A garden cart is a wheeled vehicle used for carrying small loads that can be pushed by a person. It has handles and has one or more wheels. If you want to get a lot of work done in the garden then you shouldn’t go without a garden cart. Indeed, they’re extremely valuable to help you finish any of your most loved planting exercises in your day-by-day life.

Garden carts could be the gardener’s best working buddy because they are what every serious gardener needs. They also may be friends with the farmers, the migrant workers, the landscapers, and even the construction workers; for they have a lot to do with transporting, hauling, moving and lifting stuff. Nonetheless, they are adaptable, versatile, and flexible, and they can really give you an edge over your backyard projects and duties. They work remarkably well to help avoid problems when you’re out there, doing your gardening. All in all, they make the big jobs easy.

So, what do I recommend for you? Here is a list of garden carts with its sizes and features. I have looked at each cart to personally inform you the distinct attributes of each, as a guide in a way, when choosing your garden helper.

Small Sized Cart. These carts are a good compliment to a small or lightweight lawn tractor. And, since they are small, they are not intended for heavy-duty jobs. The load capacity is only 500 pounds and the load size is 6 cubic feet only. But, never underestimate this little thing, for it could still be of help in keeping your garden lush and beautiful.

Medium Sized Cart. These carts are rugged and durable. They are tough and long lasting. I would not have any problems recommending them as your gardening help. They will hold more. In general, they have better tires than the small carts. The load capacity is 1000 pounds, and its load size is 12 cubic feet.

Large Sized Carts. While it provides a lot of room for your large and bulky loads, this cart is also perfect for the heavy-duty jobs. Not that this type of cart got only good tires in it, in fact, it also has a heavy one-inch axle so you won’t have to worry about bending or breaking an axle.

Benefits of Garden Carts

If you’re doing farm, backyard, or landscaping work, you should consider having a garden cart. You need all the help you can get when you’ve got tons of supplies and materials to haul in, out, and about.

Garden carts are well-made, easy to maneuver, and stable, thus making our life easier and smoother especially when we do gardening. Not that it only continues to be a staple in the garden, but it can also haul everything, even heavy loads. It can hold more, compared to a wheelbarrow and has also the added stability. What amazes me about garden carts, are those big bicycle tires that make the work handily to haul even the heavy loads.

A garden cart is a very important tool in gardening, thus helping the gardener to haul dead leaves, wood, and many other things. So, it is necessary to choose your garden cart carefully. Make sure that it would be able to withstand frequent use, huge loads, and sometimes rough grounds.

And, there are several factors to consider when buying a garden cart such as the wheel type, the load capacity, and its durability. Finding the right cart for you involves finding the correct balance of these features for the loads and uses that you need.

Different Types of Garden Carts

Determining how much weight you will be transporting on a regular basis can help narrow down your options. When selecting a cart, be sure to select one that will support a little more than your heaviest load. You want to be sure to give yourself the option in the future to move a larger load if needed, without splurging on more cart than you need.

There are four major types of garden carts. They’re the utility wagons, flatbeds, dump carts, and foldable carts. To mention some of the carts functions would be for hauling dirt, debris, mulch, compost, and plants, and some for moving around tools, supply, and pots.

In buying garden carts, it is important to know what you are looking for and what qualities you want your cart to be. You must choose the one that can last long term. Thus, making you buy the best one out of your money.

To help you decide on what potential garden cart to purchase, I will discuss the different types of garden carts complete with its features. Remember to choose wisely!

The Utility Wagon Cart

This cart, also known as the Marine foldable utility cart is the most commonly industrious handy-bearer garden cart you will ever have in your life! And this kind of cart is produced using Marine-review aluminum that can prevent rust and erosion. Not only that this cart can be utilized as a part of any marine situations, with no issues; this type of cart is also one of the most used and most popular garden carts you can find in the market because of its features.

To mention some; it conveys up to 350 pounds of rigging to go up against and off water crafts and we have its unit that involves up to 2 square feet for your storage room. It also has 4 metal sides that can be pulled with a long handle, and is usually open, or can be easily removed for cleaning purposes. In addition, it has a removable front entryway, which takes control in the dumping of soil or mulch. When you are done, simply utilize a garden hose to tidy up with no stresses over rust.

 Also, this type of cart is best for hauling plants, fertilizer, wood chips, and dirt. Removable sides give you greater versatility of use, as you’ll be able to move bulky, awkward-sized loads.

