I’ve not been quiet about my relatively recently discovered love for Dutch-made Sneeboer tools. After years of buying less expensive gardening tools at the local hardware store or garden center, I broke down and bought a Sneeboer Ladies Garden Spade (my mom is about 5’5″ and she likes the Border Spade which has the same size head but a slightly longer handle) after talking with the owners of Garden Tool Company, Blake and Anne Schrek. At the time I couldn’t believe I would spend so much on a garden tool, but when it came I was in love. Because I had a took that was correctly sized and impeccably designed, gardening was a true pleasure. And the spade was a thing of beauty. It felt right and it looked good and I loved using it.
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| On a warm day in late February I pulled out all my Sneeboer tools for a good cleaning and sharpening. |
My collection of Sneeboer tools grew from there as a I added a garden fork and the Royal Dutch Hoe. The latter is currently the most frequently used tool in my arsenal as I’ve discovered the art and benefit of hoeing (especially this time of year when chickweed tries to eat my garden). I love that thing because it obliterates weeds on both the push and the push and the long handle allows me to reach far into the garden. I can quickly clean up large areas of the garden.
When I found out that Sneeboer and Garden Tool Company was now offering a handheld version of the Royal Dutch Hoe I was thrilled and even more so when Garden Tool Company asked me to test it out.
The Royal Dutch Hand Hoe is about half the width of the original Royal Dutch Hoe blade and 12 inches long, which makes it perfect for raised beds, containers and tight areas. I took it out for a spin first in the raised vegetable garden. It took literally about a minute to snip off the small weeds rearing their ugly heads in the bed. The hand hoe, like its big sister, glides just under the surface the soil, nips off even weeds that haven’t emerged yet.
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| As you can see, some tiny weeds were taking hold in one of the raised vegetable gardens. |
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| The Royal Dutch Hand Hoe works on both the push and the pull and easily glides just under the surface of the soil to cut those buggers down low. |
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| It was perfect for getting into tight areas of the bed in between the rapidly growing kale. |
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| And here’s what it looked like just a few minutes later. |
I found myself reaching for this new hoe again later when it came to deal with the dreaded creeping bellflower in the latest part of the garden where it has taken hold (hoeing and pulling it won’t make it go away, but I can at least keep it under control using those methods). I was able to use it right next to the truck of a small tree, where the larger hoe couldn’t maneuver. And while I was down there I also used it under the leaves of larger hostas where more weeds where lurking.
Like all of my Sneeboer tools, it has a beautifully shaped handle. It’s available in ash and cherry and I chose the ash because it matches the rest of my tools, and a gorgeous finish on the blade. One of the things I like about the Sneeboer tools is that they are incredibly finely crafted but you can tell when you look at them that they are hand made. I love knowing that a person made my tools, not a machine.
So here’s the best news: Garden Tool Company sent me a second Royal Dutch Hand Hoe to give to one lucky reader. This one has the beautiful cherry handle and I guarantee it will become one of your favorite tools.
Just use the widget below to enter to win. I’ll pick a winner next Friday so you have lots of time to use it in the garden this year. But who knows, when the weeds see you coming with a tool this good looking they might leave on their own.
Disclaimer: Garden Tool Company provided me with two Royal Dutch Hand Hoes. This allowed me to test it out so I can tell you what I really think and to give one away to a lucky reader. As always, all opinions are my own. No other compensation was provided.
35 Responses
Nice tools!
I received one of their spades as an award. It was so beautiful, I didn't use it for over a year to keep from ruining it. Little did I know that use only made it more beautiful. Would gladly give a new home to anything this company makes! My Dutch ancestors would be so proud.
So gorgeous. Those tools look like works of art!
Wood sorrel and spotted spurge are gaining ground here in Ohio. I'd love to add this tool to my arsenal. Thanks!
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I use my hands. This tool would help!
cut them or use a weed wacker
I usually pull them by hand. It is not my favorite way, but my only way until I can get the right tool for the job. This would help a great deal!
I read an article lately that referred to the creeping bellflower as the zombie weed, cause its incredibly difficult to kill…
I am also battling creeping bell flower. Anything that would help keep it under control with less effort would be amazing!
Hori hori knife!
I usually deal with weeds by pulling them up by hand.
I just pull weeds with my hands.
Oh that hand hoe would be amazing! Thanks for the great giveaway!
With a long handled hoe or just pulling.
With a long handled hoe or just pulling.
I'd love to attack my garden weeds with this tool!
What a gorgeous garden tool!
Thanks for the great review and giveaway offer.
Very nice! I usually just pick them out by hand, but this hoe would come in handy.
i have a fresh batch of weeds from this week's rains and then sun. would love to win this tool for my beds. thanks for the opportunity. –suz in ohio
Looks like a great tool, you always have such an interesting blog filled with so much info. Thanks.
Looks like a great tool, you always have such an interesting blog filled with so much info. Thanks.
How exciting. I'm in it to win it.
Wow this sure would come in handy for my herb garden which right now looks more weed than herb 🙂
those tools look very interesting. I'd love to try one…..tami
I have a couple of tools from the Garden Tool Company. They only sell quality! Usually I use my hori-hori knife to weed, because by the time I get to them, my weeds are big! I saw Monty Don use a Dutch hoe on Gardener's World and ever since then I've wanted to try one.
My rose garden always gas some sort of grass no matter the weed break and rocks. The hand hoe looks like it could make a difference. Thanks for sharing it.
When I cut my grass, I put my clippings in the row paths in my garden to prevent weeds from growing.
I like to use a traditional hoe for weeding.
These look like wonderful tools, well made and sturdy. I have broken a few forks by digging. I love that dutch hoe. It looks very interesting, I sure would love to win it! Thank you so much for the introduction to such fine tools. 🙂
It looks like a great tool, and I certainly have plenty of weeds to try it out on.
I love little hand held tools like this…………………….rather than standing and hoeing.
I got the ladies spade for Christmas last year. I love using it.
Oh! Nice tools! They look like they'd be comfortable in the hand.