Weeding the cracks in your garden, patio, or other paved areas around your home is often a tedious chore. It can be discouraging to move from crack to crevice, manually uprooting every single weed without the right tools. Luckily, in this guide, we will be discussing the best crack weeders on the market today. With the options on this list, you can easily remove grass, moss, and weeds with confidence thanks to sturdy builds and ergonomic handles. Our top pick, the Zenport Crack Weeder, is made from stainless steel and requires no assembly, making it very user-friendly.
Our Top Picks For Crack Weeders
Best Crack Weeders of 2024
Best Crack Weeder Overall
The Zenport crack weeder should be your first choice if you’re in the market for a preassembled, high-performance weeder you can use out of the box. Its most distinguishing feature, the hook, is made from heavy gauge stainless steel and is guaranteed to see you through hours of work. The blade is 6×3 inches in size, and the handle is 6 inches long.
The Zenport is such a choice pick because it features a cushioned grip that allows you to use it for long hours with precise control. It is great for both commercial gardeners and homeowners.
Pros
- It requires no set-up to use.
- It features a sharpened inside curve.
- The handle is ergonomic and made of plastic.
Cons
- Its handle is a bit flimsy.
- The blade is not thin enough to get into really small crevices.
Runner Up
The GREBSTK crack weeder is a Frankenstein of a weeder that can survive almost anything you throw at it. It features an L-shape blade for weeding at different angles. Both sides of the blade are sharpened, and you can use it for everything from clearing out weed from your walkway and driveways, to clearing out regular weed growing around your property. Did we also mention that some models feature a serrated hook? It makes reaching into tight corners and pulling out weed even easier.
The GREBSTK crack weeder’s blade is made from hardened stainless steel with abrasion and rust resistance. The handle is lightweight hardwood.
Pros
- This crack weeder is very versatile.
- It works well on brick and stone driveways, patio tiles, and walkway crevices.
- The blade is thin and sturdy, so it can reach deep and cut easily without breaking.
Cons
- It doesn’t have the most ergonomic or comfortable handle.
Honorable Mention
The Nisaku Sidewalk crack weeder draws from ancient designs, perfected by the Japanese and is unlike regular crack weeders on the market.
The Nisaku consists of a simple metal comb and an ergonomic wooden handle for precise control. It can work its way into thin cracks, bricks, and crevices, giving you the leverage and control you need to work comfortably, without pause. It chews through grasses and weed easily, even without a sharp edge and is easy to store and use.
Pros
- It gives you better control while you’re working on your garden
- It features an ergonomic handle
- It cuts extremely well and does not require sharpening.
Cons
- It is a bit small and might not be fit for people with larger hands.
Contender
The Berry&Bird manual crack weeder has everything you’d want in a long-lasting, well-performing gardening tool. Like most products we’ve looked at so far, it has a curved, L-shaped blade. However, it differs significantly because it’s considerably shorter. This is a deliberate choice by the manufacturer to increase your control during use, reduce leverage, and remove weak points from the weeder itself.
It is versatile and is great for removing grass, moss, and weed cracks, gaps, and crevices. You can wriggle this amazing weeder into the narrowest crack and be sure that it’ll get the small taproots that burrow deep.
The Berry&Bird Manual crack weeder features a simple high-strength stainless steel with bend and rust resistance, while its handle is simple hardwood.
Pros
- It is built to last.
- It works well on small properties and larger gardens or farms.
- It has an ergonomic wooden handle.
Cons
- It is small, so you’ll have to bend down to work with it.
Best Crack Weeders: A Buying Guide
Crack weeders are different from most outdoor gardening and weeding tools. They let you work on small, tight, and hard-to-reach spots where grasses and weeds take root and grow after they’re dispersed by wind and rain. They are worth investing in because they are better than most alternative weeders you’ll find on the market. They are special-purpose weeders and are indispensable if you have a brick driveway, stone walkways, or an open garden.
If you’ve read through the reviews, then you’ve noticed that not all crack weeders are created equal. Some are stronger than others, and not all of them share a similar design. There is a great deal of variety in the marketplace and virtually hundreds of great products to choose from. In this section, we’ll be showing you how to parse through all your options and find the perfect crack weeder for your needs.
What Are the Different Types of Crack Weeders?
The average crack weeder shares a ton of functionalities and features with other gardening tools with similar designs. Here are a few of some of the most common variations of types of crack weeders.
