The Simple DIY Tool That'll Make Weeding Your Vegetable Garden Easier

Removing weeds can be hard on your body, especially your hands and joints. Growing weed-suppressing plants can prevent wrestling matches with thistles and other stubborn species, and sugar can kill several common lawn weeds, but sometimes, digging or pulling is the best option. In cases like this, weeding tools can reduce discomfort while making the job easier. Though your local garden center may have lots of gadgets to assist you, skip the trip and save some cash by fashioning a weeding tool from wire you have on hand. You'll need wire that's durable enough for repeated use but flexible enough to bend into a shape that's effective for weed removal. Wire handles on buckets will often do the trick, as will the wire components of old paint rollers. A heavy-duty wire hanger will also work in a pinch.

Once you've located suitable wire, gather the other supplies you'll need to make your homemade weeder. First grab tools for shaping your wire. A hammer and pliers will give you several ways to do this. If you don't have pliers, the AmazonBasics 4-Count Precision Pliers Set is a good investment. Also search for a wire cutter such as the Muzata Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Wire Cable Cutter. If you'd like to make a long-handled tool that will let you stand while weeding, track down a drill and a wooden broomstick or long dowel. Then find a surface that can withstand hammering and clamps to steady your wire as you shape it. One clamp option is the Equiptz 4-Pack of Heavy Duty 6-Inch Spring Clamps. After this, you're ready to create.

If you're new to gardening and don't have all the tools you need, consider making a weeder with a hook or loop at one end. Both can scrape away young weeds with shallow roots. For either type, your first step is preparing your wire. Straighten it with pliers or a hammer and snip off a section with your wire cutter. 

For a handheld hook weeder, cut a piece of wire that's about a foot and a half long. Bend or twist one end to form a handle. After that, bend the wire's other end at a 90-degree angle to create an L-shaped hook. Flatten one side of the hook to help it slice through roots and stems. You can make a handheld loop weeder with a similar process. Bend your wire in half, then make the bottom of a handle by curving or twisting the wire's ends. Manipulate the midpoint bend into an oval or triangle, twisting the wire where you'd like the handle to begin. Then finish bending or twisting the middle of the handle.

To transform a broomstick or dowel into a long handle for your weeder, clamp it down and drill a hole in one end. If necessary, remove the handheld weeder's original handle so the wire will fit in the hole. If inserting a loop weeder, place both ends of the wire in the hole, pushing them in as far as possible. Your hammer and pliers can help you with this. Want to see a similar process in action? YouTuber Ted's Backyard has a video of turning a coat hanger and broomstick into a loop weeder, as shown above.