Hoe (tool)

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The hoe is a hand tool used in farming and gardening. It has a blade, usually of metal, attached to a long handle, usually of wood. There are many types of blade, with a variety of uses, probably the most common of which is the removal of weeds. Along with the spade and fork, the hoe is considered a basic, essential hand farming implement.

Hoes are used to:

agitate the surface of the soil around plants, to remove weeds
pile soil around the base of plants (hilling);
create narrow furrows (drills) and shallow trenches for planting seeds and bulbs;
generally dig and move soil (e.g. harvesting potatoes), and chop weeds, roots and crop residues.

There are many types of blade of quite different appearance and purpose. Some can perform multiple functions. Others are intended for a specific use (e.g. the collinear hoe has a narrow, razor-sharp blade which is used to slice weeds by skimming it just above the surface of the soil with a sweeping motion; it is unsuitable for tasks like soil moving and chopping).

Hoe (tool)

See also