In gardening and farming today there's a buzz about new techniques and tools for organic crops, permaculture, sustainable agriculture and improved safety, including no-till and low-till practices.  You may be curious to know if there is anything really new in the weeding tool department to go along with a new commitment to freshen up your garden or perhaps create a new native plant garden from a converted lawn.  With that in mind, you may be ready to upgrade your conventional (old fashioned?) hoe to a more precise hoe and/or weed puller or twister that protects your herbs as well as your soil from excessive tilling.  Perhaps you're ready to put aside your habitual herbicides to come clean from chemical dependence.  You may also be curious about ads and commercials for different types of weed twisters and augers that promise to save you time and save your back, as well.  We think you will be pleasantly surprised by several really cool tools that may be new to you and to many others who haven't yet ventured beyond the traditional hoe and dandelion digger for defending against weeds.  Do you need more diversity and power in your weeding tool arsenal?

When Weeding Tools Don't Match Your Weeds and Your Needs:  Weeder Mismatch Indicators...

• Weeds keep on coming back in the same places

• Roots are deep and tools only reach 4-6 inches deep

• My tools don't work well with grassy runners and prostrate vines

• Weeder is too large and can't get at small weeds in narrow spaces

• Weeder is heavy and hard to use in my raised beds and planters

• My back is sore from too much stooping with short handled weeders

• I'm in a wheel chair and can't use my weeders from a sitting position

• My knees are sore from using short handled weeders and knives

• Weeds are in my lawn and my tool elements are too wide

• Weeds are under bushes and can't be reached with my tools

• My tools don't help me much with air potato vines and kudzu vines

• I'm using conventional wide-blade hoes for permaculture and organic gardening

• I'm still using the same old tools my spouse used many years ago

• Using my tools takes more time than I can afford to use as a parent and homemaker

• My tools have been around as long as I have

A better match starts with a clear picture of your weeding tools mismatch issues.  If you're facing some of the problems on this list, be assured that there are better matches for your weeds and needs identified on this page.  The old conventional hoe and other traditional weeding tools are suitable for certain situations but just weren't designed to match many of the technical and personal problems faced by homemakers, retired folks and organic farmers today.  The older you are, the more you may need newer, more efficient tools.  The concepts of ergonomics, convenience, multitasking, organic gardening or low-till farming were not relevant to traditional tool manufacturers.  More effort has been devoted by large corporations and professional engineers to designing heavy machinery and chemicals for modern agriculture than to making handy garden tools and organic solutions.  The most innovative, problem-solving weeding tools today are made by smaller companies and entrepreneurs.

The Big Picture in Weeding Hand Tools

In the technical arena for hand tool weeding, as many as eight weeding tool classifications, each ordinarily served best by different tools (with some exceptions), can be seen in the Weeding Tools Terrain Hierarchy chart below.  To be fair, we try to give a balanced view to clarify all the twisting and non-twisting alternatives.  We also sell many of the competing twisters and other tools on this website, because we firmly believe that just one type of weeding tool for the average garden or farm just won't cut it!  Different weeders for different weeds! 

The Weeding Tools Terrain Hierarchy is a table that describes from left to right the major plant types by size and shape, tool types appropriate to each plant type, terrain targeted by each tool type, and finally the application of the exceptionally versatile Ergonica Weed Twister within each terrain.  This hierarchy is sorted from the top down with larger plants at the top of the chart and upper portions of these plants placed above the lower portions and roots.  At the base, aquatic weeds are included as one terrain, although this terrain, and possibly others, could logically be refined to more specific terrains or sub-categories, such as different types, shapes and sizes of weeds within each terrain.  For example, the aquatic terrain may be further subdivided into major plant communities: emergent plants, floating-leaved plants, submersed plants and deep water.  The codes from A thru H are provided on the leftmost column for convenience in comparing specific tools in the Weeder Features chart below.  Neither the codes nor hierarchy of terrains is endorsed by any industry standards.  These groupings are intended solely to give the consumer a practical guide in selecting appropriate tools that match the weeds they most often need to contend with.

