Me too and that's why I'm questioning the Hori Hori knife. I'm still dithering about the Felco 9's.
Felco's are worth the money. I have 2 pairs, one of which has a rotating handle. I much prefer the one with the standard handle. I've had both pairs for over 30 years.
Thanks KT53. I saw the rotating handle pair on the Felco web site. My daughter's partner is a landscape gardener and I even sent him a text earlier asking his view on them. He recommends them highly. I don't spend my money easily, except for plants.
I don't think there's a right or wrong answer on the rotating handle. Simply down to what you find comfortable. In theory the rotating handle should reduce blisters but I simply don't get like the grip.
I’m a bit confused! So what do you actually use the knife for? Just weeding? & how is it better than any other hand tools? Would it be useful for my heavy wet clay soil that’s also horribly stony, just thinking as I have a lot of weeding to do in the coming weeks mostly bittercress at the moment but I’ve loads of plantain, narrow leaf, in the lawn so wondering if this’ll help get it out?
I’m a bit confused! So what do you actually use the knife for? Just weeding? & how is it better than any other hand tools? Would it be useful for my heavy wet clay soil that’s also horribly stony, just thinking as I have a lot of weeding to do in the coming weeks mostly bittercress at the moment but I’ve loads of plantain, narrow leaf, in the lawn so wondering if this’ll help get it out?
Yes to all of those. I find weeding my stony clay bed really difficult especially close to plants and I'm hoping this will make it much easier. I think on my beds where I have improved the soil the traditional tools will still be best. I have a selection of weeding tools as I find the best tool for the job makes life much easier.
I haven't tried mine yet and have promised to report back.....
I use mine for - off the top of my head - planting bulbs and small plants, weeding, slipping down the sides of pots to get potbound things out, creating drills for seed sowing and dividing perennials. The latter is my favourite use - the combination of a sharp point to weasel into a gap between buds and the wide blade once it's there seems to work better than any other single method or tool I've used.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
I was given a Niwaki hori hori and am still rather afraid of it because it is so sharp but it is very useful fr more things than you might imagine. I don't use it much for weeding or planting (I prefer a pointed, triangular Chinese cultivator which is my most-used hand tool) but it really comes into its own as a general-purpose knife and for splitting tough roots such as Hostas and Agapanthus.
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Felco's are worth the money. I have 2 pairs, one of which has a rotating handle. I much prefer the one with the standard handle. I've had both pairs for over 30 years.
My daughter's partner is a landscape gardener and I even sent him a text earlier asking his view on them. He recommends them highly.
I don't spend my money easily, except for plants.
I haven't tried mine yet and have promised to report back.....