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Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- General
- Tom's Guide
This garden tool is a real mean machine with weeds in my yard — and it's under $35
Weeds drive me to distraction, and although I haven't had my usual amount to remove this year — all thanks to a hot, dry summer — as soon as it rains, they spring back up. Although I'd prefer to spend my time tending to my plants and lawn, those pesky weeds need to be removed, as I can't relax when they rear their ugly heads. It's for this reason that I'm always on the lookout for a weeding tool that will make removing weeds easier and save me time, so I can get on with the garden tasks I'd prefer to be doing. Despite trying various methods to prevent weeds from invading my yard, they remain tough to conquer.I've recently been using CobraHead's weeder, $34 at Amazon, which doubles up as a cultivator. However, it's a hand-weeding tool, so if you're looking for something to save your back, like my colleague Mike Prospero, you'll be better off trying Grampa's Weeder, which is a stand-up weed puller with a long handle, and it's currently reduced to $39 at Amazon. This hand CobraHead had weeder has a forged steel blade and a recycled plastic handle. Apart from weeding, it's ergonomically designed for digging, edging and planting, making it a versatile tool. I've been using the CobraHead weeding tool for a few weeks, and I'm impressed so far. It's incredibly easy to use, comfortable to hold, and tackles even the toughest weeds with long roots. I was a little shocked when the weeder was delivered. It looks a bit lethal, and it only came packaged in a brown envelope. Fear aside, the head of the tool has a sturdy plastic cover, so there was no chance of anyone getting injured during its journey. I was also a bit put off by the bright blue handle, as it's not quite the normal color used within gardening tools, but I soon discovered it's made from recycled plastic, hence the unusual color and slightly speckled patterned effect. What's more, it's always handy (pardon the pun) to have a yard tool in a bright color, as it's easy to spot if it gets chucked in the compost by mistake. I discovered this advantage when I was using Burgon & Ball's red-colored gardening trowel. The main part of the tool is the curved forged steel blade, which features a design that resembles a cobra's head, hence the name. And according to the company's promotional video, the design of the blade replicates those used in old cultivating hoes. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Although my main purpose was to find a weeding tool, the CobraHead weeder does so much more. Apart from being an excellent weeder — I found it tackled roots of small and large weeds with ease — it can also be used as a cultivator. If you're looking for a tool to plow through tough soil, this could be what you need. And, it's ideal if you want to make a furrow to plant seeds or transplant seedlings. What's more, it's a tough cookie, and it feels solid and robust without any chance of snapping when you're ripping through rough and stony ground. In fact, the blade is described on the packaging label as a 'steel fingernail'. Despite being tough, it's comfortable to hold and it doesn't feel heavy or top-heavy. In fact, it feels well balanced, and it weighs 9oz and measures 13 inches in length. It also has a hole at the end of the handle, so you can hang it up neatly in your yard shed or garage, without it creating clutter. Overall, I really enjoyed using the CobraHead weeder, and it tackled tough ground without me exerting too much energy. However, I did need to use a garden kneeling mat in areas where I had a lot of weeds to tackle. So, if your knees play up too, you could try CobraHead's Long Handle Weeder & Cultivator, which is $89.95 at Amazon. I'd also recommend that you wear a pair of the best gardening gloves when you're weeding. I was wearing the Vermont Glove Flatlander gardening gloves while testing the weeder, and I'll be reporting on them within the next few weeks.
