Fiskars 7870 Uproot Lawn & Garden Weeder Review.
"Truly an amazing device!" 2010-03-09
By G. O. Laun (San Antonio TX)
What a fantastic product the Uproot Weeder has turned out to be: a great time and effort saver! It is sturdy, well-designed, and easy to use. Half an hour of work and my back yard is not unlike a touch-and-go alien landing site. We are not talking divots: we are talking holes [apparently huge weeds have huge roots]. But weeds: you are my b****es; I smite you with my Q-38 Explosive Space Modulating Fiskar UpRoot Weeder! My only worry now is criminals falling in the holes without punji sticks and suing me. That and the aliens returning. But holy object of undetermined authenticity is that thing making short-work of these weedy interlopers! Record time and record lack of soreness. Not that I actually keep records of such things. Certainly not quantifiable records. Regardless, definitely the best money I've spent on yard maintenance tools.
"Worth every penny" 2010-02-09
By Barbara B. (Oregon, USA)
I never thought I'd pay $30 for a weed puller but, having tried a few cheaper types of weeding tools, I figured I had to do something. Frankly, I was so skeptical that I didn't throw the box out or even remove the attached instruction card -- so convinced was I that I would be returning it.
Well, I have been using it for the last couple of days and I am so pleased with it I've just ordered another one (so my spouse can get out there and pull those *$@#*(&@#_ weeds too!).
Okay, I can't say that I had FUN exactly, but I have to admit I was almost happy to find another dandelion or thistle just for the sheer joy of pulling it up without the slightest effort. It successfully yanked up large-rooted weeds in my lawn area, in a bare soil area and in a section covered in wood chips (although the wood chips proved harder to remove from the tines).
You have to position the tool carefully over the center of the weed (although if don't, it's no big deal, you just give it another shot). And yes, it doesn't pull up the entire tap root (you'd need three sticks of dynomite to do that) but it gets up enough of the root mass that it's doubtful the darned thing will grow again.
I highly recommend this tool and I feel that, despite its high initial cost, it can definitely save money on less effective tools or -- heaven forbid -- chemical herbicides!
"Fiskar 7870 Garden Weeder" 2010-02-25
By D. Shirley (Florida USA)
This is our second Fiskar 7870 Weeder. Every yard needs one.
We have tried other brands. This is the best. Hard to find the model 7870.
The new Fiskar Weeder has only 3 blades for weeds. Fiskar should stay with 4 blades, which the 7870 has.
"Fan-weeding-tastic (if you are not too tall)" 2010-03-19
By Larry Diamond (Austin, TX USA)
I have tried many upright weeders before. The holy grail of success and not having to be on hands and knees. Have tried the grandpa weeder---meeh. Have tried the Hound Dog HDP21-10 Weed Hound Elite. The weed hound was bad. Could not disengage stuff, really didn't pull things out anyway. Same withe grandpa weeder.
But the Fiskars....dang this thing WORKS. First off it has a long foot lever so it really gets down. Second the 4 gripping and ripping out blades are longer than the others and serated and it really holds on. Third and maybe best it has an excellent release mechanism. It is also lighter than the other ones and would be great for someone older.
Only knock is it isn't super long. I am 5.9 and I do have short arms and it was ok. A few inches taller though would have been pushing it a bit. But I guess they made it the best size for the widest amount of men and women. But even if you are taller hard to find a better weeder.
Also it really isn't going to do anything meaningful for crabgrass. But for weeds with a deep center root like dandelines....go to town with this guy.
I garden all the time and this has broken in to my Top 10 gardening products of all time. Not exactly sure where in the top, but easily in there. Must get.
"Only weeder that worked on our big daddy weeds" 2010-03-22
By A. Chandler (Austin, TX)
We have a waaaay-too-big backyard that was graded but not grassed by our builder prior to move-in. We spent time getting the inside exactly how we wanted it then decided to conquer the backyard. It is both fortunate and unfortunate that our lot falls right in the midst of the blackland prarie trail. It's fortunate because we have amazing plants that bloom there naturally like Buffalo gourds, soft-leaf yucca, gorgeous flowers like bluebonnets, etc...but with such plant life abounding, the weeds came with them. In droves.
So prepping the backyard for the good stuff meant back breaking work. I tried out (via borrowing) several weeders during the height of my weeding (which is still continuing and, as weeding goes, always will.)
The other ones I tried, which seemed to be super popular, got little weeds well, but not-so-much if they weren't tiny. Or they required me to use a loud drill with the weeder as an attachment (got soooo annoying after 5 min.) and hold the weeder exactly in the right place and "thread" a curly-q bit through the weed or it wouldn't pull.
I began to think solarization or a drum of vinegar would be easier.
Then we got the Fiskars. **harps and angels sing out**
This didn't just clip the weeds to allow the roots to grow, or sling 'em around so the seeds sprouted elsewhere as you pulled, or just pull out the baby weeds. This helped even with the Big Daddy weeds. Plop down on the weed, step on the foot petal and the claws go down in the dirt for you to rip em out WITH the roots when you release it back up. Because the claws continue to hold the weed, you can then deposit them into a wheel barrel or whatever.
I actually read about this weed eater in a garden book as the preferred one and tracked it down.
I think I tried out a total of 5 different weeders to compare.
The only thing that would improve it would be a free lawn boy holding it and doing the work for me. But then I wouldn't be burning the calories moving my arms in weed slinging either so I guess it's a win/win all around. (Especially because there is still no bending or stooping anymore and this ejects the weeds very simply. So I'm working in my garden without WORKING so much in my garden.)
