- Author: Paula Pashby
I am heading out to my garden this morning with no major chores to tackle, just a little of everything that needs some tender tending and planting some new seedlings. I always make sure that I have all the gardening tools I will need for the planned tasks at the ready, like clippers, scissors, trowel, weeding tools, and a small saw.
However, I am feeling a bit weighed down lugging all these tools around for today's chores. I have a flash thought… maybe the only tool I really need for the garden tasks is my trusty Hori Hori knife! So, all of the other gardening tools will actually get the day off, and off I go with one of my favorite tools.
What is a Hori Hori knife and why is it called that? The term comes from the Japanese verb ‘horu', which means ‘to dig'. The words hori-hori are said to phonetically resemble the sounds made from digging.
The Hori Hori knife has almost everything you need for a day of work in the garden. The blade on this knife has a slight concave curve between each edge and is incredibly sharp. One side of the blade is serrated and the other has a straight edge. My knife has marked measurements on the blade to know the depth when digging. The blade is also strong enough for prying out rocks or hidden treasures that my dog buried.
I find that the Hori Hori knife is useful for:
- Planting – I can dig a nice row for seedlings and deeper holes for rooted plants. The marked blade measurements are really helpful to guide the depth of the hole for bulbs.
- Cutting – This tool can cut through so many things that need to be taken care of in the garden. As seen in the pictures below, the jagged side of the knife is handy for cutting small branches, thick foliage, and roots. The other side has a smooth, sharp edge, which helps with smaller tasks, like opening bags of soil.
- Dividing perennials and bulbs – This tool can easily split clumps of rooted plants for replanting.
- Getting rid of weeds – The knife is a big help for digging out weeds at their roots.
- Digging up root crops - I use it for digging up my potatoes, beets, onions, and carrots.
Most Hori Hori knives come with a nice leather case to secure sharp edges. My knife also has a non-slip handle and a protective hilt for a good grip. I saw some knives in the market that have a beautifully crafted wooden handle, but that would then make it too much of a temptation for my husband who already has his eyes on my special garden tool.
Happy Gardening!