Tom's Guide
22-06-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
I'm an avid gardener and these are the top 3 tools I use to keep my lawn in good shape
If I had to choose between a perfect lawn or perfect flowerbeds, I would always, 100%, opt for flowers over grass. However, I like the whole look to come together, which is why I still invest time in lawn care. Having an electric or gas lawnmower takes the hard work out of crafting an immaculate lawn, but I still rely on three other top tools to up my lawn's curb appeal. Here, I dive into the lawn care tools I use to keep my lawn shipshape. There's no mistaking that regularly mowing your lawn keeps it looking neat and tidy, but it requires a little more work to create an enviable, immaculate plot. I always rely on my garden edger to neaten the perimeter of my lawn after it's been mown. It creates a clean, manicured look and a distinct line between my flowerbeds and pathways. You could invest in lawn edging to create a physical barrier, such as EasyFlex No-Big Landscape Edging, which is $31 at Amazon, but I prefer to use a tool. You can choose between power edgers and manual tools. A power edger requires either gas or electricity to operate, and its rotating blades slice through the grass to form a neat edge. They are quicker to use than their manual counterparts and are more suitable for larger landscapes. Greenworks currently has a Brushless Edger on sale for $212 at Amazon, although for a budget-friendly option, you could try the Amazon Basics Double Edge Bladed Electric Corded Lawn Edger for $89 at Amazon. As I don't have an extensive lawn, my preference is for a manual lawn edger. I've been using Burgon & Ball's Half Moon Lawn Edger, which is £31 direct from Burgon & Ball in the U.K. However, for a U.S. equivalent, I'd recommend the AMES Saw-Tooth Border Edger, which is currently reduced by 24% to $30 at Amazon. This landscaping edger cuts trenches and creates, clean, finished lawn edges along driveways, lawns and sidewalks. The serrated steel blades easily cuts through grass and soil and has a footplate for control and consistency. Most of your lawn can be tackled by using a lawn mower, but there will be hard-to-reach places where you'll need to rely on another tool. Sheds, fences, flowerbeds, and children's play areas can all be sites where your mower won't reach, and although a lawn edger can tidy a border, it doesn't have the muster to trim long grass. Here's where a garden string trimmer comes in handy, although you might hear it being referred to as a weed whacker, which sounds far more fun. You can buy gas, or electric-powered versions, although if you have a large yard, I'd recommend using a gas-powered trimmer or a cordless electric trimmer so you don't have to juggle with a power cable. Rather than cutting with a sharp blade, trimmers operate using a nylon wire that rotates at such a speed the wire becomes stiff and can cut through grass and weeds. They are more expensive than lawn edgers, but they serve a different purpose. Greenworks has a 48V Cordless String Trimmer that's currently reduced by 26% to $169 at Amazon. However, Flymo recommends using a petrol-powered trimmer for dense grass, as the internal combustion engine can spin the wire much faster than other types of trimmers. But for smaller jobs, an electric or battery trimmer will be up to the task. This versatile tool easily converts from trimming to edging and includes a razor sharp blade for the smartest lawn borders on the street. It offers fast cutting up to 9000 RPM, with a 22 minute maximum run time, and weighs in at just over 5 pounds. And right now you can save $27. I don't mind a weed or two, and during No Mow May, I tend to let my lawn do its thing, but there's no denying that a weed-free lawn looks neater than one riddled with dandelions. There are not many gardeners who would admit to enjoying the chore of weeding. I compare it to dusting my house; it has to be done, I just wish someone else would do it! And I don't like the idea of using weed killers, so it's up to me. Getting down on your hands is fine, but boy, do I need a knee pad these days. I remove plenty of dandelions and other weeds, which have long tap roots, with Burgon & Ball's Dandelion Weeder, available for $18 at Amazon. However, Mike Prospero, my colleague and U.S. Editor-in-Chief, prefers using a long-handled tool. His knees and back are obviously in even worse shape than mine. He now uses Grampa's Weeder, which is $39 at Amazon. It may be twice the price of my preferred option, but it allows him to keep his dignity, as you don't need to bend, pull, or kneel to remove the pesky weeds. The four-claw design can get rid of weeds in soft soil. You simply drive the prongs down on either side of a dandelion, step on the lever with one foot, and push the pole down towards the ground. The result? The dandelion and root pop out. For drier soil, you could try Fiskars' 4-Claw Stand-up Weeder, which has sharper blades and is available for $48 at Amazon. This lightweight, long shaft handle weed puller has an easy-eject design. Four serrated, stainless steel claws firmly grab the weeds and roots for permanent removal. It also has a comfortable, wide foot platform, and sharp blades to penetrate tough soil.
