This little tool doesn’t really look like much, but this is one of the most amazing little tools that I’ve ever used for weeding. You can even use it for digging small plants.
It’s call a Gama Hoe.
This little Gama Hoe is my new best friend.
Gama Hoe
Where can you buy one of these? They are available from a lot of different places on line. Let’s see if I can post an Amazon affilate link here:
Questions? Comments?
Mike – I saw your videos on the Easy Digger and the Gamma Hoe. Are they interchangable or are they both different? Thanx
Pete
Pete,
They are very different tools used for different things. I like them both a lot!
Hi Mike,
I have been using this type of hoe for about 3 years, and you are right on! They are wonderful. I bought mine at a place called Patchwork Perennials south of Hartford City, IN on State Highway 3. They have tons of daylily varieties. email is [email protected] if anyone is interested. -bj-
Nice little tool. Thanks for sharing your knowledge Mike. You are a true Gent.
Thanks Mike- nice tool! would be nice with a ,longer handle. Blessings,Donna lee
Hey Donna,
I’ve been using a tool called a SCUPPER HOE for about 40 years. It does the same job as the Gama Hoe, except that it is designed to attach to the end of a 4-5′ pole. Keeps me from having to get down on my knees and strain my back.
the little Nejiri Gama Hoe is my favorite!!! You can also buy it at http://www.gardenshoponline.com and it’s a paltry $12. I don’t know what I would do without it.
Great stuff Mike! Love your sense of humor too!! 🙂
You should have a link here….so you can get a commission…since you were nice enough to tell us about it…it would be nice for you to get credit for it. These ppl are going to make a lot of money on your trusted recommendation…you should be getting some kind of commission.
Thanks for your wonderful info.
Thanks Mike I’m going to get one right now!!
I am glad you took off your gloves after the video for the picture so we could all see your purple finger nails. LOL Great tool. Thanks for showing it off- We see things like this in catalogs, etc but how do we know how well they work? Thanks!
Mike, that’s why I took the gloves off!
9 degrees is positively TROPICAL ! Up here in Minne-snow-ta we’ve had minus teens at night & -35 wind chills. That’ll freeze your coffee right quick ! And worried about my perennials too. We’ve had a “snow drought” this winter & often have bare ground with these cold temps. Did put the usual 6″ of bark mulch on the perennial bed last fall. But is there anything else I can do during winter to protect the plants from winter kill & hungry rabbits ?
C. Dorr, cold temps can easily permeate the ground with no snow cover. You can spray your plants this a hot sauce mixed with a transpirant to deter the rabbits. One transpirant that I know is called vapor guard.
I am still using wooden handled garden tools that I got from my grandfather and I am 60 years old and I know these tools are at least that old. The trick to keep the handles from rotting is to rub boiled linseed oil on the wood twice a year. once at the spring when tou start gardening and once in the fall when you put them away. Also, try to get some oil down in the sleeve where the metal meets the wood, this is the spot where I see other peoples tools break.
Mike, I love your posts. How about a post on tool maintenance?
Charlie, thanks for tip, we need to work on that tip about tool maintenance.
I love this tip! But I do have a question… Why must the linseed oil be boiled?
Jan Vafa
Redmond WA
From Google:
“Raw Linseed Oil helps wood retain its natural moisture content which retards cracking, checking, shrinking, and aids water repellency. Boiled Linseed Oil contains driers to speed film drying and hardness. Linseed oil without this additive can take over a week to dry.”
I bought one at my local Ace Hardware store for $12, and then found it at the local feed and grain for $10. I love it.
Hi, I just saw Mikes video today Sat 1/26 on this gama tool weeder and when I went to the link he posted to be able to purchase it, the link said the tool was unvailable and they didn’t know when it would be available to purchase. I live in Connecticut, does anyone know where you can buy this tool in CT and how much it costs? It looks like a pretty nifty tool! Thanks for any and all information!
Susan,
Just search google, I’ve seen it in other places.
The handle on my old hula hoe broke and I use it constantly while on my wheeled cart with a tractor seat, works wonderfully!
I bought one a few yrs. ago. It works GREAT!
Heh, I have one of those! It *is* a great little weeding tool! I got mine at Big Lots – sometimes they have the greatest gardening tools for a lot less than you’d pay at a home and garden megastore.
Thanks, Mike!
Hi Mike, I saw the hoe demo and it looks really useful. I do need a new garden tool like this and thanks for the info on where to get one!
