I’ve had my hori hori (Japanese weeding knife) for more than 25 years. It is the tool that I use most often in the garden other than my Felcos. I have bought many of these useful tools for gifts. This past summer I went online to order one for a bithday present for my daughter Lucie and found a new and improved model… read all about it…

I bought my first hori hori from Lee Valley, a purveyor of fine gardening tools. (https://www.leevalley.com/us/garden/page.aspx?p=10504&cat=2,51810,10504) My garden fork is also from them and it is one of my most-used garden tools; it is sturdy and good quality. Over the years, I have shopped around and bought a cheaper hori hori–and you get what you pay for–beware of imitiations. In fact, I’d given a hori hori to my daughter’s boyfriend Matt, who is a gardener, and it inadvertently got run over by a tractor. So when he asked for a replacement, I bought one from somewhere else and he decided to return it since it wasn’t up to the same standards as the old one.

My original tool had a carbon steel blade which will rust if not cared for after using (just wipe it free of dirt and moisture after each use and scrub clean occasionally, then wipe it down with alcohol and dry it), however now Lee Valley also offers it in stainless steel. Since the blade is dark and the handle is wooden it is very easy to misplace it in the garden. Therefore I tied rainbow-colored string around it, along with a number of other wooden-handled tools, so I could spy them easier if I sat them down while working or needed to find them at the end of the work day. (Thus the holster is a good idea if you wear a belt). I usually start out with it in the long pocket of my overalls.

So I found a new updated version of the hori hori at https://www.barebonesliving.com/p/75/The-Ultimate-Tool. It is not only handsome, with an ergonomic handle made from bamboo, it comes with a tool sheath that has a stainless steel belt clip. This Ultimate Tool can:

1. Pound in tent stakes with the flat pommel base.

2. Measure planting depth with the handy inch marks.

3. Saw a branch or whittle some kindling with the rust-resistant, double-edged blade.

4. Cut twine or be used as a bottle opener.

It feels good in the hand, though it is quite a bit heavier than my original hori hori. I am looking forward to using this ultimate tool, though I won’t give up my old faithful one. Every gardener needs their own hori hori.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Corona® Multi-Purpose Metal Mini Garden Shovel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Longer Service Life: The blade of this round small shovel is made of carbon steel, which can effectively improve the hardness by high temperature quenching, and the surface has anti-rust coating to avoid rusting. In the process of use when encountering hard objects will not bend and deformation. Sturdy Structure: The small garden shovel with D-handle, ergonomically designed grip can increase the grip of the hand when using, the handle is made of strong fiberglass, will not bend and break under heavy pressure. Quick Digging: Well-made digging shovel has a sharp blade, and the round shovel head is designed to easily penetrate the soil and cut quickly while digging to enhance your work efficiency.

Buy at Amazon

Spearhead Shade Gardening Shovel with Steel-Reinforced Fiberglass Handle

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Reduce Digging Effort - The Spear Head Spade is the first hybrid shovel/spade, guaranteed to make your toughest digging up to 80% easier than regular shovels and spades, even in the toughest soil conditions. Ideal for landscaping and gardening. Multi-Purpose Shovel - Spear Head Spade is a versatile tool that can be used for digging, planting, weeding, cutting, and edging. It is designed to handle tough soil and clay conditions, and can cut through roots and tough vegetation with ease. Innovative Design - Has a unique blade design that makes it more efficient and easier to use than traditional spades. The blade is shaped like a spearhead, with a pointed tip and a curved edge that allows it to penetrate the soil more easily. Ergonomic D-Handle - The large, cushioned D-grip offers comfort and better leverage for gloved and ungloved hands alike, reducing strain on the hands and wrists. Lightweight & Strong - Durable handle is made of special steel-reinforced, pultruded fiberglass to withstand heavy use. 60% stronger than EN-3388 shovel/spade standards, 33% thicker and 25% harder than normal shovels. Sharpened from tip to tail at a 35 degree angle for an effective and durable edge.

Buy at Amazon

Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden, Revised and Updated Second Edition: A Natural Approach to Pest Control

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This revised and updated edition of Jessica Walliser’s award-winning Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden offers a valuable and science-backed plan for bringing balance back to the garden. With this indispensable gardening reference—now updated with new research, insights, and voices—learn how to create a healthy, balanced, and diverse garden capable of supporting a hard-working crew of beneficial pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides.

Buy at Amazon