Hoe dag
While technically, the hoe dag looks like the stereotypical crack weeder, it has notable features that make it pass as a convincing hoe. It has a round and stumpy L-shaped blade. It is strong enough to reach plants with deep roots, and it features a thin metal blade. The hoe dag is very rigid, and it is available in both right and left-handed options.
Hori Hori or Japanese farmer’s knife
The Hori Hori is an honorary mention and only vaguely classified as a crack weeder. It is a 7-inch blade with one serrated edge for digging out roots and hard weeding, and a cutting edge for stabbing and cutting down smaller weeds. It has all sorts of uses, and if you have an overgrown walkway, it will be suitable for some light crack weeding. However, since the Hori Hori is not a specialized tool, it might not get into tricky cracks and tiny crevices. You should look elsewhere for something more reliable if you have a lot of weeding to do.
Traditional crack weeder
This is the most common and effective type of crack weeder for clearing out outgrowth on concrete and brick pavements, driveways, sidewalks, etc. It features a long L-shape blade with an edge on either side. Some manufacturers fit a serrated edge on the inner blade for better reach and efficiency and also add a longer handle for people who prefer to work on their feet. The traditional crack weeder also features an ergonomic handle made from wood or reliable plastic—though wood handles typically outlast plastic.
The best crack weeders on the market are strong enough to handle light garden weeding as well as crack weeding.
Traditional short-handled crack weeders are typically 10 -12 inches long, depending on the length of the blade and the handle.
Japanese sidewalk crack weeders
Similar to regular crack weeders only in functionality, the Japanese sidewalk crack weeder is a small weeder with a simple metal comb and a wooden handle. It is typically sized under 4 inches- less than ½ of the size of a regular weeder, yet it sometimes performs just as well, if not better. The tiny combs reach down and cut through the roots of plants and weeds nestled deep in the crevices and cracks around your driveway or sidewalk.
Ironically, the biggest strength of the Japanese sidewalk crack weeder also happens to be its biggest weakness. It is unsuited to individuals with smaller hands and will be difficult to use if you find it hard to get down on your hands and knees while you work.
What Are the Factors To Consider When Buying a Crack Weeder?
There are several factors you should consider before you can find the best crack weeder for you.
Length, handle, and comfort
Weeding is not a quick or painless activity. If you’re going to spend thirty minutes to an hour weeding, you will need something ergonomic, comfortable, and durable.
The length of the crack weeder and the material of the handle more or less determines your weeding experience. There are mostly no good or bad lengths or handles, and it is often about personal preference.
What handle and height feel best when you’re working long-term? Are you uncomfortable or experiencing pain? These are all questions you should ask as you shop.
Reach and the blade shape
The size, shape, and length of the blade of a crack weeder determine how good it is at pulling weeds from the roots. Before you go out and make a purchase, you need to know what types of weeds you’re dealing with. Are they regular or tap-root weeds that reach deep? If you miss even a single piece, they might come back faster and tougher than last time.
Review your needs and the surfaces you’re dealing with, and purchase with those considerations in mind.
Material quality and durability
The quality of the materials used in the crack weeder matters as much as reach and comfort. The crack weeder you purchase should be made from thin, durable stainless steel that is rust-resistant and able to hold its edge for months on end. You also want the handle, whether wood or plastic, to be strong.
Maintenance
Even the best crack weeders fall apart if poorly maintained. To get the most out of your purchase, you want to select a high-quality product at checkout. Great products are easier to sharpen, lubricate and clean, and can last you years of use.
Why You Should Look For Overlaps
When you can, you want to prioritize crack weeders with great feature overlaps. You’ll be getting a weeder that is not only great at its job but can also clear out your garden, make mulch, and help you with planting. Push for feature overlaps as long as it does not affect the product’s primary use.
How Are Crack Weeders Priced?
Crack weeders are priced as you might expect: higher quality materials and a well-recognized brand equal a steeper price, while cheaper, barebones weeders are priced lower. Shop as your wallet and needs dictate.
People Also Asked
Can you use a gardening knife in place of a crack weeder?
You can, but it will deliver a middling result. The garden knife will not reach deep enough to pull out weeds by the roots.
Should you use a weed snatcher or a crack weeder?
Both are great for removing weed from cracks, but the crack weeder lets you target tighter cracks at awkward angles.
How many times can you use a crack weeder?
As many times as you need to. If the weeder is well made, it should last you for months, if not years.
