Hori-Hori and Soil Knife Showdown: Reviews of the Best and the Worst

Best soil knife and hori horiThe humble trowel has taken a backseat in recent years to its sharper competitor, the hori-hori or Japanese soil knife. Because my landscaping employees lose their soil knives more often than I’d like, I’ve had a good excuse to try out all the different brands out there and get a feel for which ones perform the best, are most ergonomic and comfortable, and most importantly, which ones truly last (as long as they aren’t lost in the compost pile).

Because the world of hori-horis is constantly growing, I’ll update this post every time I test a new version.

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Bahco Ergo PX-M2 Pruner: Great for Lefties, Too

Guest post by Joost D. When asked about my favorite hand pruner – I was almost afraid to open up. Not that I had any hesitation mind you, but because when it comes to discussing their favorite pruner, there are many gardeners who are going to … [Continue reading]

Review of the Black&Decker 40V MAX Cordless Lithium String Trimmer (LST136W)

Review of Black and Decker's 40Volt String Trimmer

Before I begin my review, I have to preface it with the fact that I do not actually own the Black and Decker 40V MAX Lithium String Trimmer (LST136W) myself. However, if you were to ask my neighbor (who I borrow this weedeater from frequently) he … [Continue reading]

Flexrake Classic Hand Tiller (Mattock and Cultivator): The Tool You Can’t Be Without

Every gardener has a certain tool that he or she can’t live without. Not only that, but lending that special tool to any other person is out of the question; nope, it just isn’t done. Whether you received that tool as a gift or picked it out … [Continue reading]

Red Dragon Weed Torch: No-Bend, Chemical-Free Weeding

While many home gardeners whip out the trowel or the sprayer to deal with weeds, there’s an easy, chemical-free option that most gardeners haven’t yet tried. Weed torches are a great no-bend solution for weeds in sidewalk cracks, gravel driveways, or … [Continue reading]

Bahco Hand Pruners: The Best Pruner You’ve Never Heard Of

Hand pruners are a contentious topic among gardeners, because we’re all so madly in love with our chosen style. Though gardeners will vehemently defend the honor of their favorite pruner, there’s one brand you’ve probably never even heard of: the … [Continue reading]

The Speedy Sharp: Sharpen Pruners Fast and On the Go

If sharpening your pruners is a task you dread, you probably aren’t using the Speedy Sharp. This compact sharpener fits in the palm of your hand, and makes sharpening fast and fun. While most people sharpen tools in winter, hand pruners need … [Continue reading]

Three Fiskars Mowers: Which One Is Right for You?

I'm a huge fan of the Fiskars StaySharp line of mowers, and have owned the premium version of this mower, the Staysharp Max, for about two years. It was such a relief to be able to get rid of my old gas-powered mower, which was smelly, noisy, and had … [Continue reading]

The Scoop on Soil Scoops: Reviews of the Best

As a landscaping professional, I have very little patience for inefficient tools. That's why I can never understand why so many people favor a tool as insipid and useless as a trowel. Do you need a weeding tool, or something to plant bulbs or tiny … [Continue reading]

Peter Thomas Roth Powdered Sunblock: Innovative Protection for Gardeners

Gardener's Sunblock

Sunblock may not be the sexiest of topics, but if you’ve ever turned an unappealing shade of flamingo after gardening without sun protection, you know how important it is. While garden hats offer the best protection for your face, some of us … [Continue reading]