Print This Page
An ordinary flat hoe — the only kind you see in most garden centers — is good for moving and smoothing soil. For weeding, though, the Hula Hoe (also called a stirrup or scuffle hoe) is a far better tool for the job. The sharp steel blade skims horizontally below the soil surface, slicing through weed roots while leaving the soil in place. The blade is designed to have a little play in it — the famous "hula wiggle" — so that it cuts at the correct angle on both backward and forward strokes.
- Sharp steel blade slices through weeds with ease
- Cuts on both the forward and back strokes
Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
from Emmaus, PA on 6/7/2011
Comments about Hula Hoe:
this is a great tool for getting all those small weeds that are just too numerous to pull by hand. Does a good job on dirt, not so much in mulch!
from harrisburg pa on 6/1/2011
Comments about Hula Hoe:
couldn't wait to receive and use this product! very easy to use and gets rid of weeds quickly and efficiently. cuts off weeds at the roots and leaved soil intact. great product!
from Silver Spring Maryland on 5/29/2011
Comments about Hula Hoe:
I'm still learning how to best use the hoe. I have a lot of weeds and vines to remove. I'm hoping this will be the answer. Usually I end up pulling and digging up the weeds.
from Southwest Nebraska on 5/3/2011
Comments about Hula Hoe:
Hula Hoe.
I went out this early evening afternoon after work and tried it out, and here are my observations, in no particular order:
-Having read about it online, the first thing I did to my new hoe was file it to sharpen it. I think that was a necessity, as the hoe comes pretty dull, like most things in this litigious society.
-My vineyard has some pretty strong new growth of extensive weeds, and they have not been treated with any chemicals or other ways thus far this new growing season.
-I only worked an area around each of maybe 17 trellised vines, clearing about a foot or more in a square around the vines.
-I was surprised to find that it cut better on the push stroke, although pulling was somewhat effective.
-I had started drip irrigation about 20 minutes prior, and found that in the wet areas, if the weeds were big, rather than shaving off at the base, the weeds tended to pull out by the roots. I think the dryer spots were easier.
-Like most things shown on video, it is not as magically easy as they make it look, but, it wasn't too bad, and I think that subsequent use of the Hula Hoe in the same areas will be a lot easier.
-Unless you have giant calluses in the palm of your, or just like pain, put some gloves on before you even start. I was not too smart and forgot gloves and had an almost immediate huge, peeling blister on my right hand from where I was pushing with the hoe end in my palm. A longer handle and maybe even a "D-ring" type of handle on the end would probably help.
-Like most products, it's probably made for users of "average" height. At about 6'1" I would have liked more handle, and maybe some padding, but I really didn't have to bend too much. I also could have probably been less aggressive with the force I used, and been able to stand up straighter, but I tend to be kind of aggressive.
-I have a small backyard vineyard, about 100 vines, and I wouldn't want to use the hoe on anything more than that! Even so, I had visions of scraping the whole vine rows with it, but I don't see that happening unless I no longer have a day job and also get a lot more energy.
-A lot of reviews I read complained that the user could not get close enough to the plants they were clearing around, but I was surprised to find that was almost entirely not the case. I could clear right up beside most of the vine trunks with confidence, with only a few spots that I'd have to pull by hand. Maybe it also helped that I sharpened it first.
-I've seen other brands on the net that look way sturdier, but it was OK. The metal hoe head is coned over the wood handle tip, with a single nail holding it on, so I anticipate one day I'll have to put in a more robust screw or something.
-Due to the shallow cuts it makes, I had no worries about damaging the roots on my young (just starting third season of growth) grape vines.
-My sister bought one after I suggested it, and she said "It changed my life!" (For the better).
-All in all, I think it is a pretty good tool, and it should save me some expense from not having to use chemicals, and I don't have to worry about chemical exposure for me or the dogs when using the hoe for weed control. I don't think it's the answer for everyone, but for the backyard vineyardist like me, I'm glad to have it.