Scottish Sun
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
I'm a Gardening pro – do these 6 tasks this weekend to fill your outside space with colour plus the time to water plants
Scroll down to learn how to win a Copper & Green water feature, worth £250 CHOP CHOP I'm a Gardening pro – do these 6 tasks this weekend to fill your outside space with colour plus the time to water plants Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WITH June starting tomorrow, it brings the promise of better weather and the longest day – but it can also bring a feeling of mild panic to gardeners. Whether it is worry about having planted enough seeds or what do to with all the overgrown bits, we have got lots of June jobs to get you organised. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Tackle key gardening jobs now to keep your plants in bloom the entire summer Credit: Getty THE CHELSEA CHOP This cutback is usually done around late May or early June, the same time as the Chelsea Flower Show. It means cutting back your herbaceous perennials — flowers with non-woody stems that come back year after year — by a third. This encourages a second flush of blooms and extends the flowering season. Good plants to practice on include Asters, Echinacea, Phlox, Sedum, Rudbeckia and Helenium. SOW SEEDS As the soil has warmed up, sow your seeds straight into the ground instead of messing around with pots. Broccoli, carrots, swede, beetroot, runner and French beans and sweetcorn can all go in now. Courgette can still be grown in pots for a later harvest. You can also scatter Nigella seeds on the soil for lovely blue flowers later in the season, and plant marigold and nasturtium seeds. WEEDING June is the month in which weeds flourish. A Hori Hori tool, below, is fantastic for getting them out, especially those with long roots. Just spending five minutes getting your hands dirty will make it feel much less tiresome and out of control — and is also good for your mental health. WATERING We have finally had rain but after months of dryness your garden still needs a in the early morning or late evening and avoid sprinkling the water all over the leaves. Concentrate on watering around the roots. BEDDING Fill your gaps with summer bedding but try to protect it from slugs and snails. Lobelia brings a lovely blue while fuchsias and petunias are always good around this time too. LAWNCARE Because it has been dry and warm, you need to raise the cutting level to avoid scorching. If you haven't already, apply a spring/summer lawn feed to provide nutrients for healthy growth. Or you could consider using a weed and feed fertilizer to control weeds while feeding your lawn. Saving tip 5 £42 Niwaki Mainichi Secateurs Credit: Niwaki Mainichi 5 Burgon & Ball's Flora brite version for £18 from B&Q Credit: B&Q BE precise in your Chelsea chop with these £42 Niwaki Mainichi Secateurs, top, or cut the price with Burgon & Ball's Flora brite version, below, for £18 from B&Q. Alan is garden chief 5 Alan Titchmarsh is set to take over a prestigious role from Dame Mary Berry Credit: Getty DAME Mary Berry is stepping down as the president of the National Garden Scheme after ten years – handing the baton to Alan Titchmarsh. The NGS helps gives visitors unique access to more than 3,300 exceptional private gardens in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. Alan said: 'There is nothing quite like the National Garden Scheme, either in the world of gardens and horticulture or beyond. 'Not only does it offer thoroughly affordable enjoyment and education – while championing the varied gardening skills of the British nation – it also raises and distributes quite extraordinary sums of money.' To find out what National Gardening Scheme gardens are open this month or inquire about opening up your own garden, see Win! WE'VE got a stunning Copper & Green water feature, worth £250, to giveaway. It is handcrafted in the UK using traditional, power-free techniques – and showcases Copper & Green's signature copper lily, cascading bowls and leaves. To enter, visit or write to Sun Copper & Green Competition, Sun PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. Open to UK residents aged 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm, June 14, 2025. T&Cs apply. Kate is so rosy 5 A rose endorsed by Princess Kate will go on sale at B&Q later this year Credit: Splash News B&Q will be the main stockist of Catherine's Rose, bred by Harkness Roses and named after Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales. Launching in stores in late September, the rose seeks to raise awareness of the important role that spending time outdoors plays in bringing us joy. Funds from every sale of the rose will go to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. - JOIN Hever Castle & Garden's historic rose tours – taking place June 23 to July 6. See
The Irish Sun
30-05-2025
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
