How to Choose, Assemble & Maintain a Wheel Hoe

The wheel hoe is a superb and versatile garden tool. There's no motor to fuss with, just a willing garden helper that rolls along tilling the soil, digging an even furrow, or cutting off those nasty weeds. As Tricia says in our video about wheel hoes, it's the perfect tool if your garden is too big to weed and cultivate by hand, but too small for a tractor. Whether you're a home gardener or a market gardener, we have the right wheel hoe for you.

How to Choose a Wheel Hoe

Think about what garden jobs you want the wheel hoe to do for you, how wide your rows are, and how hard you're going to work the hoe. Glaser wheel hoes come in both Standard and Professional models, for either the home gardener or the farmer. We carry two high-quality wheel hoes: Swiss-made Glaser wheel hoes,  Each has a range of attachments.  

• The oscillating stirrup hoe attachments slice tiny weeds in half. 
• Tined cultivators loosen up soil to a depth of 4-5 inches, and they're perfect for incorporating amendments into the soil. 
• Furrowers are ideal for creating furrows for the planting of garlic and potatoes.

Once you have your wheel hoe, you need to put it together and swap out attachments for various gardening jobs. In our video, Tricia walks you through the different features of the Glaser hoes, and shows how to change the attachments on them.

How to Assemble a Glaser Wheel Hoe

The Glaser wheel hoes have two options, a Standard for home gardeners and a Professional model geared toward farmers or market gardeners. To adjust the handle height simply loosen the bolts and adjust the handles to a comfortable height. In order to offset the handles, purchase an optional swivel joint. The Professional model has brackets included for offsetting the handles. The Standard model comes with two mounts in a row, so you're able to use two attachments at a time. For example, you can put a stirrup hoe in front and a tined cultivator behind, to weed and break up soil simultaneously. The mounting block is configured with two mounts (one behind the other) and two additional mounts on each side which allow you to mount wide knives that require two mounting blocks. When you attach the blades, make sure all mounting blocks and blades are secured tightly. The Glaser wheel hoe comes with all the spanners you’ll need to make adjustments.

How to Maintain a Wheel Hoe

Like any cutting tool, the hoe attachment needs to be sharpened. Tricia shows you how to get a sharp edge of a hoe or shovel in our video about sharpening tools. When you're cleaning and lubricating your tools, remember to use non-petroleum products -- otherwise you'll get oil in your soil. Get quick tips on petroleum-free sprays for your tools, here in our blog article. A wheel hoe makes a great gardening partner. Choose the best one for your needs and enjoy your silent helper.