I have had one of these for several years and wore the handle off. Love It!! I bought it at a garage sale and never knew what it was called. I have searched for a long time for a replacement in the garden stores here in my area but cannot find anything like it. Thanks for the clip and the name and all the links you guys supplied. Now I can get a new one for this spring!
I have one. ABSOLUTELY MY FAVORITE TOOL!
Nice tool. More helpful info. You are the man Mike, thanks for your help. Question. What can I use to rid my recently planted grass of weeds without hurting my grass?
Corey, once your grass is at least 90 days old you can apply weed & feed with broadleaf weed control. Read the bag just to make sure I’m right about that.
Mike I have had one of these for about 15 yrs. I absolutely love it. I got it at the Cincinnati Garden Show .
My handle finally gave out and I have to get another one, so thank you for finding out where to get one.
This is really the best garden tool!
I agree that a long handle would save our backs…I just use a sharp long handle hoe and long handle 4 prong fork hoe also works great!
I spoke to soon! Here you go my fellow south paws.
http://www.shovelandhoe.com/Left_Handed_Nejiri_Gama_Hoe_13_inch_p/376.htm
I’m a professional gardener and I’m very jealous of my right handed coworkers who use these tool all the time. It’s time to give us lefties more options. Any chance you have more influence on a manufacturer than I do? If so please do something!
Donna, I wish I had that kind of clout!
neat hoe have to look for one……..
My favorite stand up type hoe is called a scuffle hoe. No gardener with a big plot could live without this thing once you’ve tried it. The head actually rotates back and forth. Just keep it nice and sharp. I’ve had a number of them over the years. Recommend a good fiberglass handle as the wood ones dont last. Found this one on amazon but you can find them almost anywhere. http://www.amazon.com/Hula-Scuffle-Long-Fiberglass-Handle/dp/B0055J4B0G/ref=pd_sim_sbs_lg_4
i made one something like that years ago even made along handle one because of bad knees
I bought this AWESOME tool YEARS ago at Kmart under the Martha Stewart label. When I went back to buy another one, they were sold out and they never replaced them. They’re hard to find locally, so if you find one, grab it. If you can’t find one, order one on the internet, they’re great.
Actually, for those of you who want a long-handled version at low cost, I took a broken hoe, when I needed to weed the Canadian thistle in my pasture, and used a file to file it down. It works great to get under stubborn deep roots and just pops them right out. Of course I filed it down on three sides. Hope it’s helpful!
Gee Mike , thanks for all the great news about NEW stuff. you do a super job I just wanted to compliment you on your manicure and polish Heehee have a great day keep warm it’s colder than cold here in the midwest.
Thanks Wilma, my nails seem to be getting a lot of attention!
I use a what they call a shuffle hoe which seems to do the same thing and I can stand up!
http://nadaladafarm.blogspot.com/2008/06/getting-to-know-shuffle-hoe.html
Try shovelandhoe.com for other variations of the Gama hoe and other tools from Nejri.
This is Warren Hoe in a single hand version!!
I had one of those with a long handle for years. It was my grandfather’s. I have no idea where he got it, maybe he made it himself. I just never knew what it was called, we just call it a triangle hoe.
For those who don’t want the up and down, you might want to take a look at this. It doesn’t have a full upright handle, but it looks like it gives you another foot or so, and the head looks similar.
http://www.amazon.com/F10-DeWit-Dutch-Hand-Hoe/dp/B001PHC3NO/ref=pd_sim_lg_4
I too, was noting the manicure! how do you keep your nails so nice?
Sherrym, I work on them every night. I’m obsessive about my nails! Thanks for asking!
I purchase a similar tool from A.M. Leonard (Piqua, Ohio, AMLEO.COM) and have used it in my perennial maintenance business since 2005. I bought the one with the 10 inch handle so I could get under low branching shrubs and trees. It’s a little bit more, $21.95, but worth it. It lasts forever, I just sharpen it when needed. Its value is right up there with my Felco pruners. There’s another little weeder called the Cape Cod weeder (amleo has this one too) that is similar but will let you get between tender little seedlings. I wouldn’t garden with out these.
apreciate you,thank you!
AM NOT ABLE TO DO ANY GARDENING BUT SURE ENJOY YOUR VIDEO’s an emails lets me know what i should have had in my days an makes me long
for those days when was able to do these things an would love to do today.
thanks mike
That looks cool, but I take the 3 prong garden tool, cut of the two outer ones and the middle one makes a great weed tool. you can go for those deep weeds next to a plant and not disturb the plant.
I love this! I frequently curse my long handled hoe when I am either working in tight spaces, or especially when I am on my hands and knees (which seems a lot). Thanks for the great tip and showing us how to use it!
I have one of these and it is my most absolute favorit tool. It’s the first thing I grab before heading to the garden, even before the shovel. I think you should invent a long handled one ! ! ! ! Just remember who gave you the idea.
They do make a long handled one. I have one. I bought it at a garden show. Cost around $25 -$30. Its great!
This is the only tool you’ll ever need in raised bed gardens. Mine are 4’x8′ and I can reach everything with this. It had to be invented by a gardener.
Mike,
You really need to get a wind screen for your microphone.
I get mine from Gig Wig Windscreens. A very nice lady named Shirley in Tennessee hand makes each one. The typical price I pay is $25.
website:
http://www.gigwigwindscreens.com/gigwigwindscreens.com/Home.html
Please tell Shirley I sent ‘ya.
Terry Thomas
Cinematographer
Atlanta, Georgia
Terry, I know you’re right. When outside I usually use a wireless mic that cuts way down on wind and traffic noise. But I forget, so thanks for reminding me!
Love to hear the wind lol. I have always wanted to be up North for just one winter. If you would like to spend a winter in Louisiana where you run AC from Jan. thru Dec. I would love to trade places with you lol. Seriously it is Jan. 24 th and my AC is on right now. :(. Oh and I am going to order me one of these babies right now!
Ruth, I’ll be in Louisiana in a few weeks, my youngest son and his wife are in Baton Rouge. Just bought their first house! This weekend they are here and freezing their stuff off! And it’s warm now. All the way up to 25 degrees. Few days ago it was 9 degrees.
I bought this “Nejiri Gama Hoe for Small hands” a couple of days ago from the Garden Tool Company for $13.95. With shipping the total cost was $19.85. Their website address is: http://www.gardentoolcompany.com . Prices on other gardening tools are very reasonable!
I would like to have one with a longer hoe like handle.
I’ve had one of these for two years and I use it every time I’m in my garden. Love it!
and for you bargan hunters i got mine at walmart
nice manicure, Mike!
Thanks Bev, I might have been the one holding the camera! LOL
mike i have had one of those for a couple of yrs and it a great tool im glad you had your gloves on in the video that purple nail polish is just not you
Keith, it matched my socks!
Going to visit Amazon right now! Mary
LOOKS GREAT FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN EASILIY GET UP AND DOWN, HOW ABOUT A LONG HANDLED VERSION FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE TO WEED STANDING UP?
Richard, I’m not sure if they make a stand up version, but this tool works great when standing up. http://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2010/10/have-you-ever-seen-an-action-hoe/#
It probably would be cheaper to buy that one than buy a handle for this one. I am going to check it out.
I agree with you, I can’t do the up and down either.
Maybe we could put it into a long handle.
Hi there. There is a Korean long handled hoe that is very close in design, just a little more curved. I can’t get up and down either.. http://www.shovelandhoe.com/Long_Handle_Weeder_Cultivator_p/678.htm
Richard I just purchased and it arrived today from A M Leonards Horticultural Tool And Supply they have the short one for $19.95 and the long handled model for$23.99 they are called a E Z Digger tool and i purchased both of them along with a action hoe for easy cutting of weeds. they also have a coupon in their catalog for 50.00 if you spend a little more. either way the 3 tools i mentioned are great.
Frank: you were lucky. The long handle one now costs $34.95
There is an 18″ one through http://www.gardenshoponline.com. I thought a stand up model would be perfect so I bought one expecting big things. It doesn’t work. The blade isn’t at the right angle if you are standing up. The 18″ on is plenty long and it’s great in raised beds.
I HAVE TAPED TOOLS LIKE THAT TO A LONG HANDLE OF ANOTHER TOOL AND IT WORKS REALLY WELL
I’ve seen those but didn’t know how useful they would be until you posted this video. Thank you for keeping us informed! I plan to buy one this spring.
I actually have one very much like that, but mine has a longer handle. (about 16″) I find it useful for LOTS of things in the garden. I have found that it works much better if I keep it sharp. I absolutely love it. It is really my “gotta have” tool. Hope that helps!