This short-handled fork is the companion to the short planting spade. They are a great set and have become part of the basic tool kit that my crew takes everywhere.
They're both extremely useful tools when working on hands and knees and/or in tight spaces in mixed borders or raised beds. It’s so much faster and more efficient than using a hori hori or other hand tool, and you don’t get the same wrist fatigue. You use both hands to dig and you get more power from the length of the handle and the grip.
The other benefit is that you don’t have to go up and down like you do when using a full length border tool; again, it speeds you up. You have greater control and precision than you would using a full length fork on your knees and you’re much less likely to damage surrounding plant material with this short handle.
We use it for loosening the soil to weed, lifting and dividing perennials and bulbs, and working in soil amendments. It would also be an excellent tool to use in veggie beds for weeding and harvesting root vegetables.
The stainless steel tines of the Sneeboer hand fork are strong enough to dig and cultivate soils of all types and conditions. It is important to choose a fork that is strongly made because the tines of poorly-made forks can bend with use, especially if you have heavy clay or compacted soils. One caveat: don't use it as a prying tool, the wood handle could snap under heavy pressure.
Great Dixter Collection: The tools in the Great Dixter Collection have been designed by 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.
Product Details
- hand-forged stainless steel
- width of head: 4.7" (12cm)
- length of head: 5.5" (14cm)
- length of handle: 16.5" (42cm)
- total length: 24.4" (62cm)
- number of tines: 4
- length of tines: 5" (12.7cm)
- between tines: 1" (2.5cm)
- material of handle: ash wood, FSC-certified
- weight: 1.35lbs (0.62kg)
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.