double hoe
A tool with a flat blade and a set of metal prongs across from one other (typically extended by a pole handle); hoe with a pitchfork attached.
double hoe: cultivator with blade and tines in one tool
A double hoe combines two distinct cultivating functions in a single implement: a flat blade on one side and metal tines or prongs on the opposite side, mounted on a long pole handle. The blade edge cuts and scrapes soil to remove weeds or break crust, while the tines dig, loosen, and aerate the soil beneath. This dual design allows a worker to switch methods without changing tools, making it efficient for row crops where alternating between surface weeding and deeper cultivation is common.
The blade section typically measures 4 to 6 inches wide and sits at a slight angle, designed to slice through soil just beneath the surface to sever weed roots. The tine side usually features 4 to 6 sturdy metal prongs spaced 1.5 to 2 inches apart, strong enough to penetrate compacted or clay-heavy soil without bending. Both elements attach to a T-shaped or cross-bar head mounted on a handle 4 to 6 feet long, allowing the operator to work from a standing position between rows.
Double hoes see heaviest use in hand cultivation of market gardens, root vegetable beds, and small-scale field operations. The tool shines in situations where a single pass with one side won't suffice: loosening hardpan, then immediately breaking up the loosened clods with the tines saves time and labour. It is less common in heavily mechanized farms but remains standard in organic and intensive vegetable production where precision and soil structure matter.
Wear and variants
The blade edge dulls and chips with use on rocky ground and requires regular sharpening or replacement. Tines bend under extreme force and can be hammered straight or swapped out. Some designs swap the standard tines for a narrower cultivator comb or substitute a sweep blade for the flat blade, depending on crop and soil type. The handle material ranges from wood to aluminium or fibreglass, with wood traditional but aluminium favoured for durability in commercial settings.
The double hoe sits between the single-purpose hoe and the wheelbarrow-mounted cultivator in the tool hierarchy. Unlike a mattock or grub hoe, it does not rely on impact force, and unlike a riding cultivator, it demands direct human muscle and skill. The name reflects its honest design: simply a hoe with another hoe, or a hoe with a fork, working opposite faces of the same head.