The first one is one I happen to find just last year, in 2023. I had been searching the local warehouse stores to replace my trusty forked prong garden tool. No one had any! What happened to them I wondered.
Then low and behold, the last store I checked, I found a different version of my old trusty tool. The blade part wasn't as long or as sturdy as the old version, but it had some new features. Instead of the long round barrel with a forked prong at the end, it had a flattened out and curved blade part, a more pointy prong at the end, and a saw tooth edge along the lower left edge. Hmmm, I thought. I'll give this a try.
I was hoping for a longer barreled tool, but overall it seemed to reach a pretty decent depth. And that little more point forked prong seem to grab hold of the weeds, and more easily pull them up. Whoa! I was impressed.
The saw toothed edge also came in handy in sawing off some thicker roots and thick stems. I was beginning to love its versatility.
Then I moved some of my cement garden edgers and needed to channel out a somewhat narrow channel for their new location. This little trusty pronged tool was the answer. It was just wide enough and it allowed me to saw off hardened dirt along the sides which gave me a straighter channel to fit the cement edger in to. I was doubly impressed.
This is the link for it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3U8Hbg1 I did see other brands on Amazon that had the sawtooth edge on the opposite side, if you prefer those.
I have since found the other prong tool that I had been looking for on Amazon. Some companies call it a dandelion weed puller.
Another tool that has become a favorite, is a spade shovel. Since I now have a prong tool that does narrow type digging and prying, I prefer to have a wider type spade shovel. Whether I'm digging up a minor patch of weeds, or having to dig around the roots of larger plants, I really like having a wider spade shovel.
The Fiskars model is pretty heavy duty and has been holding up well. It has an ergonomic type handle, which is much easier to hold than wooden handled spades that I have owned.
The model that I purchased and use is found on Amazon through this link. https://amzn.to/4dQ6JFM
Sometimes my gardening ventures require some more heavy duty digging. Although I like the general rounded type shovel, I use those to dig up large plants, I have really come to appreciate the flat edge shovel.
When I want a larger shovel to help define an edge, or when I want to remove top layers of soil that turn out more even, I reach for the flat edge shovel. It helps to create the desired finish that I want.
The closest one that I could find on Amazon is made by Hantop. The one that I have does not have a brand name on it; other than it says USA tempered 2 on it. Mine has a totally flat straight edge on the shovel part, and this one has a sawtooth edge. The saw tooth edge appears to be on the top part of the blade, as customers have commented about it giving a straight edge. This would be my recommendation; it has a 4.9 star rating with 27 reviews. Here is the link on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3A8E4h9
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
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I remember how helpful having the right gardening tools has been for me in the past (I now live in an apartment, so my gardening days are in the past, unfortunately). I always found the Fiskar line of tools to be good ones, so not surprised to see you mention one of them in your review. Thanks for your insights into the benefits of using just the right gardening tools.
ReplyDeleteWednesday Elf, you are certainly welcome. I really trust and like the Fiskars brand for garden tools and scissors too.
DeleteHaving the right tool in the garden (or anywhere) makes a world of difference in how easily a job is to get done. Garden tools definitely need to be sturdy. I have been known to bend several small shovels because I hate to stop in the middle of a job to grab a different tool. I don't have a weed puller with a saw edge. What a wonderful idea and tool! Thanks for the introduction and review.
ReplyDeleteSylvestermouse, you are welcome. I know what you mean. I have been known to plow through a job simply because I didn't want to walk back to the house to get a different tool. It is so nice to have a tool that covers multiple uses.
DeleteThese are some great recommendations
ReplyDeleteThank you Mary Beth.
DeleteWhen I had my garden I was always testing out new tools. Nowadays, I stick to the balcony and gardening in containers, so my need is limited. But I have lots of friends that garden the "old" way and new tools are always nice to see and read about. Thanks Cheryl Paton!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Olivia. We're in the process of having an enclosed porch built, and I am thinking about what I might want to grow inside now. I've got a small skinny spade that should work for that job.
DeleteMy husband would love hearing about your tools...I am no gardener.
ReplyDeleteBy all means, Treasures by Brenda, pass this info along to your husband. I'm sure you'll get to reap from the harvest.
DeleteThat first tool looks very handy, I could actually make a lot of use out of that one - I don't think I've seen that one before? That would help alot when I have to do multiple tasks in an area - this tool could work for all of it
ReplyDeleteIndeed Barbara. That's exactly why I love it; and there's less tools I have to carry out to the garden.
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