Hauling Suggestions

Dollies

Two-wheeled dollies are used most often for hauling boxes, but they also come in handy in the yard and garden. They provide a great way to haul five-gallon container-grown plants from the car to the garden, and they're perfect for moving potted plants around the patio or the pool.

Wheelbarrows

The wheelbarrow is the oldest and most familiar hauling device, ideal for light loads. The most popular wheelbarrow is the contractor's model. It's built to last a lifetime, unlike cheaper versions with buckets that rust, handles that bend and tires that barely roll. Wheelbarrows are also great for mixing potting soils, and if you manage to destroy one, it'll make a dandy planter. Relatively new on the market are plastic wheelbarrows; they cost more but also last longer. Wheelbarrows have a tendency to tip if overloaded or pushed over uneven ground.

Garden Carts

The four-wheeled garden cart sparked something of a revolution in hauling. You'll find all kinds of four-wheeled contraptions for light- and heavy-duty hauling; they can sell for $300. Flat-bottomed plastic carts are great for hauling small container plants. Those with wheelbarrow-style buckets tend to have wheels that can fit between raised beds in vegetable and flower gardens.

Big carts with oversized tires can handle uneven terrain without any problem. The payload capacity--how much it can hold before falling apart--is around 400 pounds. Chances are you can buy a garden cart for your riding lawnmower or garden tractor, making hauling about as simple as it gets.

Tip: Use a tarp to drag heavy items from one place to the next.