The first time I used it was to dig a hole for transplanting a pepper plant. My soil isn’t the nice fluffy kind you see on gardening shows—it’s stubborn, packed clay with just enough rocks to drive you mad. I shoved the trowel in, leaned on it a little, waiting to hear that awful creak of metal giving way. Didn’t happen. The blade sank in, hit a rock, and instead of bending, it just kinda chipped past it. That was when I thought, okay, maybe this one’s worth keeping around.

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The handle is what stood out next. It’s chunky but not clumsy, with this slight curve that makes it easier to push down without wrecking your wrist. I used to end up with this sore spot at the base of my thumb after planting a bunch of seedlings with my old trowel. With this Fiskars one, I planted two trays of tomatoes in one go, and my hand didn’t feel like it had been through a war. That’s worth mentioning, because when you’re crouched in the dirt for an hour, tiny things like grip comfort start to matter.

A couple of days later, I tested it in wet soil after a big rain. Usually, that’s when trowels stick and pull out big clumps, making more of a mess than a hole. But this one sliced through the muck pretty clean. I did end up flinging mud halfway up my leg, but that’s more on me than the tool. It actually felt solid, even when the ground was slippery.

I’ve used it for more than just planting. Scooped compost out of a bag, pried up a stubborn dandelion root, even used the edge to slice through some landscaping fabric I laid down last year. It’s not a knife, but it got the job done without shredding the blade. I’ve even used it like a makeshift scoop to refill the bird feeder when I couldn’t find the scoop. Not what it’s made for, but it worked fine.

And here’s the thing—it hasn’t bent, dulled, or wobbled at the handle. For me, that’s the real test, because I’m not gentle with tools. If I buy something labeled “heavy duty,” I expect it to take a beating. And this one has so far.

Now, if I had to pause and lay it out plain, here’s how I’d call it:

Pros

• Strong blade that doesn’t bend when you hit rocks.
• Ergonomic handle actually saves your wrist on long planting days.
• Bright color makes it easy to find when you drop it.
• Works for more than digging—compost, roots, even slicing through fabric.
• Holds up in wet and rocky soil without warping.

Cons

• The hanging hole feels pointless if you’re not the neat-and-tidy type.
• The handle design is comfortable, but if your hands are small, it might feel a bit bulky.

The hanging hole at the end? Yeah, in theory that’s great, but let’s be honest—I’ve never hung a tool neatly in my life. Mine ends up tossed in a bucket or left on the edge of a raised bed until I need it again. So that feature doesn’t do much for me. And the bright orange handle? It looks a bit like a toy, but at least I can spot it in the grass when I inevitably drop it.

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I used it again during fall cleanup, pulling out dried marigolds and some half-dead zinnias. Normally, that’s when my cheap trowels crack because the roots are tougher than they look. But this Fiskars one dug them up without a fuss. I also carved out a shallow trench for sprinkling grass seed, just dragging the blade along the topsoil. It left a neat little line, which made it easier than raking for small patches.

It’s not flawless. The handle feels a little oversized when I’m wearing gloves, and once or twice, it slipped when my hands were sweaty. Not a big deal, but worth noting. Still, I’d take that over the aching wrist I used to get with my old straight-handled trowel.

All in all, this thing has become my go-to hand tool. I don’t have to baby it, and I don’t worry every time I hit a rock. If you’ve got sandy, light soil, maybe you could get by with something cheaper. But if you’re digging in clay, rocky patches, or just want something that won’t bend after a month, this Fiskars Ergo Trowel is worth it.

It’s not glamorous, it doesn’t fold up or have fancy measurements etched on the blade, but it works. And in the garden, that’s all I really ask for.

The post Fiskars Ergo Garden Trowel Heavy Duty Gardening Hand Tool Review first appeared on Snow To Soil.

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.

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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.

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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:

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.

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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.

The post Fiskars Steel Garden Knife, Multi-Purpose Weed Puller Gardening Tool Review first appeared on Snow To Soil.

When the box showed up, I kinda laughed—it felt like Christmas for grown-ups who play in dirt. Inside was the whole kit: veggie shears, seed sower, trowel, cultivator, weeder, and gloves big enough to make me feel like I was about to weld a car. Everything looked shiny and solid, not like the cheap bendy tools I’d been buying and breaking every summer.

First test was lettuce and carrots. Normally I just dump a bunch of seeds in and pray, but that orange seed sower thing? Weirdly fun. Twist the dial, shake, little seeds actually fall where you want them. The trowel got its chance too when I hit a nasty clay patch. With my old junk tools I’d be cussing and bending handles, but this one dug in clean like it actually wanted to work.

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Now, it ain’t perfect. Those gloves—fit me fine, but my wife tried ‘em and said they looked like oven mitts swallowing her hands. The weeder’s handle? Wish it was longer. My knees were screaming after a while, but man it did yank a dandelion out root and all, which felt way too satisfying.

The cultivator surprised me. With my old plastic one, I’d be sore after 10 minutes, but this Fiskars version felt balanced, easy. After half an hour I wasn’t aching, which for me is like, a miracle.

Here’s how I’d stack it up against other stuff I’ve used:

The shears honestly steal the show. Snipped basil, onions, even cucumbers—clean cuts, no mangling. My neighbor (the zucchini queen) came over, saw me clipping herbs, and finally said, “Okay, now you look like you know what you’re doing.” Felt good not to be the garden clown for once.

Another thing: these tools slowed me down—in a good way. Instead of rushing, I actually enjoyed the process. Digging, planting, trimming. Like, it wasn’t a fight anymore, more like something I looked forward to.

Now if you’re just tossing a tomato plant in a pot, sure, this set might feel like overkill. But if you’re starting a real veggie patch, backyard or even a little plot, this set covers what you need without babying the job. Strong enough for tough soil, gentle enough for seed work.

So who’s it for? Honestly, anyone tired of fighting cheap junk tools but not looking to spend pro-level money. It’s right in that sweet spot—affordable, reliable, makes gardening fun instead of frustrating. And for me, it saved me from another season of embarrassment and rusty spoons. That alone was worth it.

The post Fiskars Vegetable Garden Tool Set Review first appeared on Snow To Soil.