What is a stirrup hoe?
Question: I received a “stirrup” hoe for Christmas. What is this thing, and how do I use it? Answer: A stirrup hoe is so named because the working end looks much like a stirrup on a saddle but works differently than a traditional hoe. It is also called a hula hoe because it works with a back and forth wiggling action. It works by sliding just below the surface of the soil, cutting the roots of the weeds. It can then be used as a rake to gather the weeds into piles for disposal or composting. The traditional hoe works by chopping weeds either above ground or below ground. If the weeds are cut above ground, they may often re-grow because their roots and some stem are left intact. If the chopping occurs below ground, the weeds can be raked up roots and all, but the soil disturbance that occurs may increase evaporative water loss. A greater problem is that seeds are exposed to sunlight. Many weeds have seed that can remain buried in the soil for many years without germinating. They are wai