Dump Carts

This is simply a cart with a body that can be tilted or a bottom that can be opened downward to discharge contents. They come in a four-wheel wagon design or a two-wheel design that looks like a wheelbarrow. The only thing that tells the difference between a dump cart from a wagon or a wheelbarrow is the bed’s ability to dump and to haul any kind of material you have around your property; that even the wet, sticky, dry, rough, scratchy, and hard to handle materials can be dumped easily depending on the load capacity.

 A dump cart is usually used to haul rocks, soil, pavers, gravel, grass, fertilizer, or firewood. Having a cart with a dump feature gives you added flexibility to dump and swivel.  It could also save you some back strain. BUT, you must examine wisely the cart before buying it. Make sure that it’s worth every of your penny.

Just some few tips to be kept in mind:

• See to it that the cart is strong enough to handle any task
• As much as possible choose the cart needs less maintenance
• Make sure it will not dent under normal use
• Check if the cart will handle wet or dry materials
• Make sure that the cart will not bend or warp when loaded with gravel

Flatbed Carts

A flatbed garden cart is a type of cart that has an open bed and doesn’t come with sides. They are best for hauling large or non-standard sized objects, as well as stacking bag of soil or fertilizers.  Its function is like a utility wagon. This is also the perfect solution when you transport large and heavy items on a level terrain. Thus, making it ideal for all your outdoor transportation and yard work needs. Also, this kind of cart provides great maneuverability, which makes it ideal also for industrial, commercial and warehouse use.

But prior to deciding to purchase one, please do examine it thoroughly and check the following features:

• Check for its durability
• Check for its chemical and scratch resistance
• Make sure that has an outstanding longevity and long resilience
• Make sure it is a heavy-duty construction
• Check for its load capacity

Foldable Carts

In any business or industrial setting, there always seem to be a hundred different tasks to do on any given day, so whether you need to move heaps of files, crates, or any other smaller items, you can improve your efficiency and ease with the benefits provided by a foldable cart. The most prominent element of a folding cart is its ability to neatly tuck away into small places, allowing you to prop the cart right back up and continue using it within seconds.

Most foldable garden carts have fabric sides with an accordion metal frame that allows them to be collapsed when not in use. Also, the sides are not removable and the load capacity is significantly less than a metal-framed garden cart. But beforehand, you need to keep an eye on its features for you don’t want your money to go to waste.

• Make sure to check its durability
• Check on the framings
• Check on its portability
• Check on its sturdiness

Carrying Capacity

It is best to assess the capacity of the garden cart that you are planning to buy; to make sure that it is perfectly suitable for your needs. Also, to see to it that it’s in its best condition and is fully functional, for you don’t want to purchase a garden cart that won’t be of help to you. When you know that in the very first place, the reason why you are purchasing a garden cart is to make your gardening time a smooth sailing one.

 In addition, it is ideal if the garden cart has a big capacity so that you can load more objects into it. You need to consider a few things before purchasing your garden helper. Go ahead and ask yourself if how big are the loads you wanted to move. And how far do you usually move them?

If you regularly carry loads over 650 pounds then you will need a heavy-duty cart with a large load capacity. Usually, these carts have larger tires and thicker body construction. On the other hand, for loads less than 650 pounds, you would want to have a bed that is wide and deep enough to accommodate your average load type and size. It’s also important to choose the one with high sides since it will keep your load contained. If you aren’t planning on pulling the cart behind a vehicle, be sure the load is weighted to make it easier when transporting and dumping.

The garden cart’s carrying capacity is highly important especially when you are mostly loading and moving gardening equipment. When you deal with liquid or semi-liquid gardening materials, it is best to purchase a garden cart with a vertical or pail-like structure. On the other hand, when you deal with solid gardening objects and equipment, a large horizontal cart structure would be best for you.

There are garden carts that offer additional features such as extra side pockets, insulated coolers, removable bag or beverage holders. Thus, it is best to purchase a garden cart that offers multi-functional benefits that make your work lighter and easier.

Types of Tires

Garden carts usually have a long-connected bar and two wheels in front and often seem to be bulkier. An addition to their front wheels, they also have a third or two more wheels in the back. To further understand regarding the types of tires a garden cart has, let me give you a short overview about it.

There are 2 types of garden cart tires. The plastic tires and the pneumatic tires. It is best to determine where you are mostly going to use the garden cart so that you can assess if its tires are ideal for it. Let me give you some views about it.

Pneumatic Tires. Pneumatic tires are made of reinforced rubber and are filled with air, which allows them to absorb some of the shocks of moving over rough terrains. Making it the ultimate tire for heavy-duty works. These tires also make the cart easy to move over uneven areas without getting stuck. It is susceptible to puncture; nevertheless, it also provides stability when you pass the garden cart through rocky terrains.

