Which is the best weeding fork?
Tools for weeding come in such a wide variety of guises... because it depends what you are weeding, where you are weeding (the allotment or your patio paving), what your soil and ground is like, and your weeding style (complete cull or precision approach). Here is our full range of weeding tools but this buying guide is to help you choose between different hand weeding forks. If you're looking for different weeding tools - for hoes or trowels - then check out one of our other buying guides.
What's the benefit of using a fork for weeding? You aren't cutting the top of the weeds off, you're getting to the root of the problem. The additional benefit is that garden forks can also be used to aerate the soil or mix in fertilisers - so it's a multi-tool for the garden.
Pre-selection:
Whilst both Sneeboer and Niwaki have large ranges, we always pick out the specific tools we think are the best in the range, to reduce confusion and help you to get the right tool in your hand.
Our overview for each weeding tool:
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Sneeboer Pull Hoe and Fork - this is a quite a specialist hoe that has two sides to it - for digging and weeding precision. It's got a short handle length so it's a got a very different feel in the hand and means you need to be close to what you are weeding - but as with all Sneeboer garden tools it works brilliantly. Edd really rates having two functions combined into one tool.
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Sneeboer long handled weeding fork
As with all Sneeboer tools this weeding fork is much more robust and sturdy than most garden tools you find. The ends of each tine have been flattened to allow you to get under the roots of a weed without much damage. It's suitable for a variety of soil types, but we particularly rate it as we have heavier soil and we find the pointy ends great for cutting through. That's why we chose to only stock the long handled Cherry version (with a 22cm long handle) as we reckon this gives you a big more leverage in heavier soils.
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Sneeboer weeding fork
All the benefits as the long handled version - with flattened tines and great quality. This is a short handled weeding fork with tines that less pointy - so it's great for 'normal' or more loamy soils.
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Sneeboer 2 tine fork
This tool is all about precision and people love having the 2 tines for getting under the roots of weeds and lifting them whole. It's perfect for weeding in well planted borders when you want to cause minimum disruption. Customers swear this is excellent - but we can't seem to get the hang of it. Likely due to our general lack of precision (in life and gardening!)
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Sneeboer Von Lindren Cultivator
This tool is cleverly designed to break up compacted soil. Either around the top of large pots or in tightly planted borders where you might not be able to get a rake in. The great thing is, that as well as aerating the soil, you can also weed the top of pots (which is great as you can get in and around the pot lip and the plant). It consists of five spikes and you literally just scratch the weeds (or moss) away and you are able to move the soil and work in any fertilisers or treatments.
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Niwaki weeding fork
This Niwaki hand hoe is forked (hence why we've added it in here and the hoe buying guide). It's designed to be used with a chopping motion, like an axe, or as a rake. This makes it great for working within existing borders or for more precision weeding. It's a little over 40cm long which means you have enough handle length to give it a good chop without it becoming difficult to wield. Don’t compare it to the Sneeboer tools directly - its construction is fairly rustic and agricultural - but it’s a really great tool that holds up well to general garden use.
Not sure about a weeding fork? Why not have a look at our other weeding buying guides - including which Hori Hori works best for weeding, and weeding hoes.