Weeding Tools Terrain Hierarchy - Eight Major Weeding Tools Classifications

Hand Held Weeders Defined

Hand held weeders that remove individual plants by their roots are known as weed pullers and weed poppers or more generally as weed removal tools.  Weed twisters also fall into this classification.  Other terms often used for weed pullers are weeding tools, weed tools, weed diggers, weed knives, weed uprooter tools, weed pluck tools, weed cutter tools, weed pulling tools, weed puller tools, weed removing tools, weed remover tools, weed extracting tools, weed removing devices, weed clearing hand tools, garden weed pullers, manual weed pullers, weed twist, twist weed, garden twister tools,  weedtwisters, cork screw weeders, weed removal claws, weed shovels, tree pullers, root pullers, uproot tools, grass weed pullers, dandelion pullers, dandelion diggers, dandelion knives, dandelion poppers, dandelion tools, dandelion extractor tools, dandelion removing devices, crabgrass removal tools, crabgrass tools and various combinations of these and similar terms. These terms may also be useful when searching for specific tools on the web.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office eliminated the category of weeders years ago.  But that didn't discourage many creative gardeners from coming up with new weeder inventions and occasionally acquiring patents, to the benefit of the increasing number of gardening enthusiasts.  These are generally categorized as mechanical weeders.  Mechanical weeders and hand tools are becoming more popular today partly due to the increased interest in organic farming, sustainable agriculture, permaculture and the nationwide Master Gardener movements, all of which which discourage the use of toxic chemicals for herbicides and pesticides.

Generally speaking, the longer the handle, the easier it is for your back.  For example, the Ergonica Weed Twister gives you a choice of several lengths from 36 to 54 inches that you may choose based on your height and the need to reach away from your path or around various obstacles.  Additional features to classify weeders are the ability to lift up the weed after uprooting it, to till the soil and to dig small holes.  Some long handle weeders are designed for precision, which usually means that the width of the active element is limited to around 3 inches or less.

Light-weight tools are more ergonomically friendly than other heavier tools that require the use of both hands, or those that also require the use of the foot for implementation. To increase length and still keep the weight at a minimum, under two pounds, for example, is pushing the limits of ergonomic value.  Eliminating the requirement of using your foot reduces stress even more and allows you to reach further from your path.  Most tools with foot levers and moving parts are also heavier and more awkward to carry around than other tools.

Multi-Prong Foot-Lever Weeders and Poppers

Several varieties of multi-prong weed pullers and weed poppers also compete for the back-saving market, with brands including Hound Dog Weed Hound, Fiskars Uproot Weeder, and others compared in the Weed Twisters Comparison section of this page.  These devices provide the convenience of a foot lever that presses the prongs together or lifts the prongs to grab the roots beneath the soil to a depth of about 3 - 4 inches.  The main limitation of these tools is the length of the prongs which limits the depth of penetration and the size of the root that can be effectively removed.  Compare this with some twisters that can reach deep into the soil for long roots as deep as 6-12 inches or more.  If you have a lot of fairly small dandelions in your lawn, this type of tool could be a useful addition to your weeding tool arsenal. 

These are not light-weight tools, like the Ergonica Weed Twister (about one pound), for example, and cannot be applied to areas away from your path because of the foot lever mechanism.  The ejection mechanism is convenient as long as you don't need to lift the heavy tool to place the debris in a waste basket.  With the Ergonica Weed Twister, for example, you can easily lift the tool over a waste basket or wagon and simply tap the tool against the container to drop the contents of the coils into the receptacle.  No extra ejection mechanism is necessary.  This saves you the extra step of picking up debris after removal. 

There are also a few larger tools of the weed popper class that are designed for extending a prong or set of tines deeply beneath the roots of larger plants with leverage for removal.  The large weed poppers are heavier and costlier tools beyond the normal weed removal class that fall into the brush clearing category.  Brush clearing tools are described in more depth below.

Short Handle Precision

The advantage of the hoe-type tool in general is its efficiency for shaving small seedlings from the soil surface and uplifting small plants by the roots in soft soil.  This is particularly effective for early season annuals and biennials.  Some wide blades are effective for clearing and tilling a larger area.  The more narrow "precision" blades are safer to use in close proximity to plants you wish to protect.   Several claw tools use pointed tines in the shape of a claw to cultivate soil.  The diameter of the claw for these cultivators is twice the size of the weed twisters used for pulling weeds.  The limitation of the hoe-type tools and cultivators in general is that they are not designed to remove dandelions or other weeds from lawns.  The one exception that we have discovered has a very narrow "V"-faced blade for extra precise weeding. 

Cultivation and Weeding in Organic Farming

Traditional wide-blade hoes are generally not recommended for organic or polyculture weeding due to the excessive promotion of latent weed seeds and damage to organic matter in topsoil.  More precise tools may be used when necessary for defensive action against weeds that have persisted despite other organic weed prevention methods. The primary limitation for all hoe-blade weeders is the tendency to sever the main stem of any plant larger than a few inches, such as late season weeds, and thereby leave the root in ground to continue growing in a few days.  Another shortcoming is that even fairly precise hoes disturb a lot of soil (and weed seeds) as do any of the tools with flat surfaces or large claws that are designed primarily as cultivators.  Wide-blade hoes are more suitable for seasonal crop rotation and sowing rather than defensive weeding throughout the entire crop season, especially when topsoil conservation is an issue.  More information about different varieties of hoes can be found at TM Organics.  Keep in mind that none of the hoes and cultivators are designed to lift the debris above the soil as do several weed twisters and other weed pullers, which means that the cleanup job, if necessary, is an added chore and strain on your back.  If the debris includes plants with flowers and seeds, you may be doing more harm than good!  Weeding wisdom:  Mulch preventive, Twist defensive - Stow the Hoe until you Sow!

