Digging a new bed? Cleaning out an old one? There is a tool that will help break up that East Texas clay and take care of smaller roots around established trees. It is a tool that is a combination pick and hoe. It is called a mattock. A mattock has a wide, flat blade on one end of a head that is ideal for chopping roots, clearing debris, edging, and other landscape work. The other side is a pick, which is perfect for hard-packed soil. It is safer than using an ax and quicker than using separate tools. It is a great multi-tasking tool!
Jan Moch, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas Cooperative Extension
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