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You are here: Home / Tools / Wheelbarrow Tips & Tricks

Wheelbarrow Tips & Tricks

Last updated : January 15, 2015

118 Comments

Mike offers some great advice on what to look for in a good wheelbarrow!

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Comments

  1. Mary Miraglia says

    January 1, 2019 at 8:41 pm

    Hi Mike, new reader here, and I loved your wheelbarrow tips. I can truthfully say neither of those things had ever occurred to me.

    As a 5’1″, 120 lbs. 72-year old woman, I can out-wheelbarrow most of the volunteers at our community garden. I was wondering if you might make a follow-up video on proper pushing, turning and unloading a wheelbarrow. You probably wouldn’t be shocked at the number of people in our city garden group who have no idea, and can spill a load before you can turn your head.

    Reply
    • Mike says

      January 3, 2019 at 9:02 am

      Mary,

      You make some good points and I have observed all of these things. Don’t be afraid to remind me if I don’t get this video done in the spring.

      Reply
  2. Gina Merritt says

    February 27, 2017 at 1:17 am

    Wow, thanks for some great information. I’ve got a bad back and didn’t know this stuff.

    Reply
    • Mike says

      February 27, 2017 at 3:55 pm

      You’re welcome Gina.

      Reply
  3. Daryle says

    August 22, 2014 at 10:53 pm

    I bought two wheelbarrows about twenty five years ago. They were the first two-wheeled barrows. Most of my buddies laughed when they saw them … until they tried them. The tubs are ten cubic feet – about ten big loads moves a full cord of wood. If you load them right, they all but push themselves.

    Reply
  4. Laurette Joiner says

    July 21, 2014 at 10:18 am

    Your comments are so useful. In the past, I have used a garden cart with the 2 bicycle wheels. I can see where these tips would be of use with the cart also.
    I always enjoy your videos.

    Thanks.

    Reply
  5. Heather says

    July 19, 2014 at 2:45 pm

    Thanks Mike for all your tips. I have a special folder I keep them in for references.

    Reply
  6. CJ says

    July 11, 2014 at 10:33 pm

    Thanks for this great reminder, Mike! My back thanks you too!

    Reply
  7. nik says

    July 5, 2014 at 7:46 am

    Thanks Mike. I’m still using the wheelbarrow that was part of my Da’s tools. I gone through a lot of number 10 cans patching rust holes in it. But Da had moved the wheel back at one point, just as you’ve described.

    Reply
  8. Gail Gammell says

    February 3, 2014 at 2:08 pm

    I know it seems funny to some people this wheel barrow video but it meant the world to me. I am an older/mature woman and I am planning to buy my first wheel barrow in the spring. I never could figure the difference in styles and price now….I know what to do and how to do it without hurting my back as well. THANKS!

    Reply
  9. Kan says

    January 27, 2014 at 9:52 am

    Thanks, Mike! Very timely…I have to move a ton (maybe, literally) of compost via wheelbarrow this afternoon. You may have saved me some back pain.

    Reply
  10. Cleo Hales says

    January 21, 2014 at 6:22 pm

    I’ve never seen a wheelbarrow with sides up like that. I’ve always had to have one with 2 wheels!!
    Enjoy you always Mike!

    Reply
  11. Dianne says

    December 14, 2013 at 6:53 pm

    I always enjoy your down-to -earth information. Thanks for the time you spend sharing. I just wish I could find suppliers of rooted cuttings in Australia! A tip that someone taught me years ago about using a wheelbarrow, is to always point it in the direction you want to take it BEFORE you fill it up. So many people wheel it up to a pile – nose in, load it, then try to turn it around to take it back the way they came.

    Reply
  12. Roy says

    June 4, 2013 at 4:43 pm

    I’m glad someone mentioned about laying the wheelbarrow (WB) down beside the soil/rock(s) and dragging the material into the bucket then using your body weight to tip it upright. I moved stones I could not have begun to pick up. But you and every comment I read failed to mention how important it is to keep the tire at it’s FULL inflation. An under inflated tire can increase your pushing resistance by as much as 50%. The only time I might possibly use an under inflated tire is when I was going sideways across a slippery slope to possibly improve the traction of the tire. It’s also cheaper to replace the handles with steel and paint the bucket than to buy a new WB. I’m still using my repaired WB from 40 years ago.

