Garden Knives

If you’re an avid gardener, you may have an array of pruning shears, loppers, and saws. But what about a good garden knife?

Garden knives can be helpful for simple tasks like cutting twine to stake plants with, loosening a rootbound plant from its pot, or dividing plants.

Japanese hori hori knives are popular with many gardeners. They typically have wide, stainless steel blades that are sharp on one side and serrated on the other. They can be used for weeding, pruning, and transplanting.

A special grafting knife can be helpful for budding or grafting fruit trees or flowering shrubs.

No matter what knife you have, always clean the blade before storing it, and remember to keep it sharp.

Also on Gardening in a Minute

• Caring for Your Tools

Other Sites

• Frugal Gardening--University of Delaware Cooperative Extension
• Great Garden Gifts--Washington State University Extension
• Must-have Garden Tools--HGTV
• My Most Versatile Garden Tool: Hori Hori Knife--Gardenista Blog
• What to Brandish at Your Weeds: Hori-Horis, Soil Knives, and Trowels--North Coast Gardening Blog