Choosing the right garden tools for weeding

Short-handle weeders look like a cross between silverware and grilling tools--lots of knives, forks, and other tined, pronged, and bladed instruments. Some are basically miniature hoes, while others are more like claws. The idea is to give you maximum power with controlled surgical weeding strikes that are less likely to damage healthy plants. There are several types of short-handle weeders.

Fishtail weeder
Also called an asparagus knife, the fishtail weeder uses a V-shape notch to hook weeds and bring them to the surface, or at least cut them off at the roots. It works especially well between pavers and sidewalk crevices.

Taproot weeder
The key to defeating many weeds is removing the taproot, the plant's lifeline. The taproot weeder has a long forked blade and a fulcrum so that you can stick the tool deep into the ground and pry upward.

Collinear hand weeder
With a long neck and a blade like that of an old-fashioned straight razor, the collinear hand weeder is designed to shave weeds just below the soil surface.

The shape of this tool minimizes wrist strain, and an hourglass handle provides a comfortable grip. You can also find long-handle hoes with blades like this.

Cape Cod weeder
Like a bent finger made of steel, the Cape Cod weeder's L-shape blade reaches into tight spaces around plants. This old favorite works in all soils and on the biggest weeds.

Japanese farmer's knife
Weeding is just one application for this versatile tool, also called a farmer's weeder or hori-hori knife. It has one smooth, slicing edge and one serrated edge, letting it stab through the soil and saw tough roots.

Paving weeder

Some of the most annoying and hard-to-reach weeds grow between pavers and slabs of concrete. The ice-pick-shape blade reaches deep down into walkway and wall crevices to scrape out the weeds.

Besides traditional tools, take a look at newer weeders that employ a variety of technologies, including foot-powered tines that pop weeds from the ground, hose-fed wands that blast weeds out with a high-pressure stream of water, and propane-powered weed burners that kill weeds with a blast of heat. Though all work to some degree, they don't promise the versatility or the track record of older, less high-tech tools. If you're interested in one of these weeding tools, see if you can rent one for a trial run before plunking down your hard-earned cash.