Garden & Other Hoes

This is a baby version of a Warren Hoe with a head which is only about 2” wide.

This hoe has two edges to be sharpened, opening up some nice opportunities for the gardener as one side can be at a different angle than the other. As with the Warren hoe, sharpening one side at the recommended 25° and the other at 35° makes it a more versatile tool.

These can be found with a long handle for use when standing, or with a shorter handle for use when kneeling or seated. If sharpening the shorter handled hoe, consider sharpening the under side if the angle for use of this hoe merits it.

Depending on the user's handedness (left vs. right), the values for α₁ & α₂ could be swapped for easier use.

Also known as or called a Drill Hoe or Pointed Cultivator Hoe.

This tool gets swung by the user to dig up problematic weeds.

This hoe has two edges to be sharpened, but I recommend keeping them the same.

These can be found with a long handle for use when standing, or with a shorter handle for use when kneeling or seated. The shorter handled version can have higher values, up to 40°, but the longer handled vershion should not have such a dull angle.

This tool is a scarifier, used for cutting the weeds close to the dirt.

These can be found with a long handle for use when standing, or with a shorter handle for use when kneeling or seated. The shorter handled version can have higher values, up to 40°, but the longer handled vershion should not have such a dull angle.

This is a good selection for weeding in the garden. It is sharp enough that it shears the weeds well at the ground level.

This could be as high as 30°; however that is not usually necessary.

Collinear Hoe

Also known as or called a Drag Hoe or Floral Hoe.

The Collinear Hoe is an interesting, lighter weight variation of this hoe. Use the same sharpening guidance.

This is a heavy-duty tool used to break up soil. Depending on the user's area, it may need to have an edge approaching 60° (especially if the ground is rocky or highly compacted).

These can be found with a long handle for use when standing, or with a shorter handle for use when kneeling or seated. If sharpening the shorter handled hoe, consider sharpening the under side if the angle for use of this hoe merits it.

The hoop hoe can be sharpened with a single angle, or if the sharpener is adventurous then the sides can be at a different angle (e.g., 30°-35°), and those edges blended together. This would be a good idea if the hoe is used for purposes other than merely weeding. The higher angle will help keep it from dulling quickly when breaking up dirt clods or taking out bigger weeds.

These can be found with a long handle for use when standing, or with a shorter handle for use when kneeling or seated. If sharpening the shorter handled hoe, keep the same sharpening approach as for the longer handled version (sharpen the inside of the curve).

Loop Hoe

It is important to not sharpen too far up on the circle as that part is used to push plants back when hoeing.

There is a variation of this known as a Loop Hoe where the circle is somewhat flattened into a triangular shape (but the triangle’s vertices do not come to a point and are rounded). Use the same sharpening guidance as for the hoop hoe.

This is a good selection if the hoe is used for purposes other than weeding. The higher angle will help keep it from dulling quickly. This could be as high as 60°. Consider this approach if using your hoe for activities such as mixing concrete in your wheel barrow.

Mortar hoes usually have holes in the blade to allow the material to flow through it, making the mixing easier. Ensure these are clear of dried up concrete or other obstructions.

Also known as or called a Mason’s Hoe, or Plaster’s Hoe

These hoes have 3 sides which get sharpened.

• α₁: The bottom is sharpened for typical use.
• α₂: The left side is sharpened to the same angle as the bottom, and is used when the gardener needs to flip the tool on edge to get into a narrow space.
• α₃: The right side has a greater angle to make this a usable tool for also breaking up soil.

These can be found with a long handle for use when standing, or with a shorter handle for use when kneeling or seated. If sharpening the shorter handled hoe, consider sharpening the under side if the angle for use of this hoe merits it.

Depending on the user's handedness (left vs. right), the values for α₂ & α₃ could be swapped for easier use.

Also known as or called a Tobacco Hoe

One style of this hoe has 3 sides in a triangular shape, and all 3 sides can be sharpened differently.

• α₁: The user side is sharpened for typical use.
• α₂: The left side is sharpened to the same angle as the user side, and is used when the gardener needs to use the tool with a push stroke.
• α₃: The right side has a greater angle to make this a usable tool for also breaking up soil. If this tool is used only for scarification, then this angle should also be 25°.

Depending on the user's handedness (left vs. right), the values for α₂ & α₃ could be swapped for easier use.

Also known as or called a Floral Scuffle Hoe

• α_1a: The leading edge side is sharpened for typical use.
• α_1b: The other leading edge side is also sharpened for typical use, but can be different from α_1a if desired.
• α₂: The left side is sharpened to the same angle as the user side, and is used when the gardener needs to use the tool with a push stroke.
• α₃: The right side has a greater angle to make this a usable tool for also breaking up soil. If this tool is used only for scarification, then this angle should also be 25°.

These hoes have 2 sides which can be sharpened differently. If the gardener desires two separate angles, these are recommended

• α₁: The near side is sharpened with a larger angle so the tool can be used for clearing out bigger weeds using the pull stroke.
• α₂: The far side is sharpened to the at a smaller angle to make the push stroke easier when removing typical weeds.

Some gardeners choose to keep the push and pull sides the same as they use a scarifing or shuffling motion to weed the garden or walk.

Alternate Dutch Hoe Design

These can be found with a long handle for use when standing, or with a shorter handle for use when kneeling or seated. If sharpening the shorter handled hoe, consider sharpening the under side if the angle for use of this hoe merits it.

Also known as or called a Dutch Hoe. In some cases, the design is not exactly the same, but it is sharpened the same way.

These hoes have 3 sides in a form of a triangular shape, and all 3 sides can be sharpened differently. There is a triangular shape towards the user, and a flat side away from the user.

• α₁: The shorter edge on the user's left side is sharpened for a heavier use.
• α₂: The user's right side is sharpened for typical use.
• α₃: The side away from the user is sharpened the same as as α₂. This side is used much like the far side on the stirrup hoe.

Depending on the user's handedness (left vs. right), the values for & α₂ could be swapped for easier use.

Warren hoes are typically used for weeding or creating a furrow for planting. This hoe has two edges to be sharpened, opening up some nice opportunities for the gardener as one side can be at a different angle than the other. My experience has been that sharpening one side at the recommended 25° and the other at 35° makes it a more versatile tool.

Depending on the user's handedness (left vs. right), the values for α₁ & α₂ could be swapped for easier use.