[ilan]

I am suprised to find few people mention using a digging hoe (azada )I find this is the tool I reach for most often its great for cleaning up a neglected plot or just going over to loosen up the top soil to earthing up the spuds  whats your most used tool

[mumofstig]

if you put Azada into the search, you will see just how many posts mention it, it's not rare at all

I think I use my hoe more than anything to keep the weeds down

[Paul Plots]

My most used tool would be a swoe during the growing season. It's so easy to get close up to and inbetween plants without the need to bending down or walking between crops.

Saves a great deal of time and is so easy to use.

[DD.]

Swoe also. Shame it took me about 40 year to find it!

[Paul Plots]

Swoe also. Shame it took me about 40 year to find it!

Me too... Bought one for my dad to use in his front garden as it's light and so easy to reach with.

Promptly went back and bought another for myself. 

[lacewing]

Excuse me,  what is a swoe?

[DD.]

One of these:



A three edged hoe, if you do a forum search, there's quite a few mentions.

[lacewing]

Thank you!  where can I find one?

[DD.]

Got the one above from Wyevale last year. Was on offer at the time.

[lacewing]

Must get one   

[Gwiz]

Most usefull tool?

Wheel Barrow. You can sit in it.
Second most usefull tool?
Swoe. You can weed with it while sitting in your Barrow.

[sazhig]

At the moment my most useful 'tool' is my all terrain buggy as it keeps the baby snug and in one place and can carry enough hand tools and provisions for a brief trip up to the site 

Close second to that is my azada...but I can't fit that in/on on the buggy...I really need a shed or a car 

[JayG]

Hoeing is my favourite single gardening activity (easiest, most useful, not to mention being the most fun I get to experience whilst standing up these days.  )

I'd love one of those Swoes because I can see how effective they must be, but unfortunately a good friend bought me a quality stainless steel Dutch hoe a couple of years ago and I'd probably have to hide a Swoe if I treated myself to one (mind you, I'm now wondering whether it would be possible to cut a corner off the Dutch hoe and sharpen the new edge - I probably need to trudge up the garden through the snow to actually have a look at it!    )


(DD's pic is by far the best I've seen in terms of understanding what they look like and how they work - the 2D online pics all make them look like draw hoes, to my eyes at least!) 

[lacewing]

Most usefull tool?

Wheel Barrow. You can sit in it.
Second most usefull tool?
Swoe. You can weed with it while sitting in your Barrow.

Now I have to buy a wheelbarrow as well!!

[arugula]

(DD's pic is by far the best I've seen in terms of understanding what they look like and how they work - the 2D online pics all make them look like draw hoes, to my eyes at least!) 

Oh I thought that was a golf club! 

I too would have a swoe. I was even going to buy one, but OH who does most of the physical gardening work didn't feel the cost was justified as we have a good stainless steel hoe. Even my assurances that it would let me help more, didn't work. This puts him in danger of getting one as a (summer) birthday present.