Having a garden cart is a great way to move things. around the garden without straining yourself. What’s more, you have the ability to shift far greater loads in one go than you would doing it by hand.

However, there are several different types of garden cart and choosing the right one is essential to make sure that you get something that will meet your needs. After all, everyone needs something different.

What Is A Garden Cart?

When many people hear the term garden cart, their mind instantly drifts towards the wheelbarrow and whilst these tools are similar, they also have clear differences.

A garden cart sits on four wheels and usually features a tipping mechanism which means that you do not need to manually unload it. The tipping mechanism may be spring loaded or motorised, depending on the model.

In terms of appearance, where a wheelbarrow is a more nimble and slimline piece of equipment, a garden cart may appear a little more boxy. They are ideal for people who need something with a little more stability.

Who Would Benefit From A Garden Cart?

As we mentioned, a garden cart offers far more stability than a wheelbarrow and so these pieces of garden equipment are usually favoured by those who perhaps are not as able to balance a heavy load.

Furthermore, they are great for people whose strength is decreased since these can be pulled as opposed to pushed making them far easier to move over uneven or sloped terrain.

There are several types of garden cart, and each one has its own benefits. Moreover, the type you choose will largely depend on how the garden cart will be used. Let’s take a look at the choices:

• Traditional four-wheeled garden carts feature a pull handle and have a generous load capacity. These are the most commonly used models and are great for heavy-duty work.
• Two-wheeled garden trolleys are more lightweight and are well-suited to day to day gardening jobs such as moving weeds and grass clippings, for example.
• Tool carts are similar to plastic garden carts but consist of a fabric, structured bag on four wheels that usually has pockets for storing gardening tools and other items.
• Dump trucks are very similar in nature to traditional garden carts but feature that all-important tilting mechanism that we discussed earlier on. These are excellent for unloading bulky items such as soil and garden debris.

How To Choose The Perfect Garden Cart

If you have decided that a garden cart will work well in your outdoor space, you should take a few things into consideration before you commit to a purchase.

Since each garden cart is designed with slightly different purposes in mind, the last thing you want to do is buy something that won’t meet your demands.

Once you are confident that you know what you are looking for, why not check out the excellent selection of garden carts and wheelbarrows at WheelAlong.

Weight Capacity

One of the primary, and most important considerations when buying any piece of wheeled garden equipment, including a garden cart is the weight capacity.

If you intend to load your garden cart with bricks and heavy rubble, but it is limited to 100kg, you will quickly find that it will cave under the pressure.

Fortunately, most garden carts are able to manage significant loads but you should check this out before buying. In the main, you can expect your garden cart to be able to transport loads weighing between 300-400kg on average.

That being said, there are many heavy-duty garden carts out there that can manage monstrous 600kg loads effortlessly.

Powered or Manual?

In this age of technology and engineering, it is hardly surprising that there are electric garden carts that do most of the hard work for you. These can be really beneficial if you don’t want to, or can’t manage a heavy load by yourself.

However, you should keep in mind that these motorised devices will set you back a little more than a manual version. If you are going to be getting a lot of use out of it, it is a good investment. In contrast, if you plan to use your garden cart only from time to time, a manual version may be better.

Materials

There are two things you should think about where materials are concerned – the material that the garden cart is made from and those that will be carried inside.

As we have discovered, garden carts can be plastic, metal or made from fabric. Fabric ones are far more lightweight and will, therefore, be easier to move around. However, they will not be suitable for heavier goods or things that could cause them to tear.

In contrast, metal and plastic options give you greater durability and the ability to move heavier items. These will be slightly heavier and more cumbersome to move.

Wheels

Most garden carts come on four wheels and this will make them far more stable, especially if you will be moving over rough terrain or you have problems balancing a traditional wheelbarrow. Furthermore, they are excellent for handling heavy loads and make the ideal companion for anyone looking to move bricks, soil, sand and timber, amongst other things.

However, there is the option to purchase an upright trolley with two wheels which is ideal for collecting garden rubbish and smaller garden items.

How you intend to use the garden cart will play a part in the style you go for.

Summary

A garden cart will make life in your garden far easier and is a great way to move things around without the added physical strain of doing it yourself.

However, it pays to be mindful about the product you are buying and gardeners should look closely at the features and capabilities of the garden cart before buying.

In the main, you should consider how and where you plan to use the garden cart and this will give you a good idea about what you will need.