Hoes

Of the many garden tools available, the rake and hoe are some of the most basic. Let's discuss the hoe for a moment. The garden hoe is a tool consisting of at least one sharp blade at the end of a long handle. Some uses of the gardening hoe the removal of weeds and unwanted crops, breaking up the soil, piling up soil around the base of plants, creating narrow furrows and trenches for planting seeds and bulbs, and general digging and moving of soil. There are many types of blades for garden hoes, intended for differing uses.

The advantages of hoeing a garden are indisputable. The removal of unwanted crops and weeds are an essential element of gardening. By removing pesky weeds, you optimize the available water, nutrients in the soil, and root space for your crops.

Hoes are available for purchase at lawn and garden centers, hardware stores, department stores, online, and via special mail order catalogs. Manufacturers of other garden tools and hoes are many. One prevalent manufacturer of quality tools is Rogue. Rogue garden hoes are handcrafted in the United States. The blades are made from recycled agricultural disk blades, well suited for length of life and durability.

The common garden hoe, also known as a pattern hoe or a draw hoe, has a flat, broad head, usually about 6 x 4 inches, that is sharpened on the outside edge, affixed to a long handle. The head to handle angle is usually 70 to 90 degrees.

Gooseneck garden hoes are designed to be used standing up, reducing the need to stoop. This makes hoeing the garden much less distressing to the lower back. Gooseneck hoes have a long, curved shank, or neck, that joins the blade and the handle.

Warren gooseneck garden hoes are a planter's hoe, used for sowing and covering seed furrows. Developed in America and first sold in the 1870's, warren hoes are shaped like a downward pointed arrowhead. The head does not have a cutting edge, but is ideal for use in close quarters, for creating holes, weed removal, and furrow making and covering.

Tined hoes are a great, lightweight tool for uprooting small weeds once your garden is planted. Tine hoes are also useful for aerating the soil around new and established plants. Its head, which should be forged and not welded to the neck, or tang, consists of four slightly curved tines.