Niwaki weeding hoe

[Jimny14]

I've just received this japanese weeding hoe for my birthday.




Its a left handed version, will report back when I've had a good go with it in the veg bed.

[Jay-ell]

You'll be going all Sailor Moon on the weeds. You'll be getting a serafuku next.

[Jimny14]

I'm not sure the neighbours are ready for that Jay!

[Jay-ell]

Figured out to use it effectively yet? You could always look on google for videos of" Japanese hoe" - good luck.

[Jimny14]

Not had a play yet, will nip out for a quick go when I've bathed the baby and passed her on to Jen for the evening feed

[Jay-ell]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P6AgiFXpHo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cucl4Bnp4eM

[Snoop Puss]

What a beauty, Jimny! And belated happy birthday.

I've just Googled for the other one, Jay-ell. The results were not at all gardening-related!

[Jimny14]

Well first try with it and it's very impressive. Weeded out the veg bed that has been a little neglected recently. It is very nice to use and very easy to accurately work around plants thanks to the pointed end you can get very close without disturbing things you want to survive. It cuts through hard roots easily and works out plants with more fibrous roots whole. I also had a play and dug a little furrow about six inch deep very easily, you could with one or two passes get a furrow maybe an inch deep depending on pressure and soil with a bit of practice.
If I remember I'll report back in the future. Anyone else using one?

[Jay-ell]

I use a hori-hori digging knife. Much prefer it to a trowel and great for getting Dock and dandelion roots.

I had thought about this or some of the other Asian gardening tools - I might get one if it works for you.

[Earthgirl Jen]

Happy Belated Birthday Jimny 14
Lucky you!.. Looks good to me.
I'm looking forward to other folks reviews x

[Jimny14]

I'm thinking of treating myself to a hori hori as they look super useful. Has it replaced a few tools for you?

[Jay-ell]

It's my main tool. I've a hand fork, trowel, transplanting trowel, onion hoe and patio weeder somewhere but I don't know where as I never use them - just the Hori-hori and, if the grounds a bit hard, a crow bar.

Of course I have the mattock, fork and Irish shovel for big jobs. And a couple of long hoes.

[Snoop Puss]

Unbelievably, I can get a hori-hori here. They look really useful. Can you give some advice on buying one, Jay-ell? I'd have to get it online, so no chance of finding out how it would feel in the hand.

[Jay-ell]

The one I have has the full width of the blade going into the handle. This means that there is just one wide bit of metal with the handle scales riveted on which I think makes it stronger. There are some that look as if the blade is welded onto a rod that goes through the handle which on other tools has made a weak link.
This is the type I have. The serrated blade isn't a saw, although it can saw through some stuff. The knife edge isn't as sharp as a knife but you can still cut yourself.

https://www.primrose.co.uk/tradition...-p-111763.html

[Jimny14]

So after a few weeks of Use I can report its definitely useful for weeding my raised bed and around my new hedge (not laid yet), have also practiced using it to make drills for sowing and can see it coming in handy for this too. All in all seems a very useful hand tool for smaller and fiddly areas.