The Genius Tool That Removes Weeds Instantly

Most gardeners hate weeding, so any tool that makes the job easier is an easy sell. But how do you choose from the hundreds of tools available?

I’ve pulled together six of the most popular tools to put them through their paces – no sponsorship, just my own personal opinion – so let’s take a look at what might well become your new best friend in the garden!

CobraHead Original Weeder

The CobraHead website boldly claims it’s the ‘best tool in earth’ (see what they did there!) and I’m certainly warming to it since getting hold of mine. There’s a lovely story behind this: the CobraHead came to be about 20 years ago when its inventor was scratching at the ground with a five-tined cultivator hoe. One of the tines broke off, which he then used individually as a handy weeding tool – and the rest, as they say, is history.

It got its name from the distinctive snakehead shape. The handle is made from 100% recycled plastic, which is nice, and the whole thing’s made in Wisconsin. It feels really sturdy in the hand, and in use is very much like an extension of my arm – it feels like you’re at one with the soil, and the narrow head can squeeze in just about anywhere. There’s a mini version for even closer working, and a long-handled weeder to save the back.

I love the standard version’s ability to squeeze in between plants, and it’s the perfect size for working in my raised beds. Push it into the soil just behind your weed then pull it up towards you, and the weed comes nicely loose without disturbing nearby plants. This is one of this tool’s key strengths – it feels so precise.

Buy the CobraHead direct from the family-run company (can ship worldwide but may incur import taxes) or buy on Amazon* (may be more expensive, check local costs).

Wilkinson Sword Swoe-Style Hoe

The rest of the tools we’ll be looking at are long-handled tools, starting with the Swoe-Style Hoe from Wilkinson Sword. The polished stainless-steel head has not one but three angled edges along the sides of the blade, which means more slicing of those pesky weeds with just about any movement, in any direction! The handle is made from weatherproofed ash, which feels reassuringly solid in the hand.

It slices weeds on both the forwards and backwards motion of the head, and its pointed end makes it very handy for nudging into those tighter spots. It reminds me a bit of those super-flexible floor mops that seem to glide along and get into every nook and cranny. They’re really satisfying to use and, I have to say, this feels a lot like that, dancing across the soil surface and making short work of those weeds!

This works best on a dry day, skimming the soil surface to sever weed roots as it goes. I’d use this for controlling annual weeds that pop up here and there. Like all hoes, the blade will need sharpening from time to time to keep the edges slicing-sharp, but the result will be a very dependable tool that should last a long, long time. It even comes with a 10-year guarantee.

Buy the Wilkinson Sword Swoe-Style Hoe.

Corona Extended Reach 7-Tine Rake

This tool from Corona is intended more for raking and levelling than weeding. Its narrower head makes it perfect for using in smaller spaces like raised beds where a traditional rake might prove a little cumbersome. It comes with a lifetime warranty and feels pleasingly solid in the hand.

You could certainly use it like a traditional rake, but there is another way to use it! It can be hard to loosen the soil around great big clumps of weeds enough to remove them. That’s where this tool comes in. Stab it into the ground just behind a clumping weed, then yank it upwards to tear it from the soil. Then just give it a shake to dislodge most of the soil, and add it to your weed pile.

The great thing about using this tool for weeds like this is that it’s very easy to get all the root up along with the weed, which can be tricky for some of the narrower weeding tools we’ll be looking at shortly.

This tool is very comfortable to hold thanks to its gel-like, comfort-grip handle, and the head feels really well made. It’s early days, but I think the Corona 7-Tine Rake should become another go-to tool for those stubborn, hard to dig-out weeds.

Buy the Corona Extended Reach 7-Tine Rake*.

Greena EZE Weeder

Next up not one, but three tools to test on those hard-to-remove weeds that have long taproot, like dandelions. First, the Greena EZE Weeder. It’s the closest tool to the more famous Grampa’s Weeder, which I couldn’t get hold of in my country. But the concept’s the same: spear the pronged head over the weed and lever it out. The original Grampa’s Weeder was first built in 1913, so this style of weeder is certainly tried and tested.

The EZE Weeder is a handsome beast with a long bamboo handle and four claw-like prongs made of cast iron. Aim for the dead centre of the weed and thrust the prongs squarely over the top. You can use the footplate at the side to push it in a little deeper. Then simply lean the handle to one side to ease out the weed and its long taproot.

These sorts of weeding tools are marketed primarily for controlling lawn weeds like dandelion and thistle. Now I don’t mind the odd ‘weed’ in my lawn because their flowers are good for wildlife like bees, but if you do hanker after an immaculate lawn, I reckon this is the way to do it: no nasty weedkillers, just a little minimal and, I have to say, very satisfying effort with this thing!

The EZE Weeder feels really well built, and while it’s got one moving part, it seems like it will last a really long time. It feels simple but effective, and I like that!

Buy the Grampa's Weeder*.

Walensee Weed Puller

Directly competing in the same space as the Grandpa’s Weeder/Greena EZE Weeder is the Walensee Weed Puller. I’ve got a feeling this could make weeding rather fun because it looks, feels and sort of acts a lot like a pogo stick!

Again, the idea is to aim the three stainless steel prongs centrally over your weed, then push it down using the pedal. Twist it, and pull up your weed. You can then eject the weed using the plunger at the top – no bending or hard toiling required.

I do find that it pulls up a lot of soil around the roots, which would leave larger holes in your lawn. There are also more moving parts than the Greena EZE Weeder, so time will tell if that leads to complications. But it feels well made, and I reckon could really speed up weeding.

Buy the Walensee Weed Puller*.

Kent & Stowe Corkscrew Weeder

My final weeding tool doesn’t have any moving parts. Instead, it uses a corkscrew head to dig out the weed, working a bit like an auger. With a stainless steel head and sleek T-grip handle made from ash, it’s definitely winning in the looks department.

Pop it over the top of a tap-rooted weed, then twist clockwise as if opening a bottle of wine (which might well be just reward for all this weeding!). Keep twisting til you can’t go any deeper, then pull to hoik the entire weed and its roots out.

It’s a good tool, but I reckon the others have it beat. I think the main issue is getting the weed out of the corkscrew coil – that’s a lot more involved than either shaking or pushing it out like our other two weeders for tap-rooted plants. I’m also a little concerned that all that twisting will put a lot of pressure on the union between the head and handle, potentially damaging it, although having said that it does come with a 15-year guarantee – that’s pretty impressive!

Buy the Kent & Stowe Corkscrew Weeder*.

So Which Weeder is the Best?

All of these tools work, and each has its own strengths. For close working the CobraHead is my favorite, because it makes it easy to work naturally and fluidly in the tightest of spaces. The Swoe-Style Hoe gives unparalleled flexibility for hoeing off smaller annual weeds at soil level. Hard-to-tackle clumps are made short work of by the Corona 7-Tine Rake, while it’s the Greena EZE Weeder that wins out of the tools designed for easing out weeds with a long tap root out of lawns.

I hope you’ve found this all useful. I know that armed with this lot, weeding’s going to turn from a chore to a pleasure!

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