft soil. The blades were not designed to break up hard ground.
How to Use a Rotary Hoe
As mentioned before, it’s important to wear safety gear when operating a rotary hoe. You should have gear to protect your feet, eyes and hands. Once you’re ready to start working, ensure the safety flap is down to protect your feet, then follow these easy steps:
- Switch on the main ignition button
- Turn on the second ignition button
- Make sure the fuel and choke are on and the throttle is in the full-throttle position
- Pull the cord to start the engine
- Lift the clutch handle and the machine will start to move on its own
- If you want the machine to stop, simply release the clutch
Advantages of Using a Rotary Hoe
The main purpose of a rotary hoe is to aerate the soil, kill weeds and move around the topsoil for easier planting. Here is a list of rotary hoe advantages:
- Ease of operation
- Performs the task quickly
- Removes weeds
- Can be used in a greenhouse or flower bed
- Removes small bushes
- Breaks up hard ground easily
- Won’t disturb other crops
- Prevents soil erosion
- Self-propelled
- Height adjustable
- Strong tines that won’t break easily
Field Cultivators
In this machine series, you will also find industrial cultivators. These machines are used on farms where large areas of soil need to be prepared before the crops can be planted. A rotary hydraulic hoe can be used to warm the soil before planting.
The machine also gets rid of weeds that start growing just beneath the surface of the soil. Removing weeds puts nutrients back into the soil.
Each crop that is harvested leaves behind plant residue. The hydraulic rotary hoe mixes the residue back into the soil. This is known as post-harvesting preparation. The process ensures that the next crop that is planted there will have sufficient water and nutrients.
Final Thoughts
If you want to plant a garden and the soil is too hard, it will be a struggle. A rotary hoe can help by tilling the soil. This makes the ground soft and gives your seeds a better chance at growing. For larger gardens, using a hydraulic rotary hoe is the perfect solution as it’s self-propelled. This means you don’t need to carry it.
These machines have smart technology, so it won’t get stuck in tight corners. Instead, the machine will reverse and take another path. Farmers use these machines to prepare the soil before planting, but it is easy enough for even the average person to operate.
If you plan on planting seeds the hydraulic rotary hoe will make your job much easier.
