Customer Reviews

Tanaka Bulb Planting Auger Bit 2-Inch x 24-Inch 745204

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Extremely effective for planting bulbs AND for stirring the contents of your compost bin. The latter was the #1 reason we were attracted to this tool. Our son in Southern California is a real tool afficianado and introduced us to the compost application. When he demonstrated how it turned the compost, the heat and steam coming off the material was amazing. When we used it in NM to plant daffodil bulbs we planted 50 in 1/2 an hour, most of the time spent deciding where to plant them.
Serious tool for serious gardeners. Note: We bought the 1/2 inch drill bit size. Make sure your have a cordless electric drill with chuck big enough for the auger that you select. There are many sizes.

Amazon shipped what was shown in the photograph on the website...but it was a Power Planter brand, model 224H. It is well constructed and has a 1/2 inch hex drive. I was concerned it might not make it through tough adobe clay--but it took right off. The limiting factor was the power capability of the drill used. I used a heavy duty electric drill, but an even larger gasoline powered drill would work better. I added a 24 inch extension so I could drill 4 foot deep holes for setting heavy-duty duck-bill type earth anchors. This product is listed on the Amazon website as a bulb planter....I am not sure why someone would want to plant a bulb 24 inches deep. Power Planter recommends this be used for installing electric and water lines under sidewalks, deep feeding trees with fertilizer pellets or spikes, but it also works great for setting earth anchors!

Well made item. Used with large 1/2 inch drill. In hard clay soil, the drill would spin but not bite into soil and drill down. Had to get out my Mantis tiller to complete the job. Granted the item description says it is for planting bulbs (assume soft soil) but it says it can be used in any kind of soil. I think it would work good in soft soil but unfortunately my project needed something for hard clay.

When you think what $60 can buy you might think, "That much for a giant screw?" And you'd be sort of correct. Considering the manufacturing cost, this (or any other) sturdy auger shouldn't cost that much. However, that's the wrong perspective. Think instead of the VALUE it brings. Sure, you can "plant bulbs," as its description says, but you can also speed the digging of a hole for a 15-gallon tree. You can also aerate the ground around plantings that need to be perked up. You can till or cultivate in places too tight to bring in a big 5-hp tiller. It's sturdy, it's multifunctional, it's a must for the serious gardener who wants to save time and back-breaking effort. Buy it! [And do be sure to avoid cheaply made knockoffs.]

I acutally returned the auger as it turned out to be the wrong size for me. I ordered another size from a different manufacturer. The Tanaka auger is made of much better quality metal and should hold up for a long time. It seems to me to be a good choice if it is going to be used a lot or in tough soil. If the auger is not used much a cheaper auger may suffice for much less cost.