I'm a Gardening pro – do these 6 tasks this weekend to fill your outside space with colour plus the time to water plants
WITH June starting tomorrow, it brings the promise of better weather and the longest day – but it can also bring a feeling of mild panic to gardeners. Whether it is worry about having planted enough seeds or what do to with all the overgrown bits, we have got lots of June jobs to get you organised. 5 Tackle key gardening jobs now to keep your plants in bloom the entire summer Credit: Getty THE CHELSEA CHOP This cutback is usually done around late May or early June, the same time as the Chelsea Flower Show. It means cutting back your herbaceous perennials — flowers with non-woody stems that come back year after year — by a third. This encourages a second flush of blooms and extends the flowering season. Good plants to practice on include Asters, Echinacea, Phlox, Sedum, Rudbeckia and Helenium. SOW SEEDS As the soil has warmed up, sow your seeds straight into the ground instead of messing around with pots. Broccoli, carrots, swede, beetroot, runner and French beans and sweetcorn can all go in now. Courgette can still be grown in pots for a later harvest. You can also scatter Nigella seeds on the soil for lovely blue flowers later in the season, and plant marigold and nasturtium seeds. WEEDING June is the month in which weeds flourish. A Hori Hori tool, below, is fantastic for getting them out, especially those with long roots. Most read in Fabulous Just spending five minutes getting your hands dirty will make it feel much less tiresome and out of control — and is also good for your mental health . WATERING We have finally had rain but after months of dryness your garden still needs a in the early morning or late evening and avoid sprinkling the water all over the leaves. Concentrate on watering around the roots. BEDDING Fill your gaps with summer bedding but try to protect it from slugs and snails. Lobelia brings a lovely blue while fuchsias and petunias are always good around this time too. LAWNCARE Because it has been dry and warm, you need to raise the cutting level to avoid scorching. If you haven't already, apply a spring/summer lawn feed to provide nutrients for healthy growth. Or you could consider using a weed and feed fertilizer to control weeds while feeding your lawn. Saving tip 5 £42 Niwaki Mainichi Secateurs Credit: Niwaki Mainichi 5 Burgon & Ball's Flora brite version for £18 from B&Q Credit: B&Q BE precise in your Chelsea chop with these £42 Niwaki Mainichi Secateurs, top, or cut the price with Burgon & Ball's Flora brite version, below, for £18 from B&Q. Alan is garden chief 5 Alan Titchmarsh is set to take over a prestigious role from Dame Mary Berry Credit: Getty DAME Mary Berry is stepping down as the president of the National Garden Scheme after ten years – handing the baton to Alan Titchmarsh. The NGS helps gives visitors unique access to more than 3,300 exceptional private gardens in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. Alan said: 'There is nothing quite like the National Garden Scheme, either in the world of gardens and horticulture or beyond. 'Not only does it offer thoroughly affordable enjoyment and education – while championing the varied gardening skills of the British nation – it also raises and distributes quite extraordinary sums of money.' To find out what National Gardening Scheme gardens are open this month or inquire about opening up your own garden, see Win! WE'VE got a stunning Copper & Green water feature, worth £250, to giveaway. It is handcrafted in the UK using traditional, power-free techniques – and showcases Copper & Green's signature copper lily, cascading bowls and leaves. To enter, visit Include your name, age, email or phone. Open to UK residents aged 18+ only. Entries close 11.59pm, June 14, 2025. T&Cs apply. Kate is so rosy 5 A rose endorsed by Princess Kate will go on sale at B&Q later this year Credit: Splash News B&Q will be the main stockist of Catherine's Rose, bred by Harkness Roses and named after Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales . Launching in stores in late September, the rose seeks to raise awareness of the important role that spending time outdoors plays in bringing us joy. Read more on the Irish Sun Funds from every sale of the rose will go to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity . - JOIN Hever Castle & Garden's historic rose tours – taking place June 23 to July 6. See Learn! Q) I'VE just planted some hollyhocks and they are now covered in rust. Should l dig them out? Daphne Sharp, via email A) Did you grow them from seed or buy them as is? Are they absolutely covered? If they are really struggling you might be better to dig them out. You could try taking off the affected leaves and getting rid of them – not in your compost. They do still flower even if they're heavily infected, so you could try hiding the bad parts by planting other plants in front of them. Good luck.
