Wheelbarrow uses – 7 ways to use this valuable garden tool in your backyard

It doesn't matter what time of year it is, a wheelbarrow can always be a useful thing to have in your backyard.

This essential gardening tool makes it much easier to carry large and heavy loads and helps to get many outdoor jobs done quicker. They're invaluable if you're planning a big clean-up where you need to clear and transport garden debris. But that's not all – from cleaning gravel to moving plants, a wheelbarrow is a trusty tool to rely on.

If you don't have one a wheelbarrow already, it's definitely worth the investment to make all gardening jobs easier - from spring gardening checklist tasks to fall gardening checklist tasks. If you're not yet persuaded, here are some wheelbarrow uses for your backyard you might not have thought about:

7 wheelbarrow uses

Whether you have a dual wheelbarrow (from Amazon) or a trolley wheelbarrow (from Walmart), you'll be amazed to learn about all the wheelbarrow uses that exist. Here are some of the best for you to explore:

1. Clearing up garden leaves for mulch

When the colder months draw in, many trees start dropping their foliage and collecting leaves becomes a pressing task.

A wheelbarrow is perfect for gathering up all these leaves and transporting them exactly where you need to use them – most likely as mulch around your plants or vegetables to protect them over cold spells.

You can also use the excess fallen leaves around your property for your future gardening efforts. Once you've learnt how to make leaf mold, you'll be looking forward to fall every year.

2. Moving, lifting, and dividing plants

Many plants need lifting and storing for the winter. After dividing plants, you can also use a wheelbarrow to safely transport plants to their new spot, and move any delicate and tender potted plants inside if they need to be overwintered - a great way to use a greenhouse in winter.

It's not just moving existing plants in your yard, either: 'Whether small trees or multiple flats of ground cover, wheelbarrows can host a lot of plants, so you'll want to have one handy if you foresee bringing in new plants on your horizon,' says Tammy Sons, horticulturist and CEO of TN Nurseries. 'Once they are planted, the wheelbarrow can cut down on time to remove all the empty pots and tools,' she adds.

Make sure to wear gardening gloves (from Amazon) to protect your hands when lifting, dividing and planting.

Tammy Sons

Tammy Sons is a horticulture plant expert, garden writer, and educator. Tammy is the CEO and founder of TN Nursery, a thriving online plant nursery based in Altamont, Tennessee. She is also a prolific writer, sharing her knowledge through articles on various gardening topics, including plant care, sustainable landscaping, and the latest trends in horticulture.

3. Cleaning gravel and landscaping rocks 

The task of cleaning gravel, landscaping rocks and decorative pebbles can be a rather burdensome and time-consuming one, not to mention exceedingly heavy. Thankfully, using a wheelbarrow makes this much easier, and gets your paths and other stony garden features looking as good as new.

All you need to do is collect up the gravel with a shovel - like this one from Walmart - and place it into the wheelbarrow along with lots of clean water. Once you've rinsed them thoroughly, drain the dirty water out and replace your gravel in its original spot.

You can also use a wheelbarrow lined with tarpaulin to whiten your gravel and small stones with a bleach solution.

4. Moving tools around the yard 

When it's time to do a bit of shed organization, a wheelbarrow is invaluable. It makes it easy to move large and small tools alike, reducing fatigue.

Try transporting tools in your wheelbarrow to an open space, where you can clean gardening tools before storing garden tools over winter. This will help prevent them from rusting whilst not in use.

There are rust removers on the market (like this one from Amazon) if you do need to clean rusty tools.

5. Moving mulch around your yard

Mulching is an important garden task, especially when you're overwintering a garden. To avoid too many back and forth trips, use a wheelbarrow to haul organic matter.

'If it's time to add more mulch or bark to your yard, the wheelbarrow is ideal. The three to six-gallon bucket can hold a lot of mulch, bark and fertilizer, avoiding the need to lug big bags around,' says Tammy.

Not only will a wheelbarrow effectively carry large bags of mulch, it can also be helpful to move homemade compost to where you want to lay it down.

6. Collecting rainwater

Winter usually means the start of the rainy season, and a wheelbarrow is a great tool for rainwater harvesting. You can put it to good use as an alternative to a water barrel.

All you need to do is redirect the downspout of your gutter into the wheelbarrow. You can then store this collected water to use for watering plants.

This is a great alternative to making a rain barrel and can be effective when paired with a rain chain.

7. Upcycling for a planter

If your long-used wheelbarrow has rust, spots and holes, don't throw it away just yet: you can still make good use of it as a makeshift planter box.

'Using a wheelbarrow over a planter box can add a bit of style to your yard and reduce the need for trashing an old, rusted out wheelbarrow,' says Tammy. 'Or, if you like to keep things fresh and move plants around, it is essentially a mobile garden,' she adds.

An old wheelbarrow is a great upcycling project and makes a decorative planter for a container garden or patio. Make sure to drill some holes into the bottom of the wheelbarrow for drainage and then fill it as you would when making a thriller, spiller, filler container.

Along with vibrant blooms, why not try using a wheelbarrow for a herb planter?

Find the right wheelbarrow for you

FAQs

How do you properly store a wheelbarrow?

Wheelbarrows tend to be made from weather-resistant materials and you often can leave them out in the rain. However, to prolong its use and to keep it in pristine condition, it can be wise to hose it down to clean it before storing undercover - like in a shed or garage. If you don't have the space for this, you can also store a wheelbarrow standing up against a fence or upside down on the ground to stop it blowing over in the wind.

You can really get creative with wheelbarrows to use them in a wide range of ways. They're not the only multipurpose garden tool, either, as there are plenty of unusual uses for a lawn mower and even unusual uses for pruners.