How-To

Remove Shallow Weeds Quickly With This Hand Hoe

mark dwyer By Mark Dwyer Fine Gardening – Issue 201
Nejiri Gama Hand Hoe
Nejiri Gama Hand Hoe. Photo: courtesy of Mark Dwyer

I’ve worked with other professional gardeners for over twenty-five years, and a tool that continues to be a popular part of our weeding arsenal is the Nejiri Gama hand hoe. Made in Japan, this lightweight tool with a hardwood handle will have a long life in your tool collection. It’s wonderful for scraping up shallow weeds. The 5½-inch hardened steel blade skims just under the soil’s surface. The deepest-rooted weeds require a different tool, but this well-balanced hand hoe is particularly effective with early weed growth. The blade, which should be kept sharp, cuts best with a pulling motion. This hoe is compact, at only 10½ inches in length.

—Mark Dwyer

Source: gardentoolcompany.com

Price: $19.20

Mark Dwyer, former director of horticulture at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wisconsin, now operates Landscape Prescriptions by MD.

Check out these other expert-picked garden tools:

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* Cordless Chainsaw, 10-Inch, Tool Only (LCS1020B)

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

10 inches premium oregon low kickback bar and chain. Tool-free blade tension system for quick adjustments. Oiling system for lubrication of bar and chain. 20V max Lithium Ion chainsaw bare tool. Included components: (1) Lbxr2020, (1) Lcs1620, (1) Lcs1020; Power source: Lithium ion. Battery and charger sold separately.
Buy at Amazon

Fiskars 7.9-12ft Extendable 2-in-1 Pole Tree Trimmer & Pruner with Rotating Head and Precision-Ground Steel Saw Blade

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

IDEAL BRANCH TRIMMER: Tree pruner that extends from 7.9 to 12 feet; Lightweight aluminum pole weighing less than five pounds to help minimize fatigue; Ideal for cutting high branches, or making low cuts without bending or kneeling. MAXIMUM POWER AND PRECISION: Fiskars Tree Pruner with Low-friction coating helps to prevent gumming up with sap or debris; Chain-drive gearing mechanism that provides 3X more power; Secure double locking system ensures extended pole stays put. LONG-LASTING AND RELIABLE: Extendable tree pruner with steel blades stay sharp through heavy use and provide excellent durability for lasting value; Fiskars pruning saws for tree trimming are built to last. QUALITY GARDEN TOOLS: From tree pruners to garden shears to Tree Loppers, Fiskars garden and yard tools are equipped with smart technologies and award-winning, ergonomic features INCLUDES: 1 Fiskars Extendable Tree Pruner with 15-Inch Double-Grind Saw (item 92406935K); Full lifetime warranty.
Buy at Amazon

DeWit Spork with Solid Socket

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

Dimensions: 46" L x 2.5" W x 6" H; 3.5 lbs. Combines the features of a spade and fork - patented design. Ventilated head slides through the soil with less friction. The boron steel blade will not bend, even with heavy-duty use.
Buy at Amazon
X
No comments yet

Comments

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Related Articles

The Latest

Design
Silphiums: The Giant Native Plants We All Should Be Growing

As a budding horticulturist, my first encounter with prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum) was intriguing and puzzling. The sheer size and verticality of the spade-like leaves slicing through grasses and forbs…
Design
Building Community, One Garden at a Time | Letter from the Editor

“Do you know that woman?” I asked John Mathews while in his front garden in Madison, Wisconsin, last year. We had been deep in conversation about a ginkgo when a…
How-To
Great Ideas from Community Gardeners

Philadelphia is known as America’s Garden Capital because there are more than 30 public gardens, arboreta, and historic landscapes within 30 miles of the city center. But walking through any…

Video

View All Videos
Design

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping—not because you’re likely to trip on something, but because you might be dive-bombed by a pair…
Design

4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder's Garden
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage 
How-To

4 Steps to Remove Invasive Plants in Your Yard
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 179: Most Beautiful Flowers