Tom's Guide
07-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Tom's Guide
I'm a mom who loves gardening — here are 3 gifts I'd like to receive on Mother's Day
Move over chocolates and flowers, it's time to buy your mom a Mother's Day gift she can enjoy year after year. And if her favorite place to be is out and about in the yard, I have 3 ideas to keep her smiling and remembering you whenever she's out there. With Mother's Day approaching on May 11th, you've still got time to buy a gift with meaning, avoiding the last-minute rush to pick up a nondescript bouquet. What's more, your mom will appreciate the thought you've put into choosing a present that reflects her outdoor pastime. Whether your mum is planting vegetable crops in May or colorful flowers for a summer garden, these gardening tool ideas will add some extra zing to her time spent outside. You may like Colorful Mother's Day gifts for every gardening mom (Image credit: Shutterstock) One gardening brand I love is Burgon & Ball. The brand has a great track record of taking a functional tool, adding a touch of traditional and style, and making it greater than the sum of its parts. There's nearly 200 years behind the company, and in my opinion that heritage results in products that are finely crafted and built to last. For this reason, I'd be happy for my boys to buy me one of Burgon & Ball's gardening tools for Mother's Day. But even if they don't get the hint, I'd certainly recommend them to anyone out there who wants to upgrade their garden tools. 1. Gardening gloves (Image credit: Burgon & Ball) You really shouldn't let your mom go out into the yard without a pair of gardening gloves, otherwise instead of a French manicure, she'll end up with a gardener's 'special' manicure — soil underneath her fingertips! Apart from keeping her nails intact, gardening gloves will protect her hands from scratches, pests and other nasties. I'll be putting Burgon & Ball's Flora & Fauna gardening gloves on my Mother's Day wishlist. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. With an attractive design including birds and flowers, these gloves also offer a cushioned palm for comfort and a secured wrist to keep debris squirreling its way inside. What's more, they are washable too! For $24 from Amazon, they make a perfect gift. 2. Pruning shears Owning one of the best pruning shears is an essential piece of equipment to have in your garden toolkit, and that's why it's one of the best gifts to give mom on Mother's Day. Burgon & Ball's British Bloom Pruner and Holster Set is just $34 at Amazon, and is endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). The bypass pruner has a carbon steel blade and sits within a floral-patterned holster. And, if you're feeling extravagant, it can be purchased alongside other items in the collection, including Burgon & Ball's Pruning Scissors, $25 at Amazon. 3. Gardening trowel (Image credit: Future / Camilla Sharman) I've owned a fair number of gardening trowels in my time, and a few have got lost in the bushes. But there's not much chance of that happening if you opt for a trowel with a bright color handle. I've recently been using Burgon & Ball's Transplanter, in red, although I'd describe it as a pretty coral color — and it's one of my favorite gardening tools. Not only does it allow me to see how far I'm digging so that I transplant seedlings or bulbs at the correct depth, as it contains embossed markings for up to 4 inches, I can spot it wherever I am in my yard. There's no chance that this tool will get lost under a bush anytime soon. I also use it for other garden jobs, such as removing small weeds or adding soil to containers and fertilizer around plants. Apart from the color, which is a winner for me, the handle is pleasant to hold and offers a comfortable ergonomic fit. I also like the Burgon & Ball that's embossed on the back of the trowel and on the handle. Unfortunately, it's only available in the U.K. in this colorway, direct from Burgon & Ball at £11.99, but you can pick up a similar trowel in the U.S. with a navy handle for $24 at Amazon, although it doesn't have the depth markings. More from Tom's Guide
