Skip to product information
1 of 4

Great Dixter Bulb Planter

Great Dixter Bulb Planter

Regular price $320.00 CAD
Regular price Sale price $320.00 CAD
Sale Sold out

The business end of this clever tool is similar to the hand-held bulb planters we're all used to seeing, but this one is designed to be used from a standing position to plant and naturalize bulbs in turf. So smart!

Far superior to crawling around on hands and knees with a flimsy hand-held bulb planter, or even a hori hori or a trowel. Or endlessly digging out squares of turf. 

The tapered head is hand-forged from stainless steel so it is sturdy, and won't crumple when pushed into the ground; it is narrower at the bottom so the plug is pushed out effectively each time you make a new hole. It has a wide, contoured wooden handle that is comfortable and easy to grip.

I was first introduced to this tool when I attended a symposium at Great Dixter and I had to bring one home with me because I had never seen anything like it. It cost a bundle to transport but I was that impressed! I don’t use it often but, when I do, it's an incredible time saver.

How to use it: one person walks through the planting area with the bulb planter, removing plugs wherever they want bulbs (1 bulb/hole for bigger bulbs like Narcissus, 2-3/hole for smaller bulbs like Crocus). One or two others follow with bulbs and a bucket of compost: a little compost is sprinkled into the bottom of each hole to get the correct planting depth, the bulb(s) inserted, and a plug pushed back into the planting hole and pressed into position with a foot. Voila, finished! 

Great Dixter Collection:  The tools in the Great Dixter Collection have been designed by the Lloyd family and gardeners at Great Dixter. Sneeboer donates a portion of revenues from the sale of every Great Dixter tool back to Great Dixter - to maintain an important piece of English heritage.

How to plant bulbs in turf with a Sneeboer Bulb Planter:

The Sneeboer family has been making garden tools for over 100 years. Sneeboer tools are beautifully designed and built for maximum strength and utility - the heads are hand-forged from one piece of stainless steel and they are fitted with ash handles from FSC-certified forests. 

Product Details

  • material of handle: ash wood
  • plug depth: 3.5" (8.9cm)
  • plug width: 2.5" (6.35cm) narrowing to 1.5" (3.8cm)
  • total length: 39.5" (100cm)
  • length of handle: 29.5" (75cm)
  • width of head: 7.9" (20cm)
  • length of head: 8.7" (22cm)
  • weight: 3.5lbs (1.6kg)

Caring for your Sneeboer Tools

The most common damage we see are broken wooden handles. Generally we see this when the tools have been used to pry or leverage on plants that are too big. The steel heads are so strong that when enough force is applied to the handle, the wooden handle snaps. 

Correct Use of your Sneeboer Tools: 

  • Ensure you are using the correct tools for the job and size of the plant. Lots of plants have large root bases that smaller tools cannot cope with. 
  • Do not pry or leverage, these are not crowbars.
  • Do not leave tools out in the elements and be sure to use linseed oil to protect and waterproof the handles.
  • Sneeboer tools are built to last but their warranty does not cover wear through heavy or misuse.
  • For more details on how to care for, clean & sharpen your Sneeboer tools, click here.

Broken handles can happen, replacement handles are available. Send us an email with some photos and brief description of what work you were doing when the snap happened: Contact Us 

Digging Tips: 

Remember, your spade or shovel is not a pry bar. Handles (wood or metal) can snap when too much force is applied.
For big digging jobs, check out the King of Spades collection, which are some of the toughest spades on the market. These shovels and spades can handle a whole lot of prying action and are THE tool to pry, dig, lift & transplant large plant material.

Cleaning & Sharpening your Sneeboer Tools

Click here to download The Gardener's Kit Guide to Cleaning & Sharpening your Sneeboer Tools.

The Sneeboer family has been producing tools for over 100 years. Sneeboer tools are beautifully designed and built for maximum strength and utility - the heads are hand-forged from one piece of stainless-steel, and they are fitted with ash handles from FSC-certified forests.

Cleaning & Sharpening your Sneeboer Tools: 

  1. Before their first use, treat everything with linseed oil. This way handles will remain their looks, won’t dry out and dirt will not stick to the wood. Even the stainless steel parts can be treated with linseed oil. That way dirt will also not stick to the blade of a spade, rake or hand tool.
  2. Wipe/wash off soil and mud, and dry your tools at the end of each workday.
  3. Remove rust from stainless steel tools with the abrasive cleaning block. Do this before it spreads or pits your tools, rust is corrosive and can ruin tools if left.
  4. Use a brass-comb wire brush to clean wooden handles and stainless steel tool heads. 
  5. Do a detailed cleaning and sharpening periodically if you use your tools frequently. Definitely at the end of the gardening year before you put your tools away. Use the Sneeboer tool sharpener which was designed specifically for Sneeboer's stainless steel. Do not use an electric sander as this can heat up the metal and will change their quality.
  6. Re-apply linseed oil to wooden handles and stainless steel to protect them from the elements and rust. Be sure to handle the oil-soaked rag with care, and store it in an air-tight container away from heat.

Helpful Links & Guides:


Shipping + Local Pick-up

We ship tools and accessories to all Canadian destinations.

Local Pick-up is available from our Victoria Showroom

Choose the 'Local pick-up' option at checkout. Our showroom is located at 169 Langford Street in Vic West, click here for hours & location.

Shipping to the USA is currently suspended due to recent US government changes to customs duties on imported goods. Click here for more details on Shipping to the USA.

  • Orders are shipped with Canada Post, UPS and Purolator.
  • We do not ship ladders or our extra large/heavy products (see details below for purchasing ladders).
  • Orders are packaged and shipped daily, but only on weekdays. You will receive tracking information by email once your package has been processed.
  • Looking for information about Returns, Exchanges & Warranties? Click here for more details.

Flat Rate Shipping

within BC

Canada

Small Items

 $15.00

 $20.00

Medium Items

 $20.00

 $25.00

Large Items

 $30.00

 $40.00

Extra Large Items

 $60.00

 $75.00

 

* Please contact us by email if you run into any issues placing your order or if you require a shipping quote.

* Expedited shipping options are available. 

Purchasing Ladders

Ladders can be ordered on our website for pick-up from our Victoria Showroom. Due to the high cost of shipping such large items and the risk of damage during shipping, we do not offer a shipping option.

Ladders can also be purchased in person from one of our dealers in the Vancouver or Vancouver Island areas. Check out our "where to buy" page for dealers.

View full details