Garden Hoe Information

One of the most often used tools in any gardener’s kit will be a hoe. They have very many uses and will come in handy just about every time you enter your garden. They are one of the most versatile tools a gardener can purchase. There are very many types so how do you choose?

Picking a hoe

What type of hoe you have depends on what you will use it for. Some are listed here but there are many more. Consider the handle length and how much you like to bend over. Select hoes that are built for strength. A hoe does a lot of work and it needs to be made well.

Planters hoes

These were some of the very first hoes and stand up to lots of work. They will dig deep which is good for bed preparation. This type of hoe will also be good for elimination of heavy weeds. Be sure with all hoes to walk backwards to keep from messing up what you have just done.

Push-pull or “shuffle hoes”

This type of hoe is a lighter weight hoe that has cutting edges on both sides to cut weeds on both the pulling and pushing actions of the hoe. They are quite common and a very useful hoe.

Mechanical and oscillating hoes

These hoes are heavier duty models of the push-pull or shuffle hoes above and will cut the roots of weeds much deeper in the ground. Use care, as it will cut your plants roots as well.

Dutch hoe

This common hoe has a single blade that slices well through weed seedlings. It is a great tool to use for work in-between plants.

Duo hoe

This two-sided hoe has a blade on one side and a rake fork on the other. They are inexpensive and you can use one as a rake or a hoe.

Warren hoe

This hoe is made for sowing seeds in long rows. On one end it has a heavy point that can be used for eliminating deep-rooted plants and can be used to make a hole for seeds. The other has a blade that you can use to cover the seeds you planted in the holes.