You Grow Girlâ„¢

STUFF

CobraHead^TM
Precision Weeder and Cultivator

From the moment I pulled my CobraHead^TM tool from its package, I knew it was going to be a kick-ass weeder and cultivator. With its sturdy handle and sharp metal blade (aka Steel Fingernail ^TM), this tool was built to rip through clay dirt like butter. Frankly, the metal cobra-shaped end is so sharp and mean-looking I was a little intimidated by it at first. My initial thought was that if it didn’t fare as a garden tool, I could easily use it to rule the mean streets of Toronto.

Noel Valdes, an organic gardener from Wisconsin, developed the CobraHead^TM for the home gardener as a “versatile small garden tool” designed to weed, cultivate, scalp, edge, dig, furrow, plant, transplant, de-thatch, harvest and plough. It is made of knife-blade quality self-sharpening steel and environmentally friendly wood fibre reinforced plastic.

I chose the harshest conditions I could for testing the CobraHead^TM – a neglected community garden plot heavy with clay, stones and encroaching grass. I used the tool to remove deep-rooted weeds, loosen soil to apply fertilizer, dig holes for plants and till soil around perennials. The Cobra Head slashed through the dirt, rocks and clay swiftly and effortlessly, and the small blade worked its magic around existing plants with delicate precision. Removing usually hard-to-battle weeds was incredibly easy. I have to admit that I derived a bit of a sick thrill exacting my revenge against my toughest foes with the power of the Steel Fingernail^TM in hand. What began as a short tool test turned into a full-on unstoppable weeding frenzy.

I’m a fairly lazy gardener who dislikes the idea of lugging around an arsenal of products for multiple tasks. The CobraHead^TM is so multi-faceted that it covers several tasks at once, eliminating the need to jump back and forth between tools. What’s more, the need for fewer tools means less money spent at the garden centre. The only problem I can find with this tool is the handle, which could be a bit more ergonomically designed — it’s a little too smooth to grip easily. However, this tool’s strength is so effortless that this is hardly a problem.

If you’re looking for a tough, well-rounded tool that can handle both day-to-day gardening tasks and difficult jobs that normally require a lot of fuss and muscle power, I can’t say enough about the CobraHead^TM. Next to pruners, it’s my new favourite tool. -GS