-Bret
from Scott Depot, WV on 5/3/2011
Comments about Hula Hoe:
I am a very small lady with back problems and this hoe has worked so well for me. It allows you to just skim newly planted areas or really go to work around bigger plants. I actually bought it for my husband, but it is my new favorite garden tool. He hasn't used it yet!!!
from duluth, mn on 4/14/2011
Comments about Hula Hoe:
We cannot work in the garden yet in Duluth.....topsoil getting soft, still frozen deep though, my raised beds are almost ready to go
from Illinois on 1/17/2011
Comments about Hula Hoe:
I really like how these get under the soil to cut the weeds. Much better than bending over and pulling. I have more control with this and dont accidentialy hit my plants like I do with a hoe.
from Camillus, NY on 10/13/2010
Comments about Hula Hoe:
Hard to get in between when plants are close. I think the soil conditions have a big effect.
from Iowa on 8/10/2010
Comments about Hula Hoe:
I already commented on these things under con, but I'm tall so a longer handle would be beneficial for me and a large length of rubberized tip would prevent blizzards because sometimes, if a person has large weeds with long roots like we're getting this year due to so much rain, one really has to pull hard to get the weed loose.
from Mass on 7/26/2010
Comments about Hula Hoe:
I REALLY love this hoe -- I wish I had found it years ago!! It works just as described, but is much easier and more effiecient than I had imagined. The only con is that it is somewhat lightweight -- when it wears out however, I will just buy another!!!
from outside Philadelphia on 7/20/2010
Comments about Hula Hoe:
This hoe is perfect for what I needed. The maple seeds from my neighbors tree almost covered my flower beds. With this hoe the weeded was done effortlessly
from Parish, N.Y. on 7/5/2010
Comments about Hula Hoe:
This tool is great!, very easy to use, no bending over, hardly any effort to use, and fast!!...along with the use of the Winged Weeder, there's nothing else needed for weed removal in any garden. These two tools, will cut down your weeding time in half....don't wait. Gardeners Supply, is great to do business with!
from austin, tx on 6/29/2010
Comments about Hula Hoe:
does not perform on back and forth movement, not sharp, not heavy. i will be going to my local garden supply shop to buy a sharper, heavy duty model. i like the concept but this light version maybe suited to very small new weeds. they grow fast and strong in texas.
from Richmond, Ky on 6/16/2010
Comments about Hula Hoe:
This year I had choke cherry tree seedlings coming up everywhere. In my gardens, mulch around plants and even in my potted planters. There were thousands!! Using this tool I could scrape it just under the soil and in the mulch to dislodge the seedling and I left them on the top to dry up and disappear.
from Valdosta, GA on 6/9/2010
Comments about Hula Hoe:
Decreases the amount of energy needed to hoe. Great way to cover a lot of ground. Ideally suited to my sandy soils.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
Comments about Hula Hoe:
I've had one of these for 5 years,It took a lot of hard back breaking work out of my gardening.
All that use it want one, you will too, they can
be hard to find at your local store..
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Everett, WA on 6/6/2010
Comments about Hula Hoe:
Makes weeding sooooo much easier & quicker. It scrapes the weeds @ the roots and then you pick them up. It works great for bigger areas & for under bushes/plants. I was very impressed with how well it worked.
from South Texas on 4/27/2010
Comments about Hula Hoe:
I think this is the best hoe ever invented. It is almost fun to use it, and weed out all those annoying grasses and trash weeds that come up in the garden and flower beds. It works best on dry soils.
from MA on 3/30/2010
Comments about Hula Hoe:
The back and forth rocking motion of the head takes all the strain off my back!!
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Hampton, VA on 3/22/2010
Comments about Hula Hoe:
I love this hoe! I no longer have to get down on my hands and knees to do battle with the weeds. It cuts forwards and backwards and cuts my weeding time in half! You can work the corners of it too, to get those stubborn little weeds that are too close to your plant for a regular hoe.