Weeds drive me to distraction, and although I haven’t had my usual amount to remove this year — all thanks to a hot, dry summer — as soon as it rains, they spring back up. Although I’d prefer to spend my time tending to my plants and lawn, those pesky weeds need to be removed, as I can’t relax when they rear their ugly heads.
It’s for this reason that I’m always on the lookout for a weeding tool that will make removing weeds easier and save me time, so I can get on with the garden tasks I’d prefer to be doing. Despite trying various methods to prevent weeds from invading my yard, they remain tough to conquer.
I’ve recently been using CobraHead’s weeder, $34 at Amazon, which doubles up as a cultivator. However, it’s a hand-weeding tool, so if you’re looking for something to save your back, like my colleague Mike Prospero, you’ll be better off trying Grampa’s Weeder, which is a stand-up weed puller with a long handle, and it's currently reduced to $39 at Amazon.
CobraHead Original Weeder: First impressions
I’ve been using the CobraHead weeding tool for a few weeks, and I’m impressed so far. It’s incredibly easy to use, comfortable to hold, and tackles even the toughest weeds with long roots.
I was a little shocked when the weeder was delivered. It looks a bit lethal, and it only came packaged in a brown envelope. Fear aside, the head of the tool has a sturdy plastic cover, so there was no chance of anyone getting injured during its journey.
I was also a bit put off by the bright blue handle, as it’s not quite the normal color used within gardening tools, but I soon discovered it’s made from recycled plastic, hence the unusual color and slightly speckled patterned effect.
What’s more, it’s always handy (pardon the pun) to have a yard tool in a bright color, as it’s easy to spot if it gets chucked in the compost by mistake. I discovered this advantage when I was using Burgon & Ball’s red-colored gardening trowel.
The main part of the tool is the curved forged steel blade, which features a design that resembles a cobra’s head, hence the name. And according to the company’s promotional video, the design of the blade replicates those used in old cultivating hoes.
A weeding tool and more
Although my main purpose was to find a weeding tool, the CobraHead weeder does so much more. Apart from being an excellent weeder — I found it tackled roots of small and large weeds with ease — it can also be used as a cultivator. If you’re looking for a tool to plow through tough soil, this could be what you need. And, it’s ideal if you want to make a furrow to plant seeds or transplant seedlings.
What’s more, it’s a tough cookie, and it feels solid and robust without any chance of snapping when you’re ripping through rough and stony ground. In fact, the blade is described on the packaging label as a “steel fingernail”.
Despite being tough, it’s comfortable to hold and it doesn't feel heavy or top-heavy. In fact, it feels well balanced, and it weighs 9oz and measures 13 inches in length.
It also has a hole at the end of the handle, so you can hang it up neatly in your yard shed or garage, without it creating clutter.
Overall, I really enjoyed using the CobraHead weeder, and it tackled tough ground without me exerting too much energy. However, I did need to use a garden kneeling mat in areas where I had a lot of weeds to tackle. So, if your knees play up too, you could try CobraHead's Long Handle Weeder & Cultivator, which is $89.95 at Amazon.
I'd also recommend that you wear a pair of the best gardening gloves when you're weeding. I was wearing the Vermont Glove Flatlander gardening gloves while testing the weeder, and I'll be reporting on them within the next few weeks.
More from Tom's Guide
- Best pruning shears
- 7 tips to banish weeds from your lawn that won't harm the grass
- 7 mistakes you’re making when pulling weeds
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