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Japanese trowel

WJRWJR Posts: 24
in The potting shed
Does anyone use one of those Japanese trowels like Monty Don's?

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  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    Don't think I could. I hate injuring worms and take care even with a blunt trowel, would hate to keep cutting them in half!
  • WJRWJR Posts: 24
    Actually it's a Dutch trowell. 
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    Monty Don has every variety of trowel known to man, and gold coloured Niwaki spades for good measure.

    Do you mean the heart shaped Dutch trowel or the dagger shaped Japanese hori hori? I have the latter but not the former.
    Rutland, England
  • WJRWJR Posts: 24
    Yes the heart shaped trowell. Looks the job!
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    edited May 2023
    Here’s an article on the various trowels and their uses. Note that Sneeboer are the Rolls Royce of garden tool makers and are priced accordingly.

    https://tinkerandfix.co.uk/blogs/news/sneeboer-trowels-explained

    Personally I like the traditional shaped trowel as it is easier to scoop soil out of the ground when planting something. Mine is a deWitt trowel from the WellDone range. It is the most robust trowel you’ll ever encounter. Mine is the one with a serrated edge so functions as a hori hori as well, but this option is now almost impossible to source in the UK.

    PS The Tinker and Fix website is great - you can pretend you’re in the Repair Shop barn.
    Rutland, England
  • WJRWJR Posts: 24
    Thanks Ben, will check this out.
    Where can you get a good well made pair of hedge shears?
    So much of the big store, and big name tools underperform.
    Preferably British made.

  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    When you see inside Monty's shed, it seems utterly ridiculous to have so many different trowels hanging on the wall.  I have three, plus a hori hori and can't think of any job I can't do using one or the other.  They are basically little more than a subliminal advert.
  • Mrs-B3-Southampton,-HantsMrs-B3-Southampton,-Hants Posts: 732
    I thought he had helpers so maybe not so daft having more than one?
    Southampton 
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    Gardeners’ World review of shears is here

    https://www.gardenersworld.com/reviews/tools/pruning/best-garden-shears/

    I have not been able to find any garden shears made in the UK.
    Rutland, England
  • WJRWJR Posts: 24
    Thanks Ben, I will check out this link.
    The cutlers of Sheffield must be asleep!
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