My favorite weed removal tools

The hardest part of working in this garden was controlling the weeds. Having lived in two other houses with gardens, I know that this is the hardest part of a garden and I am sure you will agree. Once you let the weeds grow, it takes a while for things to improve. The garden had been well maintained before we bought it, but the lady of the house, who was an avid gardener, was not able to work in the garden as much as she had in her younger days. The weeds got even more out of control when we focused on the inside of the house and did just basic garden maintenance. I slowly worked on the weedy areas, bit by bit, trying to control the weeds and then maintain the areas I had worked in.

I have had to battle some pretty stubborn weeds and invasive plants in this garden including morning glory, English ivy, wild violets, crabgrass, and my favorite, bishop’s plant. So, I’ve been testing all the tools. I’ve tried every weeding tool that people or articles have recommended. It seems like paying $10-$30 more for a tool is a worthwhile investment to find the most effective tool. I’m still testing, experimenting, and learning, but I wanted to share my favorites so far.

Favorite Weed Removal Tools | Bucket

It seems my grandfather was collecting five gallon buckets before most of the world discovered their usefulness and stores sold them empty. My mother continued to promote five gallon buckets when we first started cleaning up this yard. She would bring some of her favorite weeding tools and always add, “I’ll bring my buckets!” I had one or two but they were scattered all over the garage for washing cars and carrying tools for projects, but I didn’t have any buckets specifically for weeding. Now, I have a stack of 2-3 that I can use for yard waste. They are easy to carry around the yard and toss in a paper yard waste bag when they get full.

If I’m doing a lot of weeding and cleaning, I’ll pull out my garden cart (this is the one I own) so I can have buckets, tools, and waste bags within easy reach.

Favorite Weeding Tools | Tarpaulin Tool Bag

I bought a tarpaulin garden tool bag this spring and loved keeping all of my garden tools in one organized place. I know where everything is, and having a nice bag for them is a great incentive to keep them clean. The bag I bought is sold out, but there are similar bags here ($26) and here ($50).

Favorite Weeding Tools | Hori Hori Knife

Now let’s get into the nitty gritty of weeding tools. The knife I use most often is the Hori Hori (Japanese weeding knife). It’s a kind of knife and spade and is great for digging up weeds, loosening soil, and cutting through roots. I’ve used this Fiskars knife ($8.99) for years, but decided to try this Barebones knife ($62.74) which is sharper, a bit prettier, and comes with a sheath. That’s a pretty big price difference, so if you’re new to weeding knives, you might want to try the Fiskars knife to see how you like it and how often you use it. I’ve seen the Barebones Hori Hori knife recommended in a lot of articles about weeding tools, and since I like good tools, I decided to give it a try and I liked it.

Favorite Weeding Tools | Triangle Hand Trowel

I bought this triangular hand pick without knowing what to expect at all, and it has been one of my favorite weeding tools. It’s not razor sharp, but it has a fine point and I always make sure to keep it in a safe place so I don’t accidentally step on it. It’s more like a weeding weapon than a weeding tool! But the triangular shape and fine point are exactly what makes it so amazing. I find it particularly good for using on wild violets and other perennial weeds with thick, connected roots. It does a good job of getting under and out with ease. The curved neck of the handle also gives you good leverage when digging into heavy soil. Our soil is mostly clay, so it can be quite difficult to break through.

Favorite Weeding Tools | Weeding Fork

I have a few different weeding forks, but I use this Sneeboer two-pronged fork the most. I’ve been obsessed with Sneeboer garden tools for a few months now, and that’s serious for a tool lover! I bought a few with my birthday money and then added one or two more each time. I have a few tools that are still on my wish list, but it takes time to build up a collection when you buy heirloom tools that are so well made. I bought mine from Garden Tool Co. and I always get personal emails from the owners thanking me for my purchase. I love supporting small business owners who clearly love what they do.

Anyway, I use weeding forks to remove weeds with mixed fibrous roots like morning glory and bishop’s weed. The fork allows me to gently reach down to the roots and trace them to get them out as best I can. I have a long-handled fork with four prongs that I also use, but I tend to sit on the ground and work with hand tools when I’m weeding. If you find a shady spot and put on some nice music, it can actually turn an annoying task into a therapeutic and even enjoyable one.

Favorite Weeding Tools | Large Kneeling Pad

My back is telling me I need to get a weeding chair, so let me know if you have any recommendations. (If you share a link, I will have to approve the comment before it can be seen.) But I use this Hefty XL kneeling pad a lot. I was at Home Depot with my mom and she brought it to my attention. It’s much larger and thicker than the average kneeling pad and we ended up buying it. I bought one and she bought two so she could use one inside and one outside as a handy kneeling pad. I kneel, but I probably sit on it more, which is why I like the larger size. Not only do I use it for weeding and gardening, but I also use it when I’m painting and working on other projects on the driveway.

I really hated weeding. It wasn’t just that I hated it, I was so overwhelmed by it. I would see a weedy patch of neglected garden bed and not even know where to start. I hated how messy and untidy it looked, but I didn’t know what to do about it. I would muster up some courage and attack one area only to have it grow back in just a couple of weeks. I started weeding our Minnesota garden on a “one bucket a day” plan and it taught me that slow and steady progress is sustainable and effective. I approached this garden with that mindset and worked in small sections at a time, knowing that this work takes years, decades, and a lifetime, not like painting a room that can be done in a day or two. I think that’s what took me so long to get into gardening, but I’m learning the value of embracing projects that require care, nurturing, and time.

Weeds are certainly not a good thing in gardening, but it is still possible to discover good things while weeding.

So, what are your favorite weed removal tools?

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