Plastic Tires. Lightweight garden carts come with plastic tires, some have tread and some don’t. If you only plan to use the cart in your yard on a grass with a small load, plastic tires are probably going to be sufficient. The benefit of plastic tires is that they cannot get punctured on sharp rocks or hardware that may be in the driveway or yard.

Garden carts have the added benefit of a second wheel that helps greatly with stability. So, this is a better choice, especially for the younger ones, the elderly, and to people without a lot of strength because of its stability. They are far more expensive, but they are also a smart investment especially when you’re concern with your area.

Although easy to push and pull, garden carts are harder to maneuver through paths or tight spaces. That is the negative thing about garden carts.

Bed Material

There are 3 kinds of bed material. We have the plastic, Polyethylene, and steel. The garden cart’s construction material is essential for you to determine if you can reliably use it for an extended period. Garden carts with metal trays are stronger, but they can be highly susceptible to rust and weathering.

Plastic trays are durable and weather-resistant, but not as durable as metal trays. Furthermore, garden carts with a fabric support are highly multi-purposes, lasting and weather-resistant, but they are not as durable as garden carts with metal trays. These have advantages and disadvantages, so it is best to assess which one for you is the best to use.

 Let me give you a short overview of it.

Plastic. Plastic beds are lighter compared to steel so they are easier to pull. Nonetheless, they are smaller and have the lowest quality among bed constructions, so the risk of cracking is high especially when exposed to the sun most of the time.

Polyethylene. Polyethylene beds are scratch and dent resistant. It weighs less and they can stand up better in inclement weather.

Steel. This type of bed material will be able to withstand heavy use without being damaged since this is the strongest and the most durable garden cart. However, they are the heaviest, pose a risk of rusting, and may be damaged by acidic loads such as animal waste (bed construction).

Another option to optimize your garden dump cart will depend on the extremities in which you will be using your cart. For instance, if your garden dump cart will be exposed to rain and snow, make sure that the cart comes with a rustproof bed and wheels. Also, most carts come with a polyethylene finish to meet those needs. Similarly, if you will be using your cart in the snow make sure it has the correct type of tires, to prevent rusting.

Choosing the Right Size for Your Need

You may want and need a heavy-duty cart but if you do not have the strength to pull it when loaded, the cart loses its value. Check the weight of the cart itself and then determine your average load size.

If you have a tractor or quad, you can find garden carts that can be pulled eliminating the limits placed by human strength. However, without that aid, if strength were an issue, a lightweight cart would be the best choice. In addition, take into consideration it’s unloading capability because many carts have different options in terms of unloading your supplies. Some come with a release mechanism in the handle for easier dumping. Other models keep it simple with a tip and dump design. There is also the wheelbarrow style, which is a very hands-on style of unloading.

Another thing to keep in mind is to make sure to consider all the people who will be using the cart in your family or workplace. Some of the more heavy-duty carts can weigh a lot and could be too difficult for some to use. Take into consideration the dimensions of your garden cart. If you frequently need to move your cart through doorways, make sure the measurements will work for you to prevent snagging of the wheels or getting stuck.

Conclusion

Gardening is a perfect pastime since this is a great way to relax when you’re bored, while at the same time you get in touch with nature and your surroundings. However, if it involves getting strained from lifting heavy objects and constantly carrying a lot of garden tools with you, it creates stress. Knowing that garden carts are available, it sure cuts your hassle and strenuous hauling.

If you don’t have any information to go on, you could end up spending a lot of money that would be unnecessary. Wise landscapers know that the best garden carts will be precisely tailored to their need. They don’t go about wasting money just because there is a perfect garden cart out there that seems like it would handle everything possible.

Anticipating where you will spend most of the time using your garden dump cart can help pinpoint the best features to meet your needs. For instance, if you plan on using your cart at one location for extra-large loads, purchasing a heavier model will be your best option.

And now, we’ve come to the difficult part—when we decide on which cart to buy since you already know the various types of garden carts as mentioned above. However, if you are purchasing one for the first time, the wide array of choices can be a bit overwhelming.

But don’t worry too much since I’ve already listed above the distinctive feature of each garden cart. I hope that did help you a lot.  One thing is for sure; there are a lot of choices and carts for sale in your local hardware stores, gardening specialty stores, and online shops.

And if you have used any of the products listed above, then make sure to share your opinion and review to your friends for them to be aware as well.