We’ve analyzed every stand-up weeding tool out there, as well as what gardeners’ blogs, consumer testing organizations, and forums have to say about them. We’ve seen everything from pretty silly tools to truly durable, effective equipment.
If you want a healthy garden or lawn and have back difficulties, or you just don’t care to squat down for every damn dandelion, there are a few winners that can efficiently extract weeds by their roots without exertion or (almost) ever bending over.
While stand-up weeders are great for everyone, they are also one of the many tools and techniques that are useful for seniors and those with disabilities. The article at that link details other options that can be worth considering, such as raised planters, tools adapted for arthritis, and specialized stools to enable easier kneeling or sitting as you work.
Fiskars Stand-Up Weeder
While we think this is the best all-around stand-up weeder, below we also detail our recommendation of the CobraHead Long Handle for larger weeds with matted roots, and take look at some competitors.
- Our Main Pick for Weeding without Bending Over
- Update: Durability Report After Two Years of Use
- Versions Available: Fiskars 3-Claw vs. 4-Claw Deluxe Weeders, and "Extended Reach", "UpRoot" and "D Handle"
- The Best for Larger Weeds with Matted Roots: CobraHead Long Handle
- The Best Hoe (for Weeding Larger Swaths of Dirt): Prohoe Rogue Garden Hoe
- A Good Hoe for Shorter Weeds: The Hula Hoe/Action Hoe/Stirrup Hoe
- Other, Less Impressive Stand-Up Weeding Tools
- Wrap-Up: The Best Stand-Up Weeders
Update history of this article
Our Main Pick for Weeding without Bending Over
The Fiskars Deluxe Stand-Up Weeder tends to go for a bit more expensive than a standard hoe or some of the other weeding tools we detail below. But for us, being able to obliterate even one garden’s dandelions without bending over makes it immediately worth the price.The Advantages of the Fiskars Weeder
There is a general consensus among those testing garden equipment that Fiskars Weeder is at or near the top of the list for pulling up dandelions and other small weeds without bending over. In particular they note its efficacy and ease of use compared to others.
Here’s how it works:
- Place the tool over the weed (an open slot in the foot pedal makes it easy to see what you’re doing).
- Step on the pedal; the stainless steel claws grab the weed by its root.
- Pull the tool up and eject the weed
At no point in this process does one have to bend over. Additional advantages of the Fiskars Weeder include that it:
- Allows one to work much more quickly; a weeding job that might have taken 2-3 hours gets reduced to a half hour
- Is ergonomically designed for an easier grip; customers with arthritis say that it’s great for them but being friendly on the hands is also lovely for anyone with a large area to weed (and the D-Handled version described below is even more comfortable)
Has a light, aluminum shaft- Easily ejects the weed (this can frequently be a problem with other tools)
- Has a wider spread (1.5 in.) than the Rocket Weeder (described in the competition section below), so it can grab slightly larger weeds
Finally, Fiskars offers a lifetime warranty (“for as long as the consumer owns the product”). Customer reports about their responses to warranty claims on gardeners’ forums have been largely positive.
The Drawbacks to the Fiskars Weeder
There have been some complaints about plastic foot pedal breaking especially when attempting to use this tool to dig out large, deep roots; this is not designed for that, and especially not anything like small trees or bushes. Fortunately, as noted above, there’s a lifetime warranty and Fiskars is generally responsive. As noted below, we haven’t ourselves had this problem.
If you need a heavier-duty long-handled tool designed for deeper, matted roots, you should instead or in addition go for a CobraHead (discussed below). The CobraHead is not as suitable for dandelions and small weeds, however.
Update: Durability Report After Two Years of Use
We’ve stuck with the Fiskars Weeder since we first wrote this article, and taken care of weeds on a medium-sized residential front and back lawn for two years. It is still in great shape: no broken parts and working fine.
