Choosing the Right Garden Hoe
Choose the Right Hoe for the Job
It probably goes without saying, but using the right tool for the job in the garden will save you time and effort...and potentially money. Below, we'll look at nine different types of garden hoes and their uses. If you're an experienced gardener, you likely have your favorite(s) but you may find a new one to add to the collection. If you're new to gardening, take a look at each of the hoes below and find the one(s) that will help you in the garden with your specific tasks.
Stirrup Hoe
The stirrup hoe is a great choice for weeding larger areas, especially if you get a wider model. I've seen 4" and 7" wide blades for sale. I have one with a 4" blade. It works well to weed large areas but still allows me to get into relatively narrow areas. It easily cuts through soil and weed roots just under the surface with a push-pull action.
Dutch Hoe
The Dutch hoe cuts with a push action and can be used in tighter spaces. Skim the blade just below the soil surface to cut weed roots. I find the design of this hoe or a scuffle hoe easiest to work with in my raised garden beds.
Digging/Grading Hoe
This is a heavy duty hoe that you can dig and grade with. I have used this type of hoe when planting trees and shrubs along a hillside. I cut into the hill and pulled the soil downslope to create a more level planting area. Then, I used the hoe to easily dig the planting hole. It was quicker and more effective than using a shovel given the slope and number of holes that I needed to dig.
Scuffle Hoe
The scuffle hoe is very useful for hard to reach places and working around vegetables and flowers. It has sharpened edges on front and back so you can cut with a push-pull motion. There are different head designs and sizes to choose from. There's an 11" wide model from a supplier that must be able to clear quite a bit of ground in a hurry. I just had a new scuffle hoe delivered and I can’t wait to get out there and knock back some clover that invaded several garden beds last summer and I’ve been steadily eliminating.
Standard Garden Hoe
This is the hoe that most people probably think of and own. The blade is usually dull and, combined with the shape, it may not be the best option for chopping out larger weeds or serious digging (but it certainly can be done with enough effort or if the soil is easily worked). It is, however, quite useful for hilling potatoes, breaking up clods of soil, digging flat-bottomed trenches in prepared soil, and using the corners to chop weeds or create furrows. So, a good general purpose hoe for multiple uses.
Warren Hoe
The Warren hoe is useful for cultivating soil, chopping out weeds with deeper taproots, creating furrows for planting rows, and digging shallow V trenches. It's another good option for a general purpose hoe with multiple uses.
Two-Prong Hoe
The two-prong hoe has a flat head for chopping weeds or digging a shallow, flat bottom trench. On the other side are two pointed prongs for cultivating and aerating soil.
Hoop Hoe
The hoop hoe has a sharpened edge on the bottom and dull side edges that, in theory, direct the blade away from plant roots...or at least helps to prevent damage to plants that you're hoeing between. It seems fairly similar in use to a stirrup hoe but with a different shape that focuses the cutting in a narrower area that's a bit deeper, depending on how you use it. The stirrup hoe has a broader blade that is flat and will cut uniformly flat through the soil. I just bought a hoop hoe with a small head and short handle designed for raised beds. Looking forward to trying it out this season.
Hoedag Hoe
The Hoedag is a hoe on one side and a small pick or dagger on the other. It gives you all of the functional use of a standard garden hoe but with the added usefulness of a small pick. Use it to weed, hill, create a furrow, or break up clods.
Tips for Hoeing
It's best to hoe when the soil is drier and not muddy.
As much as possible, let the tool do the work.
Keep your edge(s) sharp.
And, of course, choose the right hoe for the job!
