As any gardener will agree, weeding is one of the biggest garden tasks to tackle. All year round, the battle against persistent weeds seems never ending, but keeping on top of the job is much easier with the right tool in hand. Excellent for cultivating soil and weeding, a hoe is an essential piece of kit to sever weeds from their roots without disturbing surrounding plants.
As the days get colder, a lot of garden plants die back. Regular weeding throughout autumn and winter can help prevent a build-up of unwanted weeds popping up in those freshly vacant spaces. Taking the time to clear the soil will leave room for the autumn tasks, such as planting the spring bulbs and sowing sweet pea flowers.
With over 100 years of cutting excellence, garden tool specialist Wilkinson Sword has an extensive range of hoes for these autumn jobs, and a variety of tasks throughout the year, with different shapes, styles, and sizes for each.
Perhaps the most common hoe is the easy-to-use Dutch hoe. With a sharp, wide blade, the Dutch hoe skims just below the surface of the soil to detach weeds heads from their roots. Perfect for weeding in between plants and seedlings, the ergonomically designed Wilkinson Sword Stainless Steel Dutch Hoe is easy to manoeuvre, so can be used to target roots whilst leaving seedlings untouched below.
Perfect for weeding in between plants and seedlings, the ergonomically designed Wilkinson Sword Stainless Steel Dutch Hoe is easy to manoeuvre, so can be used to target roots whilst leaving seedlings untouched below. The rust-resistant stainless-steel blade and weatherproofed ash handle will be a well-used tool in the garden, while maintaining its top quality for years to come. Available with either a stainless steel or a carbon blade, the Wilkinson Sword Carbon Steel Dutch Hoe is hard-wearing with a durable green epoxy finish.
When choosing a hoe handle, comfort, weight, and ease of use are all factors to consider. Good quality, comfortable handles are essential for prolonging time in the garden and making weeding easier. The classic wooden handle can feel warmer, however can sometimes become heavy with prolonged use.
As part of Wilkinson Sword’s Ultralight range for easier gardening, the Ultralight Stainless Steel Dutch Hoe is 30% lighter than traditional wooden handles, helping to reduce fatigue and make weeding less of a chore. The comfortable grip offers protection from the cold, and the handy hanging hook makes for easy storage.
With an angled blade and three precise, sharp edges, the Swoe Style hoe is great for weeding around delicate plants and home-grown vegetables such as cabbages and root vegetables, without damaging the produce.
Crouching on the ground or leaning over due to a too short a tool can increase fatigue when gardening and strain the back, so the Wilkinson Sword Stainless Steel Swoe Style Hoe has a long handle for comfortable standing, and precise edges to ensure the same accuracy can be achieved as handheld tools.
While lightweight options are perfect for the finer details of the garden such as beds and boarders, the draw hoe is more suited to the large-scale, hardy tasks. For larger plots or areas of bare soil, the wide blade will effectively cut through the soil, saving time. Through an up and down chopping motion, the draw hoe is great for breaking up large clumps of soil, chopping big weeds, and hilling potatoes. The durable Wilkinson Sword Carbon Steel Draw Hoe has a strong carbon steel head in the traditional design to withstand these heavy duty tasks.
Maintaining and looking after tools will ensure they last longer, saving money in the future. Carbon tends to rust faster than stainless steel, unless looked after well, so keep sharp with regular sharpening and oiling.
All Wilkinson Sword tools are built with durability in mind and come with a reassuring 10-year guarantee.