Weeds are a perennial problem in the garden, popping up on the veg patch, in between plants in borders and in containers, and weeding is one of the gardeners most regular jobs. Digging them up, roots and all, is the best way to banish them and while hoeing is effective if you’re tackling large, weedy areas, for individual weeds or when you’re weeding amongst other plants a dedicated hand weeder is the tool for the job.
Around the size of a hand trowel with a similar handle, hand weeding tools can come with a variety of different ends according to the weeds they’re designed to attack. Some simply have a long, sharp head, others a pronged end or a corkscrew, while some may have a hooked end, serrated edge or a fulcrum for greater leverage.
We researched the most popular hand weeding tools on the market and then a panel of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine readers rigorously tested them to bring you our list of the seven best hand weeding tools.
Each hand weeder has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to comfort, design, performance and value for money. Every hand weeder in the list below has scored a minimum of four out of five stars or above, so you can be assured of their quality and performance.
If you’re wrestling with large areas of weeds, we’ve tested the best garden hoes as well as the best border forks, ideal for lifting and clearing whole beds and borders of difficult weeds. And for more help preparing the ground, take a look at our guide to the best garden spades.
Best hand weeding tools at a glance
- Best Buy: Fiskars Xact Extractor
- Best Buy: Niwaki Weeding Hoe
- Best Buy: Corona ComfortGel Weeder
- Best Buy: DeWit Cape Cod Weeder
- Best Buy: Spear and Jackson Select Stainless Weeder & Fulcrum
- Draper Spinnaker Hand Weeder with Ash Handle
- Sophie Conran Weeder
Seven of the best hand weeding tools
From ergonomic to traditional, here’s Gardeners’ World readers pick of the best hand weeding tools
Fiskars Xact Extractor
Our rating: 5 out of 5
Pros
- Very strong and solid
- Comfortable with good grip
- Ideal for stubborn, deep rooted weeds
- Long lasting
Cons
- Only missing a hanging strap
With its long plastic handle and lengthy stainless steel head and serrated edge this sturdy weeder is ideal for digging deep and tackling stubborn, long rooted weeds. The soft grip handle is comfortable and doesn’t slip, even when applying pressure and has great leverage.
Read the full Fiskars Xact Extractor review
Niwaki Weeding Hoe
Our rating: 5 out of 5
Pros
- Comfortable and light
- Strong and robust
- Easy to use in all soils and situations
- Easy on all weeds
Cons
- Very sharp blade needs a substantial cover
Well thought out and versatile this weeding hoe is useful for more than just weeding. The sharp, hooked, carbon steel blade slices easily into the ground, prising out weeds in a whole host of situations from pots and containers to the veg patch and flower border. Its shaped pine handle is comfortable and the weeder is ligt and easy to use. It comes in a handy bag and has a protective sheath for the blade
Read the full Niwaki weeding hoe review
Corona ComfortGel Weeder
Our rating: 5 out 5
Pros
- Comfortable, non-slip handle
- Easy to use
- Well designed with good extra features
- Excellent at removing all weeds including deep rooted and in lawns
- Bright colour, easy to spot
- Good quality and value
Cons
- Serrated edge best for right hand use
This great all round weeder has a sturdy, stainless steel head that’s lightly curved for leverage and tapers to a narrow, forked end. Sharply serrated on one side for cutting roots, the bright red handle has a finger guard to protect the hand and it feels strong and robust and can tackle any weeding job.
Read the full Corona ComfortGel weeder review
DeWit Cape Cod Weeder
Our rating: 5 out of 5
Pros
- Comfortable and nicely weighted
- Sharp, sturdy carbon steel head
- Robust and long lasting
- Tackles all weeds easily
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Read the full DeWit Cape Cod weeder review
Spear and Jackson Select Stainless Weeder & Fulcrum
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
Pros
- Sturdy and robust
- Comfortable contoured grip
- Levers out deep-rooted weeds well
- Ideal in between plants
Cons
- Clogs with soil
- Struggles with clumping weeds like couch grass
Read the full Spear and Jackson Select Stainless Weeder and Fulcrum review
Draper Spinnaker Hand Weeder with Ash Handle
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Pros
Cons
Read the full review
Sophie Conran weeder
Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
Pros
Cons
Read the full Sophie Conran weeder review
This review round up was last updated in 2021. If you spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at website@gardenersworld.com