If you only own one hand tool, make it a hori hori. The serrated, pointed Japanese soil knife divides crowns, slices through dock and dandelion roots, opens seed packets, plants bulbs at depth, and handles roughly 70% of what we ask of a trowel. Once you've used one for a season you'll wonder how you gardened without it. Here are the ones our team carries.
Our team’s top picks
Nisaku Hori Hori Stainless Steel Knife
- Genuine Japanese stainless, full tang
- Serrated and straight edges, depth marks
- Wood handle, riveted construction
- Comes with leather-style sheath
Fiskars Hori Hori Garden Knife
- Cast-aluminium handle, polished steel blade
- Bright orange — never lost
- Affordable and capable
- Great gateway to the format
Barebones Living Hori Hori
- Heavy stainless blade, walnut handle
- Beautifully detailed sheath with belt loop
- A pleasure to carry and use
- Great gift for gardeners
A.M. Leonard Soil Knife with Saw Edge
- Aggressive saw edge for tough taproots
- Boron-treated steel, ash handle
- Includes nylon sheath
- Used by professional plant centres
Sneeboer Hori Hori (Dutch)
- Hand-forged Dutch stainless steel
- Symmetrical bevels work for either hand
- Ash handle, sturdy rivets
- Heirloom-grade tool
What to look for in a hori hori garden knife
- Stainless steel blade resists pitting from acidic soil; carbon steel takes a sharper edge but needs care.
- A tang that runs the full length of the handle is the difference between a tool you keep and one that fails.
- Depth markings on the blade are quietly useful for bulb planting at the right depth.
- A sheath belt loop matters more than you think — without one you lose the knife in long grass within a week.
- Look for one serrated edge (sawing roots) and one straight edge (slicing soil and twine).
Frequently asked questions
What is a hori hori actually for?
It's a Japanese soil knife — a multipurpose tool for weeding, dividing perennials, planting bulbs, sawing through small roots, opening bags and slicing twine. The name roughly translates to "dig dig".
Stainless steel or carbon steel?
Stainless is lower-maintenance and works well in damp climates. Carbon steel takes a finer edge and is preferred by some gardeners, but it will spot-rust if left wet. For most home gardeners, stainless is the right call.
Is a hori hori safe to carry on my belt?
Yes, in a proper sheath. Always sheathe it before walking with it, and never leave it loose in a wheelbarrow where it can flip into a foot. Treat it like a kitchen knife and you'll be fine.
Can I sharpen one myself?
Easily. A diamond card or a $20 whetstone is all you need — match the bevel angle (about 25°) and finish with a few light pulls on the back of the blade to remove the burr.
Bottom line
If you only take one thing from this guide, it is that quality matters more than spec on paper. The picks above have been chosen because our team uses them or trusts them — not because they are the most expensive or have the flashiest marketing. Buy once, garden often.