There are several non-hoe type weed pullers for removing weeds from lawns with back-saving features.  The long-handled "V" notched tools and the weed twisters are designed for this job.  An "L" shaped tool works in a way similar to the twisters.  A jet stream of water is used by one innovative tool to penetrate the soil and uproot the dandelions.  There are other tools on the retail market that we have not identified here.  Even in their absence, you may analyze their features based on your comparison with those we describe and those identified in the Weeder Features Chart below.

Weed Whackers and Trimmers

A number of power tools designed to trim the top of grassy weeds and ground covers can be purchased in many stores and online.  Some people also use lawn mowers to crop the weeds growing in their lawns.  The Garden Tools page illustrates of few of the more popular weed trimmers on the market, as well as other tools and solutions for weed control.  Keep in mind that whacking a weed without removing its roots may only be a temporary solution for weed control.

Brush Clearing and Cutting Tools

Brush clearing tools are designed mostly for land management such as forestry and wild land conservation.  Once in a while a home gardener or farmer may need a tool to cut, trim or remove heavy brush, trees and a variety of large plants and weeds.  A hand weeding tool, like the Ergonica Weed Twister for example, can cross over into the brush clearing category because of its ability to pull out large weeds with a root diameter of 1.5 to 2 inches, depending on the shape of the root.  The depth or length of the root can be as long as 12 to 24 inches or more for effective removal, depending on the length of the Weed Twister model.   Cutting tools, of course, differ from plant removal tools, and include a variety of machetes, saws, axes, hatchets and other similar tools .  A number of brush cutting tools and brush removal or clearing tools can be found on the web by using your favorite search engine.  For example, the weed wrench and several weed poppers are designed for the removal of large plants and trees. 

Most of these larger plant removal tools are heavy and expensive, costing about twice as much as gardening hand tools.  Examples of these heavy-duty tools include the Weed Wrench and Root Talon.  For this reason, land managers may consider a tool like the Weed Twister to more efficiently remove weeds that do not require the extra overhead and ergonomic stress of larger tools.  The Weed Twister also makes a handy walking staff because of its light weight and T-handle which is convenient for land management outings for identifying and removing invasive weeds.  For even larger plant and tree challenges, there are tractor-mounted devices that can rip out mature trees, grind out tree stumps and dig deep into the soil with augers to remove whatever lies within their paths.  The web is an excellent resource to help you do your homework and learn about new mechanical solutions to land management (and weeding) that may dynamically change from year to year.

Weed Twisters Comparison

There are also several augers that drill a hole into the soil with the ability to remove any plants or roots in their paths.  This includes a Weed Claw that features a blade appendage to a power-driven twisting prong.  Several of these claws and twisters are illustrated on the Garden Tools page.  The drill-based tools require a careful match with a drill that may be costly and heavy to lug around.  These tools also generally require a certain amount of stooping, based on the length of the auger bit, usually no more than 24 inches, and most are not designed to help clean up the considerable dirt and debris they leave exposed on the surface of the soil.  For ergonomic considerations, look for an auger or drill powered weed twister with a length as long as, or greater than, 36 inches.  The Ergonica Turbo Weed Twister is designed not just to remove weeds, roots and all, but also to grab the roots in its coils for easy disposal.  No auger can claim this root lifting and disposing feature.

Matching Drill:  Select a high power (12 - 24 volts) cordless drill with a dual / variable speed and reversible option.  The tougher your soil, such as with clay or dry dirt, the more power you will need.  More power with less speed, such as 500 rpm or less, will make the power-weeding job much easier.  A chuck size of at least 3/8-inch capacity will accommodate more durable and longer drill bits.  If you can get one with good power that also weighs less than 5 pounds, so much the better.   At least 275 in./lbs. of torque will give you adequate twisting power and two batteries will allow you to keep working while charging a spent battery.  Variable clutch settings allows the drill to safely stop twisting upon heavy resistance, such as when you encounter a root that is too large or you hit a rock or other solid object in the soil.  This protects your auger or twister as well as your hand and wrist from excessive stress.  You can see a good selection of suitable cordless drills at Amazon.com.   High powered cordless drills with the features outlined above are always useful, not only in your garden, but for all your other drilling, driving screws and do-it-yourself jobs around the house.  Expect to pay $100 to $300 or more for a high-power, high-quality cordless drill.  For an all-day session of extracting weeds, such as in organic farming or public park maintenance, consider upgrading to a gas powered drill, such as the Tanaka Gas Powered Drill.  The 36-inch Ergonica Turbo Weed Twister will make a great match with the Tanaka drill or any professional drill with a 3/8 inch or larger chuck. For example, several positive tests shown on video have been made with the a Makita 3-speed hammer drill,  Makita model BHP451. See the Weeder Features Chart below for a convenient comparison of these weed twisters and other types of weed pullers across selected features.

