Heart Hoe and The Ripper: Removing Weeds and Sod from Difficult Places

 
From Marie Iannotti,
Your Guide to Gardening.
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Guide Rating - rating

The Bottom Line

Anyone who has ever had to remove sod can appreciate why someone would look for an easier way. These are innovative tools designed and tested by someone who actually gardens and was looking for tools he needed and could not find. Each blade meets a gardening challenge.

Pros:
  • Well thought out, practical designs
  • Two changeable handle lengths for standing or kneeling
  • Sturdy steel blades sharpen easily
  • Hoe rotates to whatever angle you need
  • Multipurpose tools

Cons:

  • Small head on hoe doesn’t cover much territory when removing sod
  • You’ll want 2 long handles, so you don’t have to keep switching off
  • You'll still have to use some elbow grease to get under the sod

Description

  • Heart shape increases functionality. The pointed end edges and cuts into sod.
  • The ‘V’ groove at the top of the heart is used to collar and tug weeds.
  • The flat, pointed disk slides under sod and cuts through grass roots.
  • Crack ‘R’ Jack looks like a pointed, hatchet and does a quick job of removing weeds from cracks.
  • The ‘Ripper’ rips weeds out of the ground. Two size heads, a 3 tine and a 5 tine.
  • The long handle ($7.50) is 5' in length and the short is 12" ($7.50). Can be connected together.
  • Blade Prices: "Sunflower Heart" $15, 3 tine "Ripper" $15, 5 tine "Ripper" $20, Crack "R" Jack $9
  • Introductory Specials: 5' & 12" handle, heart blade & 3 tine "Ripper" blade $39 ($44 with 5 tine)

Guide Review - Heart Hoe and The Ripper: Removing Weeds and Sod from Difficult Places

The Disc-Hoe line of gardening tools was created by Bill Chrysler, a Florida gardener. Disappointed with the limited pulling action of a traditional hoe, Chrysler played around with creating a more functional design. The first tool in the line, the Disc-Hoe, was a round shaped disc that slid under weeds and sod and worked in both directions, pulling and pushing, somewhat like a scuffle hoe.

The Disc-Hoe evolved into the 'Sunflower Heart' Hoe. The heart shape gives even more functionality to the hoe. It still works as a scuffle hoe, but the pointed end can edge and cut into sod. The ‘V’ groove at the top of the heart is used to collar and tug weeds and the flat, pointed disk slides under sod and cuts through grass roots.

Crack ‘R’ Jack was introduced next. The pointed, hatchet like blade does an excellent job of removing weeds from cracks. I can personally attest to this because I have several cracks in my walk and driveway and I had a grand old time yanking them out. Only once or twice was the crack so tight the Crack ‘R’ Jack got caught in it.

A recent addition is the ‘Ripper’, which rips weeds out of the ground. There are two head sizes, a 3 tine and a 5 tine. The tines grab hold of the top of the weed and give you leverage to yank it out, roots and all.

Blades and handles are interchangeable and are sold separately. The blades easily screw onto the handles for a secure hold. The hoe blade is able to rotate to any angle necessary.