Trust me, when they say "everything is bigger in Texas" that includes weeds. We are a good test here in the heart of Austin.
By G. O. Laun (San Antonio TX)
What a fantastic product the Uproot Weeder has turned out to be: a great time and effort saver! It is sturdy, well-designed, and easy to use. Half an hour of work and my back yard is not unlike a touch-and-go alien landing site. We are not talking divots: we are talking holes [apparently huge weeds have huge roots]. But weeds: you are my b****es; I smite you with my Q-38 Explosive Space Modulating Fiskar UpRoot Weeder! My only worry now is criminals falling in the holes without punji sticks and suing me. That and the aliens returning. But holy object of undetermined authenticity is that thing making short-work of these weedy interlopers! Record time and record lack of soreness. Not that I actually keep records of such things. Certainly not quantifiable records. Regardless, definitely the best money I've spent on yard maintenance tools.
By Barbara B. (Oregon, USA)
I never thought I'd pay $30 for a weed puller but, having tried a few cheaper types of weeding tools, I figured I had to do something. Frankly, I was so skeptical that I didn't throw the box out or even remove the attached instruction card -- so convinced was I that I would be returning it.
Well, I have been using it for the last couple of days and I am so pleased with it I've just ordered another one (so my spouse can get out there and pull those *$@#*(&@#_ weeds too!).
Okay, I can't say that I had FUN exactly, but I have to admit I was almost happy to find another dandelion or thistle just for the sheer joy of pulling it up without the slightest effort. It successfully yanked up large-rooted weeds in my lawn area, in a bare soil area and in a section covered in wood chips (although the wood chips proved harder to remove from the tines).
You have to position the tool carefully over the center of the weed (although if don't, it's no big deal, you just give it another shot). And yes, it doesn't pull up the entire tap root (you'd need three sticks of dynomite to do that) but it gets up enough of the root mass that it's doubtful the darned thing will grow again.
I highly recommend this tool and I feel that, despite its high initial cost, it can definitely save money on less effective tools or -- heaven forbid -- chemical herbicides!
By D. Shirley (Florida USA)
This is our second Fiskar 7870 Weeder. Every yard needs one.
We have tried other brands. This is the best. Hard to find the model 7870.
The new Fiskar Weeder has only 3 blades for weeds. Fiskar should stay with 4 blades, which the 7870 has.
By Larry Diamond (Austin, TX USA)
I have tried many upright weeders before. The holy grail of success and not having to be on hands and knees. Have tried the grandpa weeder---meeh. Have tried the Hound Dog HDP21-10 Weed Hound Elite. The weed hound was bad. Could not disengage stuff, really didn't pull things out anyway. Same withe grandpa weeder.
But the Fiskars....dang this thing WORKS. First off it has a long foot lever so it really gets down. Second the 4 gripping and ripping out blades are longer than the others and serated and it really holds on. Third and maybe best it has an excellent release mechanism. It is also lighter than the other ones and would be great for someone older.
Only knock is it isn't super long. I am 5.9 and I do have short arms and it was ok. A few inches taller though would have been pushing it a bit. But I guess they made it the best size for the widest amount of men and women. But even if you are taller hard to find a better weeder.
Also it really isn't going to do anything meaningful for crabgrass. But for weeds with a deep center root like dandelines....go to town with this guy.
I garden all the time and this has broken in to my Top 10 gardening products of all time. Not exactly sure where in the top, but easily in there. Must get.
By A. Chandler (Austin, TX)
We have a waaaay-too-big backyard that was graded but not grassed by our builder prior to move-in. We spent time getting the inside exactly how we wanted it then decided to conquer the backyard. It is both fortunate and unfortunate that our lot falls right in the midst of the blackland prarie trail. It's fortunate because we have amazing plants that bloom there naturally like Buffalo gourds, soft-leaf yucca, gorgeous flowers like bluebonnets, etc...but with such plant life abounding, the weeds came with them. In droves.
So prepping the backyard for the good stuff meant back breaking work. I tried out (via borrowing) several weeders during the height of my weeding (which is still continuing and, as weeding goes, always will.)
The other ones I tried, which seemed to be super popular, got little weeds well, but not-so-much if they weren't tiny. Or they required me to use a loud drill with the weeder as an attachment (got soooo annoying after 5 min.) and hold the weeder exactly in the right place and "thread" a curly-q bit through the weed or it wouldn't pull.
I began to think solarization or a drum of vinegar would be easier.
Then we got the Fiskars. **harps and angels sing out**
This didn't just clip the weeds to allow the roots to grow, or sling 'em around so the seeds sprouted elsewhere as you pulled, or just pull out the baby weeds. This helped even with the Big Daddy weeds. Plop down on the weed, step on the foot petal and the claws go down in the dirt for you to rip em out WITH the roots when you release it back up. Because the claws continue to hold the weed, you can then deposit them into a wheel barrel or whatever.
I actually read about this weed eater in a garden book as the preferred one and tracked it down.
I think I tried out a total of 5 different weeders to compare.
The only thing that would improve it would be a free lawn boy holding it and doing the work for me. But then I wouldn't be burning the calories moving my arms in weed slinging either so I guess it's a win/win all around. (Especially because there is still no bending or stooping anymore and this ejects the weeds very simply. So I'm working in my garden without WORKING so much in my garden.)
Trust me, when they say "everything is bigger in Texas" that includes weeds. We are a good test here in the heart of Austin.