To twist or not to twist, that is the twister?

For many gardeners, no single weeder does everything you may need to do.  If you need to remove dandelions by their roots from your lawn, you may chose one of the precise weed twisters or other lawn weeders that are not of the hoe-blade type.  If you need to remove smaller weeds efficiently from larger areas, you may pick from several of the hoe-type tools or the multitasking Ergonica Weed Twister.  If you need to do both, as do most gardeners, you may select two or three tools that best match the weeds and circumstances in your garden as well as the way you like to work.  Some people enjoy collecting a variety of unique gardening tools for weeding and other purposes.  New garden tools are fun, but also require a bit of experimentation and study to get the best use of each tool.  The best use advice for the Ergonica Weed Twister, for example, is provided on the Weed Twister website.  Are you ready to stop pulling and start twisting?

Weeder Type Classes and Weeder Features

In addition to the eight major classes of weeding tools identified in the Tool Terrain Hierarchy, each tool has different features as we have defined for ergonomics, for example, back-saving or short-handled, or levels of precision.  You can also further distinguish tools by price, and weight  and whether available on the web or in your local retail stores, and so on.  We have taken some of these features and made a chart to show how a variety of tools measure up respectively.  If you are a serious shopper, you can also make your own spreadsheet and add any features that are important to you.

The great variety of weeding tools available show more creative ingenuity and diversity than possibly any other category of hand tools.  This is no doubt a reflection of the great variety of weed shapes and sizes and the different types of situations in which these misplaced plants are found.  It is also a reflection of the preferences we each have for either using power tools or no power tools, for example.  Likewise, some people prefer complex tools with moving parts, whereas others prefer simple tools with no moving parts, an elegant solution.  If you have back pains or arthritis, for example, your body may tell you which types of tools to select.  If you're buying tools for a farm or land management operation, you need to look for industrial grade tools that match the vegetation and terrain in your region.  A responsible employer will also look after the safety of workers in the fields by equipping them with ergonomic tools.  After all, even with the best equipment, spending hours a day in the sun pulling weeds is no picnic!

As stated above: Different weeders for different weeds!  How many different types of saws do you have in your tool shed?  How about screw drivers?  How about shovels or pruners, for example?  Does one pruning tool handle all your needs?  Probably not.  There's no single weeder that can claim to handle all types, sizes and shapes of weeds, either!  We offer the Eight Major Weeder Tool Classes and Weeder Features Chart to help you zero in on a few of the types of tools you need to make your life in the midst of weeds a little easier.  If you're a professional weed maintenance specialist, land manager or farmer, this may be a good time to get serious and get smart about appropriate tool selection.  You may consider testing a careful selection of new tools to see which ones help you the most.   Our old traditional tools may still have a place in our garden while we try out new tools and new methods of gardening, such as organic or polyculture methods.  You will find one of the largest selection of all types of weeders, mulches and chemicals, including organic herbicides,  for review or purchase on the Garden Tools page. 

Remember that most of the unique tools we describe are not distributed to retail stores.  If you're not comfortable with online shopping, please consider that paying for shipping is kinder to the environment than driving your vehicle from store to store!  (It's safer and less time-consuming, too!)

The Weeder Features Chart  below includes examples of individual products described by the features we have defined and selected primarily by the convenience of weeders found on the web.  This selection includes primarily the middle range of terrains, within a few inches above and below the soil surface, to which most of the weed pullers, twisters and poppers are devoted.  This chart, which separates long-handle and short-handle weed removal tools into two groups, can also be downloaded for free as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, for your convenience.  This is not presented as a comprehensive list.  We frequently identify and describe other products as a result of continuing research.  The feature terms used in the chart are defined as follows:

Definition of Terms for Weeder Features Chart

• Graphic: View of Image files - photos or video
• Lawn: Very precise - 2" or less diameter tool mechanism to prevent damage to lawn and reduce unnecessary tilling
• Lift:  Tool will lift the root and plant above the ground to avoid extra cleanup and stooping after removal
• Till:  Tool can also be used to till the soil for removing small weeds or other purposes
• Dig:  Tool can also be used to dig small holes or trenches
• 1 Hand:  Tool can be manipulated with only one hand - light weight and ergonomically friendly
• Price $:  Price offered by manufacturer or seller - price offers may change over time
• Length:  Overall tool length if provided
• Web Buy:  Can purchase this tool online
• Terrains:  Codes for Weeding Tools Terrain Hierarchy A thru H
• Mechanism:  Description of part that directly engages targeted weed

Weeder Features Chart
Product Comparison

Back-Saving Long Handle Weeders: