Beginners Guide To Garden Digger Hire Oxfordshire

If you are considering a garden renovation or landscaping project in the Oxfordshire area? Hiring a garden digger can be an inexpensive way to transform your outdoor space efficiently and effectively. Whether you are looking to tackle digging new foundations, a shed base or releveling your greenspace, you’ll be able to get the job done with the right equipment. 

In this beginner’s guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about garden digger hire. The types and sizes of machines you’d likely come across and how to get started. Let’s begin by exploring the common jobs you can do with this type of machinery.

Jobs You Can Do With A Garden Digger

Before jumping in the deep end, its best to understand the jobs that a garden digger is suitable for. In this case, mini diggers are highly versatile machines that can simplify a wide range of gardening tasks. Here are some examples of the type of jobs you should consider this type of construction equipment for:

Excavation

Whether you are planting trees, digging a new shed base or footings for a house extension, a digger makes excavation simple. With the ability to dig holes quickly and efficiently, using a garden digger can save many hours of manual labour.

Soil Preparation

Garden diggers are a great companion for soil preparation tasks. If that’s to break up compacted ground, adding a top dressing or just encouraging better drainage, using this small earthmoving equipment can enhance your final result.  

Landscaping

Planning a completely new garden design? This rental equipment can help carve out new terraces, ponds and other landscaping features. As a result, opening your scope to endless possibilities. 

Debris Removal 

If your task requires you to rip out some old debris from your outdoor space, then a garden digger is poised to help get the job done. Using this machinery can aid in heavy lifting of many unwanted materials. 

Material Handling

Many DIY tasks require a large amount of material handling. If you are adding in new materials like soil, sand or even concrete, using this equipment can make the whole process seamless. 

Types Of Garden Diggers To Hire

If your outdoor project requires you to conduct any landscaping, excavation, material handling or soil preparation tasks, the use of a small digging machine can be highly beneficial. When it comes to selecting the right excavating machine, size matters. 

Here are some common garden diggers you can expect to hire:

Micro Excavator 

Micro excavators or doorway diggers are perfect for those tight-access garden projects. Their compact size makes them ideal for rear gardens with limited access. They are even small enough to pass through a standard internal doorway. As a result, opening up the potential for faster completion times even in the smallest of spaces. 

Mini Digger

Mini excavators are a larger garden digger that offers superior lifting capabilities whilst remaining small enough to be operated in tight spaces. These machines are the one the most popular earthmoving equipment on the market, and for good reason. Therefore, you are likely able to find a range of mini diggers to support the working area you have available. 

If you’d like to explore a range of micro and mini diggers available to hire in Oxfordshire, check out these popular hires. 

Accessories You Should Expect To Receive With Your Garden Digger Hire.

If you choose to hire a small garden digger, you should be offered a variety of excavator accessories to assist you. It is important that before you commence your project that you have all the tools you need to get the job done. 

Here is a range of accessories you should expect to receive within your garden digger hire.

Grading Bucket 

A grading bucket is commonly the first digging attachment that you will receive with your hire. This large smooth bucket is designed for material handling and ground levelling tasks. 

Digging Bucket 

If you need to break up ground, then a digging bucket is an unmissable attachment to expect to receive with your garden digger hire. These buckets are usually available with or without teeth which are used to assist with penetrating compact soils.

Trenching Bucket 

As the name suggests, this excavator accessory is used to dig thin deep trenches with your machine. This can help you minimise your spill when operating in tight areas like small back gardens. These attachments are favourable for tasks such as installing utilities or digging footings. 

As standard, your garden digger supplier should offer you these additions inclusive in your hire fee. (Supplier dependant) However, you may also want to explore the use of further digger attachments to aid you in your tasks. 

Optional Accessories for Garden Mini Digger

Whilst we have explored the accessories you should expect to receive with your equipment, here are some optional extras to consider: 

Hydraulic Breaker: These components are designed to help break through materials like concrete and rock that cannot otherwise be done with an excavator bucket. This attachment is powered by the machine’s auxiliary hydraulic system. Adding an excavator attachment like this will attract additional cost to your hire.

Land Rake: For tasks that require a delicate touch, a land rake can be added to your garden digger hire to help clear the ground before further landscaping work takes place. These attachments make it easy to remove any small shrubs, brambles or unwanted debris in your soil. Again, small excavator attachments like this will attract a further hire cost. 

See more excavator attachments on the WHC Hire website.

Learning The Controls

When you receive your equipment for the first time, learning the controls and familiarising yourself with the machinery is key. To get the most out of your excavating equipment, consider mastering these 5 excavator controls. 

To help you familiarise yourself with your garden digger, most reputable suppliers will offer an equipment walk through to help you get started. This is usually part of the handover process when the machinery is delivered . If you choose to collect your small digging machine, ask your supplier for a walkthrough before departing. 

Here is an example of a mini digger walkthrough:

All controls of the your rental machine can be found in the operators manual which should stored in your equipment. We always advise reading this prior to using your rental equipment as it will also contain vital safety information. 

How To Get Started With Garden Digger Hire in Oxfordshire

Want to get started with garden digger hire in Oxfordshire? Here’s how:

Do Your Homework 

Before you even consider renting any equipment, you should plan what tasks you will want to do with the machinery. Not only will this save you time, but also money. You must be aware of the maximum dimensions of the area you are working within. Selecting the wrong small excavator can incur project delays and attract further costs.

Find A Reputable Supplier

The best way to get started with garden digger hire is to find a reputable supplier. However, this process can take some time depending on your personal requirements. Some rental companies will be able to offer multiple solutions to suit a wider range of tasks you wish to complete.

For example, WHC Hire Services offer 4 different types of small excavators to cater for access and efficiency requirements. Always research your prospects and seek out reviews and recommendations.

Book Your Equipment

Once you have found the right machine for the job, the next stage is booking the equipment. This process can be done over the phone, in person or digitally depending on the facilities your provider offers. You will often be required to produce two forms of identification along with a refundable security deposit before the machinery is delivered to you. For a deeper dive into this check out how to open a cash account. 

We highly advise that this is done as far in advance as possible to avoid any delays with receiving your equipment.

Prepare for Delivery

Now that your booking is complete, you can sit back and wait for your supplier to deliver your machinery. To prepare to use the equipment, you can use resources like WHC Hire’s QR Enabled Service which provides a digital walk-through of the machinery. So, by the time it arrives, you’ll already be familiar with all the controls and safety protocols.

What Happens If A Problem Occurs When Renting A Garden Digger

If during your rental you have a problem with your garden digger, then your supplier will be able to help you. 90% of the most common issues are down to operator error, of which WHC Hire covers in our online vault of tutorial videos. However, should a mechanical issue occur while on hire, an on-site engineer is usually dispatched to assist you.

The response time of these engineers is dependent on the supplier you are working with. WHC Hire Service in Oxfordshire has a depot in Chipping Norton that services the entire county.

Where To Get Started With Garden Digger Hire In Oxfordshire?

If you are looking for a reputable supplier of high quality, reliable machinery in Oxfordshire, then reach out to WHC Hire Services. Our Chipping Norton depot supplies a wide range of small excavating equipment to suit all garden landscaping and building tasks.

With our expert team of professionals, high performance equipment and support, we are able to help you get the job done. Reach out to your Oxfordshire depot today and speak to one of team or check out popular garden digger hires on our website.