Hori Hori Explained: The Best Japanese Gardening Knife Guide
Lee Burkhill: Award Winning Designer & BBC 1's Garden Rescue Presenters Official Blog
Now I know what you're thinking, but you don't need to be a Samurai to use one or train with a Sensei gardener for years on a remote Japanese island. Once you've got the hang of using a hori hori, I guarantee you'll never look back!
Whilst the Hori Hori gardening knife may look quite brutal they're remarkably easy to use. I've put together this handy guide to help explain why every gardener should consider using a Hori Hori!
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A Hori Hori is a Japanese gardening knife usually with a wooden handle. They either have a smooth or sometimes serrated blade and the blade is usually on a curve or bevelled. Usually, they are made of carbon steel which can be cleaned, sharpened and maintained for years.
The Hori Hori comes from the term 'to dig' in Japanese and that is something that a hori hori does very effectively! They are used for various gardening purposes, from weeding to excavating with precision.
Often hori hori ホリホリ is referred to as 'dig dig' when translated.
The hori hori, also known as a Japanese soil knife or digging knife, has a rich history rooted in Japanese gardening traditions. The tool was originally developed in Japan for gardeners and farmers to perform various tasks in the garden, from digging and planting to weeding and cutting.
The design of the hori hori is believed to have originated from a traditional Japanese tool called the "ne hori," which was used for digging narrow trenches in soil and planting rice seedlings. Over time, the design evolved to incorporate a wider blade with a serrated edge on one side, making it more versatile for gardening tasks.
The hori hori gained popularity in Japan for its practicality and effectiveness in the garden. Its sharp blade pointed tip, and sturdy construction made it ideal for cutting through soil, roots, and tough weeds, while its concave shape allowed for easy scooping and digging.
In recent years, the hori hori has gained international recognition and popularity among gardeners around the world. Its versatility, durability, and ergonomic design make it a valuable tool for both professional landscapers and home gardeners. Today, the hori hori remains an essential part of Japanese gardening heritage and continues to be used and appreciated by gardeners worldwide.
There are multiple uses for a Hori Hori, which is why they are so popular. They are a super versatile garden tool, and I use mine all the time. In fact, I wouldn't garden without a Hori Hori!
The hori hori is a gardening hand tool that enables you to dig, cut, move and extract from the ground in really swift and efficient movements. It's a lightweight knife that you can carry with you in the garden on a holster or in your gardening bucket. The hori hori requires very little maintenance other than a clean and the occasional sharpening.
The main uses for a Japanese gardening hori hori are:
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Weeding with the Hori Hori couldn't be simpler. I don't know about you but I used to use those fiddly long thin weeders which often missed the root completely. The Hori Hori allows you to quickly and cleanly dig up weeds with minimal effort even removing the root at the same time.
I use it like a corkscrew action to twist around the roots of the weeds. Then like magic the weeds pop out! To read more on organic weeding techniques make sure you check out my guide here.
For anyone who grows their own digging drills is a preferred method for sowing lettuce, peas or root crops. With the Hori Hori you can use the sharp edge to drag out neat drills in cultivated soil. The blade is concave, meaning that it can help excavate a clean drill into the soil, saving time and effort!
A neat trick of the Japanese gardening knife is to quickly and carefully excavate soil from around roots or other structures. You can do this really precisely and with far more care than a trowel or spade. Then once you've cleaned around the roots you can use a knife or hacksaw to cut out the offending root!
The Hori Hori is also a really useful tool for planting plug plants, bulbs and bedding in record time. It can excavate small amounts of soil, perfect for plug plants.
It means you don't have to keep switching from tool to tool either! Great for 9cm plants, spring bulbs, plug plants or home-propagated seedlings!
Simply dig using the hori hori to create a hole big enough for either the bulb or the plug plant. Pop it in, backfill and then water the plant. Simple!
It couldn't be simpler. Rinse in cold water and wipe clean with a cloth. That's it!
If it does need some TLC using some Camellia oil and cloth can help, rubbing a small amount across the blade to protect it and prevent any rusting. The Hori Hori can also be sharpened with a tool file which helps keep it sharp to slice through those obstacles.
Keeping your gardening tools clean and sharp will ensure they last a lifetime and it's good practice to ensure they are ready to use the next time you need them.
You don't want to be walking about wielding a knife when gardening, not only may it scare the neighbours but it's much safer to use a holster. I'd highly recommend a garden holster to enable you to safely stow the blade until you need it.
It means you can have it with you for when you need it but it keeps both hands free for other gardening-related activities! The holster certainly gives you a John Wayne / Kill Bill-style feel when in the garden!
Choosing a hori hori is relatively simple, though you'll be met by hundreds when looking online. It seems like many manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon. Rather than recommend an exact brand of hori hori here are my top buying tips when choosing a hori hori.
Whilst I'm a total Hori Hori convert and use mine all the time in the garden here at Garden Ninaj HQ they are not for everyone. So let's take a close look at the benefits and drawbacks of using a hori hori in the garden:
Overall, the hori hori is a highly useful and practical tool for gardeners, offering a wide range of benefits despite a few drawbacks. With proper care and handling, it can become an indispensable part of any gardener's toolkit.
All in all the Hori Hori can save you lots of time and effort if used correctly. Having it holstered on you in the garden means you're always prepared for pesky weeds or minor tweaks to your flower beds. It can be used for a number of functions, from weeding and digging to root cutting, without the need for multiple tools. If cleaned and cared for, it should last a lifetime.
Don't be concerned that it looks lethal; with all tools, if kept correctly it will become your best friend. I've even known people to use them to open tins of paint, and beer bottles and loosen root-bound plants from pots. What a multitool!
All hail the Hori Hori!
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Hiya,,
Yes, I think I definitely need one of these (and not just for my zombie apocalypse arsenal). Looks like a handy item as we have a large garden and often find ourselves trudging to the other end of the garden to get another tool to get rid of that giant weed that suddenly appeared, or poke in a self-seeded plant in a more appropriate place.
They don’t seem to be very common here; any suggestions on suppliers? I would ask my peoples who go to Japan on occasion, but I don’t see that happening for a long while!
Hi Lisa, I purchased a Hori Hori from the ‘Orange’ big box home improvement store a few years ago and have loved it! I have now them for my 3 adult gardening daughters! I hope you have found one but now. 😊