Fokin flat cutter: how to use it, how to work

Recently, gardeners have a large number of mini-equipment for the garden, which helps to increase the speed and efficiency of processing the site. But this does not mean that they refuse to use conventional hand tools.

How to work with a Fokin flat cutter correctly?

The use of this simple device often remains a mystery even to experienced gardeners. More often, gardeners use a flat cutter for only one specific purpose, forgetting about versatility of the device.

The flat cutter is an improved model of a chopper that solves several problems at once when processing beds.

Appearance of the instrument

It is a metal bracket made of high carbon steel. It is bent at a certain angle and fixed to a wooden handle. All three sides of the working surface are sharply sharpened. This helps to quickly and easily remove weeds and loosen the ground.

purpose

The main purpose of the tool is to loosen the soil and remove harmful weeds. In addition, the device is used for the following purposes:

• furrow formation when sowing seeds;
• sealing the ridge after planting the material;
• row spacing;
• hilling potatoes and other plants;
• crushing large clods of soil;
• clearing grass clippings or fallen leaves.

Some gardeners use it instead of a shovel when digging up soil before planting, and also for mowing grass if the flat cutter is sharp enough.

Instructions for use

Depending on the task that the tool performs, it is used accordingly:

1. For digging the soil. The flat cutter blade is driven into the ground at a slight angle to the turning point. Then make a slight rotational movement to loosen the earth. The loosening depth is about 10–15 cm, while the soil layers do not turn over, as when working with a shovel.
2. Ground leveling. This method is rarely used, since the rake is more effective in this case. But still, if you put a flat cutter on its side over a loosened piece of land, and drive it back and forth with quick movements, the clods will break, and the bed will become even.
3. Forming watering circles. At a slight angle, they drive the blade into the soil and, with a slight movement away from themselves, make bumpers to retain moisture near the root system.
4. Planting thinning. The tip of the flat cutter is set perpendicular to the thickened place, the tool is drawn to the right and left through the row, without tearing the plane from the surface. In this case, the "heel" with proper use is displayed on the other side of the ridge.
5. Weed removal and loosening. Having laid the flat cutter flat, they dig it 3-5 cm into the soil and carry it out without removing it from the ground. Rooted herbs are removed with a sharp blade.
6. Hole formation. The sharp, narrow part of the flat cutter is stuck into the soil and a planting hole is made in a circle. Burying it after laying the seeds is advised by the method by which watering circles are formed.
7. Sowing. With a sharp edge, furrows are drawn along the entire length of the beds, the seeds are covered and the ground is leveled, covering the planted crops with soil.

This is a convenient and inexpensive tool that will become the best assistant for the gardener.