So I didn’t really plan on buying another tool, I mean I already got a shed full of junk that barely works, some bent trowels, a plastic fork thing I thought would “do the job” but broke in two seconds. But anyway, I saw this Fiskars steel garden knife online and it looked kinda mean, like halfway between a machete and something you’d cut steak with, so I said yeah ok maybe this can finally deal with the crabgrass in my walkway that laughs at me every summer.
Pulling it out of the package, first thought was dang, this feels solid. Heavy enough you notice, not too much tho. The blade thick, not that flimsy tinny kind that bends first use. They even put a hole in the handle for hanging but let’s be honest, I’ll just toss it back in the shed with everything else and forget about it. Still looks cool.
First test was a dandelion, fat one, growing right in the cracks where the mower don’t reach. Jammed the knife down, twisted, whole root came up. I stared at it like wow… normally I break the root in half and then it grows back stronger like it’s out to spite me. This time nope, gone. That moment felt good, stupidly good actually.
But I did mess it up once—tried to dig with it like a shovel ‘cause I was too lazy to grab the right tool. Hit a rock, nearly sprained my wrist, learned my lesson. Not the knife’s fault, I just use things wrong sometimes. After that I kept it to planting onions and slicing through soil, and honestly it glides better than my old crooked trowel.
The serrated edge on the side—at first I thought yeah whatever, gimmick. Turns out I used it more than I expected. Cut through a nasty root ball, ripped open a bag of mulch when scissors were nowhere, even sliced a piece of twine I’d tied too tight around the tomato cage. Stuff like that makes me like it more.
I also tested it on this patch of crabgrass that kept coming back right at the corner of my fence. Normally I just yank at it and the top breaks off, but with the knife I got the whole tangled mess out, roots and all. Haven’t seen it grow back yet, and that’s saying something. Used it again when I was redoing the herb bed, cut out a clump of mint that had gone rogue. Mint spreads like it owns the yard, but the knife let me slice through the runners clean.
Now the handle… it’s fine, comfy at first, but after a while my palm got sore. Should’ve been wearing gloves but I wasn’t. One Saturday I was on a roll and went after weeds along the driveway for almost an hour. By the end, my hand had a little red mark where the handle pressed. Not a deal breaker, but something I noticed. And yeah, I dropped it once—it nicked the side of my shoe, not deep but enough to remind me this thing ain’t a toy. Sharp steel, respect it.
Funny enough, I even used it to plant bulbs. Pushed it down, wiggled a little, popped out enough dirt to stick the tulip bulbs in. Way faster than hunting for my bulb planter. And when I tried to edge a small strip by the garden bed, it worked okay too—not as crisp as an actual edger but good enough when I was too lazy to go fetch another tool.
Here’s how it stacks up against the junk I used before:
| Tool | What’s good | What sucks |
|---|---|---|
| Fiskars Steel Garden Knife | Tough blade, pulls roots whole, serrated edge actually useful, cuts through runners and root balls | Handle sore after long use, not a shovel so don’t treat it like one |
| Cheap plastic weeders | Super light | Break instantly, don’t get deep roots |
| Old rusty trowel | Works in soft dirt | Bends, useless in cracks, annoying as heck |
My neighbor borrowed it once—he usually just sprays Roundup on everything. Came back an hour later, wouldn’t shut up about it. Said he’s buying one ‘cause “it’s faster than spraying.” I told him good, maybe he’ll stop killing half the grass while he’s at it.
And here’s a dumb one: I used it to scrape moss out between the patio stones. Took a while, but it was weirdly satisfying watching the moss peel up in strips. Same with poking out little weeds that grew in the cracks of my driveway—stuff too stubborn for fingers, too small for the shovel.
Me, I kinda love that it makes weeding almost… fun? Not fun-fun, but like less miserable. Instead of ignoring the weeds until they’re outta control, I find myself pulling a few every time I walk past the garden. Feels like I finally got the upper hand instead of being the guy who loses to dandelions.
So yeah, bottom line, if you’re tired of breaky plastic tools or fighting with weeds that come back like they own the place, this knife’s worth it. Not perfect, not magic, but strong, sharp, and reliable. Best for stubborn weeds, cracked sidewalks, replanting herbs that misbehave, or anyone sick of babying cheap gear. For me it’s the first tool in a while that actually earned a spot in my regular rotation.