Versions Available: Fiskars 3-Claw vs. 4-Claw Deluxe Weeders, and “Extended Reach”, “UpRoot” and “D Handle”
Both 3-claw and 4-claw versions of the tool are available, and they are essentially similar and get the same positive reactions. We recommend the 4-claw version for slightly improved ergonomics, plus the extra claw can help really get around and grip a root. They’re both great though. You’ll also see the 3-claw version marketed as “Fiskars Extended Reach Weeder”, and the 4-claw version as “Fiskars UpRoot Weed and Root Remover”.
In addition there is the Fiskars Extendable D-handle Stand-up Weeder (4-claw), which has a large handle that may be easier for some people to grip. It’s not available at last check.
The Best for Larger Weeds with Matted Roots: CobraHead Long Handle
If you try to dig out dandelions, small weeds, and taproots with the CobraHead Long Handle, you may get a bit frustrated. However, the CobraHead beats Fiskars Weeder for dealing with bigger weeds, especially those with large tangled masses of roots. And for weeds like that, it manages to hook under and remove them without disturbing as much of the surrounding area as if you were to try to dig the whole mess out. The CobraHead is of very solid construction according to the various reviewers and commentators who have been using it for many years.If you are under 5’2″, you might prefer the shorter handled version.
The Best Hoe (for Weeding Larger Swaths of Dirt): Prohoe Rogue Garden Hoe
The Prohoe Rogue Garden Hoe is a sharp, sturdy 7-inch-bladed hoe with incredibly impressive real Amazon reviews that is also well-liked by serious gardeners. It has a heavy, durable blade manufactured from recycled farm discs (those that are dragged behind a tractor to break up soil clods). This is not a precision tool like the Fiskars Weeder, but is much better for taking out swaths of plants in a larger patch of soil. It will last much longer than standard hoes and not lose its sharp edge.A Good Hoe for Shorter Weeds: The Hula Hoe/Action Hoe/Stirrup Hoe
We seem to not yet have settled on a name for this trapezoidal weeding tool, but it’s popular for dragging in between and around plants to sever shorter weeds. The open trapezoidal shape can make it easier to get close to precious plants without harming them and be a bit faster than a regular hoe as long as the weeds are still short.
Other, Less Impressive Stand-Up Weeding Tools
Grampa’s Weeder
: This is a very similar, old-fashioned version of the Fiskar’s Weeder. It’s steel and hard wood (no plastic parts), and so it’s more durable. But it also lacks the serrated blades of the Fiskars Weeder; roots are more likely to slide from of Grampa’s grasp. It’s also easier to eject weeds from the Fiskars model. Grampa’s Weeder can generally be found for a bit cheaper though.
Wrap-Up: The Best Stand-Up Weeders
Hula Hoe?
We used to call these Vietnam hoes, you can make one out of discarded steel.
A regular hoe still has it’s place but we like a Hula Hoe, whatever you call it, especially weeding a vegetable garden, you can undercut a weed, slice it, and it doesn’t move as much dirt out of the way if you want to rewack, is that a word, re hoe, under where the weed was to break up other fine roots, dirt clogs. The dirt just flows over the cutting bar. You can move dirt back if you need to if weed removable left a hole.
We hardly ever use a real hoe. Well, maybe in hard dirt, not soft garden soil.
PS,
“ in theory to allow it to cut down weeds at the most effective angle whether being dragged forward or backward”?
Backwards?
Our Hula Hoe has only the front part of the steel blade sharp at the bottom, the back side of the blade is blunt, so when you push back you don’t cut a plant, it cuts forward only.
Useful in tight spots, cut in front of a plant, push back some dirt.
My first one was from the 1960s, looked homemade, current one, store purchased, has to be 40 years old, maybe the design changed? I certainly wouldn’t want to cut on the back push.
Hey Tom,
Great post, I haven’t heard about the Fiskars Stand -Up weeding tool. Must give it a try next time I clean up the garden. Right now I am using Yard Butler RKT-1000 and it is working fine but I am looking for a new item to use in my garden.
Keep it up
Zac