Hand tool for tall weeds?

[1voyager1]

I picked up from HD a Ryobi 4 cycle power head with the string trimmer, brush cutter, and tiller attachments.
I was skeptical as to how durable it would be when I bought it.
As it came with a 3 year warranty, I figured it was worth trying.
In the year that I've been using it now, I've come to respect it.
I agree, the string trimmer is almost useless except to trim lawn from around the house slab and walkway edges.
The brush cutter attachment works nicely on the larger weeds and ferns.
It just is not big enough to work quickly through large areas of weeds and ferns.
The ground is too uneven for a larger wheeled brush cutter.

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When I tire of the brush cutter I grab a long handled spade and swing it through the weeds and ferns.
Surprisingly enough, it is actually a bit faster than the power brush cutter in knocking down the ferns.
Then, I go back through with the brush cutter trimming and smoothing it down to ground level.
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Plus, the tiller attachment is good for mixing and making soil in a prepared area.
But, it jambs up if there are larger stones mixed into what your tilling.