What is a rotary cultivator used for?

What is a rotogriffe?

This slightly unusual garden claw consists of a handle and a head fitted with 3 to 5 helicoid tines. The handle is often long (at least 100cm) and ends in a sort of S-shaped handlebar, allowing you to push the tool into the soil and give it a slightly circular movement. This famous S-shaped handlebar is designed to reduce effort. The clawed head, meanwhile, is made of stainless steel.

Long-handled models allow you to work standing up with your back straight. This type of tool helps prevent injuries and aches. The Rotogrif’ Leborgne 4-tine is one example.

However, there are also mini rotary claws with a much shorter handle (30-40cm, or even just a simple grip). They are used crouching, kneeling or in raised containers or planters. The Mini Rotogrif’ 3-tine Leborgne is one example.

On the left, the Leborgne 4-tine rotary claw

What is a rotary cultivator used for?

The rotary claw loosens the top layer of the soil, to a depth of approximately 10–15cm. This tool is ideal for wildlife-friendly gardens, as it does not turn over the different layers of soil and does not kill soil fauna. With this tool, you can:

• Loosen the soil before sowing or break up a surface crust caused by heavy rain;
• Aerate the soil around plants in the vegetable garden or ornamental garden;
• Mix compost or potting compost into the surface soil;
• Aerate the compost heap;
• Weed or hoe between plants: only in well-worked or naturally loose soils;
• Harvest small potatoes.

How to use a rotary cultivator?

Using a rotary cultivator is relatively simple. Simply push the head into the soil by pressing down on it with your foot, then make rotary movements with the handle. Remove the tool and repeat elsewhere. And so on…

It is worth noting that the rotary cultivator is only really effective in well-worked or naturally loose soil. In heavy, compacted or stony soil, or where the vegetation is too dense, use a spading fork instead. However, you can still try using a rotary cultivator in heavy soil if it has fewer tines (3 at most) and they are shorter, as this will make it easier to push into the soil.

Don’t forget! Clean the tines with soapy water after each use to prevent soil from sticking to them. This will help prevent your tool from rusting and ensure that the tines continue to penetrate the soil effectively.