    Reply
  13. Michel says

    May 12, 2013 at 5:19 am

    This is good info for wheelbarrows. I had to figure this out on my own as I had never used one before moving to Interior Alaska. I grew up on the coast of the state and there isn’t a lot of gardening down there. Now I use my wheelbarrow for a lot of things. I pretty much watched this to see if I was doing anything wrong. Gladly, I’m not. I have to clean all of the sled dog areas and have to clean up my chicken coop,especially in the fall and spring. I’m only 40 now but I don’t see my way of living changing anytime soon so these are good tips to keep in mind. I do have a bad lower back and this is truly the best way to move things through the yard. I haven’t had any back problems at all since I started doing this. I would think that using two wheels would be more cumbersome, kind of like driving a 4 wheeler vs. a 3 wheeler. I could always go more places with my 3 wheeler than with a 4 wheeler, IMO.

    Reply
  14. Gottfried says

    April 9, 2013 at 11:54 pm

    Ialwayse enjoy your comments Mike..rtght now aftr surgery in bed on my back,,I wish I HAD SOME DUCK EGGS we would make a good family…I use garden way cart and find it more stable and a cart I hang on my midsized garden tractor..Good LUCK with your stuff,,,may havr tocallon you for somehelp Gottfried

    Reply
  15. Gordon Mackle says

    March 28, 2013 at 10:25 am

    I welded a wheel on each brace on the back end of the wheel barrow! Works great, I don’t have to left it all the time
    just push it. Works great!

    Reply
    • Mike says

      March 28, 2013 at 11:13 am

      Gordon,
      Interesting approach for sure!

      Reply
  16. Charlie says

    March 27, 2013 at 5:29 pm

    Thanks for your concern about people and their wheelbarrows. Great video. I love my Jackson. I have a two wheel unit that I would not trade for the world. I have to replace the plastic part and I find it costs as much as the whole unit. So be it! Charlie in VA

    Reply
  17. Naoma Weisner says

    March 27, 2013 at 12:42 pm

    Mike thanks for the tip about the wheel on the barrow. I learned years ago about the loading after cleaning stalls all my life. I didn’t know about the wheel, I wish the plastic barrows have the wheel under the front. I will have to check, I find the steel wheel barrow to heavy, I am 72 and have a very bad back from all the haying in the old days. Whenever I take a cutting from a few trimmings of Forsythia or Butterfly bushes I just put them next two a faucet in the garden and it makes them easy to water and keep track of. Thanks for your wonderful tips…Naoma

    Reply
  18. annie m says

    March 2, 2013 at 10:30 am

    I work at Lowe’s Home Improvement in NC. We sell a lot of wheelbarrows and people generally go for the cheapest one. I have one rusting away in my backyard. Gonna make a flower pot out of it this year, thanks so much for the idea everyone! Back to the wheelbarrow…Lowe’s sells 2 Jackson wheelbarrows, I am going to check out the wheel location when I get to work today. Great information that I can pass on to buyers about why getting a more expensive wheelbarrow can actually save money in the long run. Thanks ever so much. There may very well be one in my future soon as well, my anniversary is coming up soon.
    Can’t wait to tell my husband why I just have to have one, heheheheh

    Reply
    • Mike says

      March 3, 2013 at 8:35 am

      Annie, no matter what you are doing the best tools will always make your job easier, probably safer and definitely more enjoyable. Nothing worse than trying to work with a tool that just won’t do the job. -Mike McGroarty

      Reply
  19. Mike says

    October 18, 2015 at 10:02 am

    ????

    Reply
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Trackbacks

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    […] I’m really mad about those wheelbarrows.  If I’d paid $59 I’d say I got what I paid for.  But I paid full price for them and for the same money I could have had Two Jackson Wheelbarrows!  Yeah, I’m a big fan of Jackson Contractor Grade Wheelbarrows. […]

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  2. How to Build a Plant Propagation Bed for Rooting Cuttings. says:
    October 17, 2015 at 6:23 pm

    […] two ton of sand it in.  I haul the sand on my 3/4 ton pickup.  I shovel it off the truck into a “real wheelbarrow” and wheel it into the […]

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  3. Electric Wheelbarrow Review by Mike McGroarty. - Mike's Backyard Nursery says:
    January 15, 2015 at 2:21 pm

    […] Last growing season I was given the opportunity to use, test and review this awesome electric wheelbarrow from http://ElectricWheelbarrows.com.  If you’ve known me or have been following me for any length of time you know that I am huge, flag waving fan of single wheel, construction grade Jackson wheelbarrows.  To the point that even offer up “Wheelbarrow Tips and Tricks”. […]

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  4. Preventing a Back Injury While Gardening. – Mike's Backyard Nursery says:
    March 27, 2013 at 9:12 am

    […] Duh!!!  Who doesn’t know how to use a wheelbarrow?  Most people.  Most people don’t know how to use a wheelbarrow.   But I will show you and you will learn something valuable. […]

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