Wheelbarrow and Garden Cart

All gardeners, horse owners and builders need a wheelbarrow or garden cart. There are many occasions when you need to transport items in the garden, on a horse farm or on a construction site. Rather than carrying items by hand or making multiple trips, it is more convenient to use a wheelbarrow or garden cart.

What is the Difference Between Wheelbarrow and Garden Cart?

A wheelbarrow and garden cart are very similar in their functionality but each will have advantages and disadvantages dependent upon the task in hand.

-Garden Cart

A garden cart typically has vertical sides and a horizontal tray. Garden carts are usually fitted with four wheels and are designed to be pulled. Some garden carts can be attached to a lawn mower or small motorised tractor. Garden carts usually have large pneumatic wheels that are suitable for smooth surfaces and rougher ‘off-road’ surfaces. They can be more difficult to manoeuvre than wheelbarrows on uneven surfaces.

Large Garden Carts can have a greater load capacity than wheelbarrows but may need more than one person to pull them when fully loaded.

Garden Carts can have solid or mesh sides, sides can usually be lowered to facilitate loading and unloading. Some garden carts are supplied with an internal liner which is essential when transporting small items if the cart has mesh sides.

-Wheelbarrows

The wheelbarrow pans / trays / tubs (the name varies by manufacturer) are usually oblong in shape. The sides will slope to facilitate tipping. Wheelbarrows are pushed from behind and are easier to control and manoeuvre unless they are very heavily laden, or the centre of gravity of the load is too high.  A wheelbarrow usually has one wheel though some will have two. A two wheel barrow is not as nimble as a wheelbarrow with one wheel but may be more stable when tipping. Some barrows have a rounded nose which means they can be tipped at any angle whereas flat nosed barrows can only be tipped forwards.

The final choice of Garden Cart or Wheelbarrow will, most likely, be determined by the user. What to take into account before making your choice

1.Weight of load

Think about the weight of a typical load. Are you moving bricks which are dense and heavy? or are you moving garden waste which is bulky but light?

Space - will you be working in a limited space? or are there access limitations e.g a narrow doorway or gateway? Always make sure your barrow or cart will fit through your narrowest space.

2.Capability of user

If you have mobility issues it may be easier to pull a cart rather than push a wheelbarrow. To load items into a wheelbarrow they will have to be lifted higher than when using a garden cart.

Size –only chose a large heavy cart or barrow if you have the strength to move it. If you will be working in a large area you may be tempted to buy bigger than you can handle.

3.Construction

Metal is strong but will rust, galvanised metal will offer protection to the metal but ultimately you may need to paint the metal. Metal trays can be affected by toxic substances and if used in a stableyard are likely to be affected by animal waste

Plastic trays are lighter, and more weather proof, but are not as strong as metal trays.  Plastic is more resistant to some toxics, e.g. animal waste, that may eat into metal trays. 

What to look for when selecting a wheelbarrow

Metal trolleys are more suitable for heavy loads. A plastic wheelbarrow is slightly lighter than a metal wheelbarrow of the same volume, so you can choose a slightly larger (bulkier) plastic wheelbarrow and not have to push more weight than a smaller metal wheelbarrow.

A plastic wheelbarrow is better suited for use on a horse farm because it is primarily used to carry straw/shavings/hay, which are large and light enough not to be corroded by the horse's droppings.

Then consider what you are capable of carrying. It doesn't make sense to buy a large cart if you don't have the ability to push a fully loaded cart. A smaller or lighter wheelbarrow would make more sense.

Then consider how much space you have to store the wheelbarrow. Most trolleys can be stored outside, but metal trolleys will eventually rust if stored outside for long periods of time. Galvanized metal carts are less likely to rust than painted metal carts. If you plan to store your cattle carts in a shed, garage, etc. when not in use, determine how much space you need.

Then consider whether you want a single- or two-wheeled cart. A single-wheeled wheelbarrow is easier to maneuver than a two-wheeled wheelbarrow, but a two-wheeled wheelbarrow is more stable and easier to tip over than a single-wheeled wheelbarrow.