A wheelbarrow at first glance can be labeled as an unnecessary waste of money and can easily be dispensed with. However, try doing garden work without a barrow, transporting heavy buckets of dirt and materials with your bare hands, and you will realise that it is indeed a blessing to own one.

A typical garden barrow is composed of a bin for carrying load, rear handles for lifting and steering it, and one or two front wheels to move it around. Whether you need one or two wheels depends entirely on the kind of work you require. For whatever purpose, choose a barrow with sturdily-constructed wheel or wheels with a good set of tyres.

Garden barrows are designed to take on tough jobs like carrying and transporting heavy loads. However, they can and do break down because of constant use. The parts most prone to wear and damage are the wheelbarrow tires. Avoid operating a barrow with a flat tyre as this will only worsen the damage. Repairing a punctured tyre is not difficult.

Turn the garden barrow upside down so its tyre is in the air and accessible for repair. Now look for the puncture. If you couldn’t find the hole or can’t determine the source of air leak, prepare a mixture of soap and water in a small container. Gently pour the soapy water over the tyre’s surface. You’ll know where the leak is when you see bubbles forming over it.

If the puncture is small, it can be sealed up by injecting it with one of those commercial gloop tyre sealants which foams and hardens inside and around the hole. Other alternatives are rubber repair cords and adhesive patches which are used for the same purpose.

Once the puncture is patched, tie a strong rope about the circumference of the tyre to force its edges against the wheel’s rim to prevent air from escaping during inflation. Inflate the tyre partially, untie the rope and proceed to inflate to the right pressure.

If the entire wheelbarrow wheels are damaged, unscrew the lug nuts that hold the wheels in place. Replace it with a new wheel and screw the nuts in place.

Proper care and maintenance of your barrow will allow you to easily move heavy loads to get more things done quickly.

Posted by Gardening Tools