Wilcox All-Pro Garden Tools 102S 12" Trowel for Gardening

I’ve had this tool for a long time - I think around 15-20 years now, maybe even more. It is hands down my FAVORITE gardening tool ever. Whenever I need a housewarming gift for a friend who gardens, I give them this tool because it is so useful.First things first - I always want to know if tools like these will hold up before I spend the money. This one absolutely will. If I bothered to wash all the dirt off it, it would look brand new. This tool is very well designed and made of high quality materials. The only reason I’d ever need to replace it is if I lost it.That brings us to the next question, why do I love it so much? There are so many reasons…let me share a few:- the metal part is strong and WILL NOT BEND no matter what you are trying to dig up- the blade is long and can dig deep (I think there’s a shorter one, but I definitely recommend this length)- the point on the end isn’t so sharp it will cut you, but it’s sharp enough to cut through weeds and roots as you dig- it’s way better than any other trowel I’ve used, and in many cases I use it instead of a shovel, because it’s big enough to dig holes for most things I plant while being far more precise than a shovel- it’s perfect for digging those small but deep holes for bulbs- it’s also perfect for digging up weeds with a long taproot - I dig all around the weed and then I can get my hand around the root to pull it up without breaking the taproot- it’s perfect as a lever for loosening stubborn roots - for example, I’m pulling out well established English ivy, and when I get to a vine that is really stuck in the ground, I use this to get under the stuck part and start to lever it up and loosen it- the grip is really comfortable, so I can use it for long periods without wearing out my hand or wristSeriously, this tool is the best. If you like playing in the garden and getting your hands dirty, you need one of these in your life.

This is an exceptional tool.Before buying this, I went through trowels like crazy. I've had ones break after a few months, but usually the last at most a couple years. I finally looked up this trowel online, and after seeing the stellar reviews, bought it, mainly because I wanted something that was going to last me for years. I was pleased though that this trowel isn't just durable, it works much more effectively than a typical trowel. Like, the difference was remarkable. Using this trowel, I was able to uproot large, tough plants with thick, deep roots (like greater burdock, pokeweed) that I normally would require a large shovel to remove. But, compared to gardening with the shovel, I found that this smaller trowel resulted in less soil disturbance. This is great, as it'll help me to garden and do ecological restoration work with less disruption of the soil. The sharp edges are also very effective at cutting roots, which can be very helpful for removing plants with large branched roots.I've been using this tool for over three years, and I pretty much only use it and larger shovels.My only complaint so far is that the leather loop broke within the first year, and there's no way I can find to fix or replace it. Besides this, the tool itself shows almost no wear...I haven't even had to sharpen the blades, and I've been digging with it in gravel, cutting roots with it, for over three years now.There are some little details too in how this trowel is different from other trowels that make it useful. It's slightly longer, which allows you to get a bit more leverage. This means I'm able to do more without having to carry a blukier shovel with me. The v-shape (rather than a U-shape) to the blade also makes it good for planting acorns, nuts, and large seeds, something I do fairly frequently...you can place the nut in the middle and roll it down into the hole you just dug, and because it's a neat V, you have more control. The combination of the long blade and V-shape is also great for laying down soil, for the same reason...you can hold this trowel and shake the soil over an area and you have much more control than you do with a shorter, U-shaped trowel.Plus, there's a ruler on it! This is immensely useful, not only for measuring soil depth, but I tend to like to have a ruler with me when I'm working with plants, for ID purposes, and it's just a bonus to have a ruler with me on the trowel that I'm going to be carrying with me anyway.If I could suggest any redesign option it would be to redesign it so that it is possible to reattach the leather strings if they break. I would love to see a metal loop built into the tool itself, or at least, the plastic handle designed with a loop so that it were easier to reattach strings. This is my only complaint or suggestion for improving this amazing tool.

This is the best trowel ever!! Great grip, bright red handle(so I don’t lose this garden implement as easily amongst the flowers), long digging part, all around great tool! Very, very sturdy, won’t blend, and good handle too. Susan (in Alaska)

I originally bought one of these shovels around 12 years ago at a botanical garden shop I visited in another State than the one I lived in. The 14” is my favorite. It is very strong and sturdy, and since the edges are somewhat sharp, it makes a good weeding tool as well as a digging tool. My first one lasted around 5 years before the edges became worn, but the shovel was still very useable. The grip never peeled or pulled away. I personally did not like the leather hanging piece because it got in the way, so I cut it off. If you like to hang your tools it will last forever too. I recently had to buy a new one because my husband lost one. Glad I can get it on Amazon with free shipping since I am a prime member. This is the only trowel/ hand shovel we use. Once you use one, you will never want anything different.

Im obsessed with this trowel. I use it for everything! I just got more seriously into outdoor gardening this year and I did not regret this purchase. It was a little pricey compared to the tools I usually buy but you get what you pay for! The quality is great, its a sturdy, versatile tool and I'm glad I went with this one!

I am picky about my garden tools, and put them through a lot. This is really sturdy, and the size is just right. I find that many of them are too large for my liking. Highly recommend!

This trowel is sturdy and strong, but when you are using it in heavy soil, eventually the red cover will slip down the handle as you push on the end. So it becomes painful to use unless you have very heavy gloves to protect your palm from the exposed metal end. Other than that, it's an excellent tool!

Nice sized trowel, dug up all the weeds in the garden with relative ease. Liked the sharp edge so it could slice through the roots of weeds too. Good size, well made.

Solid build, compact, well priced.This is my tool of choice when Metal Detecting. It's sharp enough to cut a perfect plug, strong enough that it will never break even when using it in extremely dry conditions or hard soil, it's small enough to carry easily.

Brilliant item for the garden, for planting and weeding. Brilliant all round tool and very heavy duty.

We all know they say, never use a trowel for prying. Ridiculous, a trowel should be able to pry within reason, and this suites my needs.NOTE TO THE COMPANY: Sharp blade edge! These should have a cardboard guard for shipping. It was shipped in a light bubble mailer with 1 layer of bubble wrap, no protection to the shippers or customer.

AMAZING TOOL. I have Dug about 1000+ plugs metal detecting. From sod to gravel and large stones. Even cutting throught roots or digging in sand. This tool is very strong. I have used for leverage on 5+ pound rocks and not even a dent or bend in the tool as of yet. Great investment I would recommend this tool to anyone in need of a small digging tool!.

Full tang and great build quality. This thing is a little pricey but it will last forever.It's a bit long when you're just making small holes for flowers, but the length really nice when you need to scoop dirt out of a bag or need to make a hole for a something a little bigger without fetching a full-length shovel.