You’ve got to be impressed when a classic tool is reinvented. This collinear hoe ­designed by Eliot Coleman has become my go-to tool for the vegetable garden. I use mine (pictured) from spring through fall for weeding and for light, noninvasive surface soil cultivation in beds where I don’t use mulch. Its 7-inch fixed blade is sharp and cuts weeds off just below the surface of the soil. The hoe is 51/2 feet long and has a lightweight handle that makes it effortless to maneuver. I can work around rows of seedlings and under small, tender plants like lettuce as well as larger broad-leaved plants like cabbage. 

—Matt Mattus is the author of two books: Mastering the Art of Flower Gardening and Mastering the Art of Vegetable Gardening. He lives in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Source: johnnyseeds.com

Price: $51.82

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Razor-Back Potato/Refuse Hook

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

Buy at Amazon

DeWit Spring Tine Cultivator

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

Dimensions: 12" L x 2.5" W x 3" H; 0.25 lbs. Ideal for cultivating soil with rocks and roots. Strong, flexible, lightweight and well-balanced! Also known as a "scratch" cultivator.

Buy at Amazon