4 min read
As a garden writer and someone who’s passionate about digging in the dirt, I’m constantly looking for products that make yard chores more efficient. While I have a shed full of tools, there’s one I turn to again and again.
While there’s no substitute for a heavy-duty garden spade for big jobs such as planting a tree or moving a shrub from one location to another, there’s another tool I keep close at hand whenever I’m gardening. This small handheld implement is probably the most-used in my arsenal.
Fitting neatly into a sheath that attaches to my belt, this garden tool is the most versatile you’ll ever use. Whether you’re planting seedlings or harvesting pumpkins, the tool I find the most adaptable is my hori hori, or traditional Japanese garden knife. The name itself means “dig dig,” with “hori hori” supposedly being the sound of digging in the earth.
This ancient tool has an interesting history. “No one knows when the first hori hori was made, but in Japan the tool is known as sansai hori, which translates as ‘mountain vegetable digger’ and traditionally it was used to harvest wild mountain vegetables,” says Jake Hobson, founder and CEO of Niwaki, which sources traditional garden tools from Japan. These plants would include edibles such as fiddlehead ferns growing in the woods and fields around the villages.
Local blacksmiths, or nokaji, made tools for the farmers and craftsmen. “It’s highly likely that a crudely sharpened iron blade was used for harvesting, possibly from as early as when iron-working skills came from Korea and China during the early Yayoi period, roughly 900 BCE to 248 CE,” says Hobson. “The hori hori we recognize today is a post–World War II product made in modernized factories for consumers.”
Ahead, read on to learn more about this tool that’s indispensable in my garden.
What Is a Hori Hori? (And How to Choose One)
A hori hori is a garden knife that has a long blade, sometimes with one serrated side and one straight edge. The blade is roughly 6 to 7 inches long. Many professionals in the industry say some of the finest blades are made in Japan from carbon steel, which can be sharpened periodically (this also means the tool lasts longer and won’t end up in the landfill after one season).
The handle typically is wooden, molded composite, or plastic. Some blades have depth markings, which can be useful when doing tasks such as planting bulbs.
When choosing one, the handle should feel secure and solid in your hand. I have small hands, and I’ve found some don’t feel good when I grasp them. Try out a few so you find one that’s comfortable and fits well in your hand.
I also prefer a hori hori that comes with a holster so I can attach it to my garden belt for easy access—and safety. You don’t want a huge, unsheathed knife just thrown into your garden tote! The holster also protects the blade.
8 Ways to Use a Hori Hori in Your Garden
While a hori hori doesn’t replace every tool in your bag, it is an excellent addition to your collection. It’s also not an expensive tool, considering the many different uses you’ll find for it. Here’s how I use mine, but you’re sure to find other ways to put it to work in your own garden:
1. Create furrows to direct seed in the garden.
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Use the tip of the knife to make a mini-trough at the correct depth for your seeds. Sprinkle the seeds into the channel, then use the knife to cover the seeds lightly with soil.
2. Plant young seedlings and small bulbs.
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Push the knife in the soil, wiggle it to make a tiny hole, then drop the seedling or bulb in. It’s especially handy for small six-packs of seedlings or tiny bulbs such as crocuses or grape hyacinth.
3. Cut open bags of mulch and potting mix. 
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I’ve used my multi-knife for this task, but I find it’s quicker and easier to pull the hori hori out of its sheath, slash the bag open, then pop the tool back into its holster.
Related Story4. Slice through twine for tying up vines and tomato plants. 
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It’s quick work to cut through twine when working on vines. And you don’t need to carry a pair of scissors to do it.
5. Harvest squashes and other veggies with tough stems.
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You never want to pull these fruits off the vine or you risk damaging the plant. The knife cuts easily through thick stems.
6. Saw through roots when dividing perennials.
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Nothing else I’ve found is as efficient for cutting through the fibrous roots of well-established perennials, such as Siberian irises. It’s sturdy enough to get through even the toughest chunks of perennials.
Related Story7. Dig out weeds.
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The pointy tip is especially useful for weeds with deep tap roots such as dandelions. It’s also handy for lifting weeds out of raised beds, especially in my cutting garden, which is up against my shed. The knife increases my reach, allowing me to access weeds at the back of the bed.
8. Remove garden pests such as slugs. 
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Sorry, slugs and other voracious garden visitors! It’s the perfect tool for dispatching these hungry pests when they’re chowing down on my hostas or kale.