8 Best Stand Up Weed Pullers for Removing Roots with Ease
Updated: Mar. 01, 2023Weeding is back-breaking and time-consuming. A gardening expert gave us advice on the best stand up weed pullers on the market—here they are.
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Buying a Stand Up Weed Puller
Tired of having to crouch down in the dirt to pull those pesky weeds from your grass? Without the proper gardening tools, weeding can be back-breaking and time-consuming work. This is why a stand-up weed puller is the tool you need to save your back from wear and tear. No more bending over to remove ground-blanketing clover, lawn-invading crabgrass or wall-clinging ivy.
“As the summer wears on, it can start to feel like a never-ending process,” says Katie Dubow, president of Garden Media Group and host for Cottage Farms on QVC. “The good news is, there are ways to make weeding much easier on your body.”
And that starts with a stand up weed puller. We rounded up the best for every need and preference. Start using one of these and save yourself a trip to the chiropractor.
Step & Twist Hand Weeder
With spiky tines on its end, the Garden Weasel Step & Twist Hand Weeder removes scraggly sprouts and shoots with minimal effort. This revolutionary tool—invented in Germany in 1974—makes it easy to step, turn, pull and pop the weeds out of the ground.
Use the thumb release to extrude the weed plug into a compost pile or waste bin. You’ll never have to pull or pick up weeds by hand again. Plus, the Garden Weasel also makes it easy to plant new flowers, as you’ll have a pre-made hole ready to go where the weed once sat.
Serrated Trowel Shovel
Do you have raised beds and borders overrun by stubborn weeds? The Radius Root Slayer Nomad Garden Shovel, though surprisingly light (less than three pounds), uproots weeds in the hardest ground, even frozen earth. It’s nearly 30% smaller than a full-size garden spade, so that you can weed in tight places, and it also helps with dividing up perennials.
Just because it’s small doesn’t mean it isn’t powerful. The V-shaped head has serrated teeth to easily cut through dirt, roots and other obstructions in your garden.
Ergonomic Stainless Steel Weeder
This stand-up weed puller may cost you a little bit more, but your body will thank you for it.
The comfortable, non-latex thermoplastic grip of the Radius Green Pro Ergonomic Stainless Steel Weeder allows you to push the tool straight down. Since this feature takes stress off your wrists, even the most avid gardener is less likely to irritate arthritic joints or develop carpal tunnel problems. This means you’ll finish up all of your weeding without any unneeded aches and pains.
Weeder Hoe with Fiberglass Handle
What about those weeds that pop up in cracks between pavement and brickwork that require patching and crack repair?
The Bully Tools Weeder Hoe cuts through and lifts wedged-in thistles, bramble, grass, moss and more. It’s made of heavy-duty, seven-gauge steel with a high-quality fiberglass handle. A polyester coat covers the pole to prevent splintering and rust, and the comfortable rubber grip helps eliminate hand fatigue as you tackle those sneaky weeds.
Mini Propane Weed Torch Kit
Not a weed puller so much as a weed “fryer,” the Red Dragon Weed Torch Kit removes weeds without chemical herbicides or hand-pulling.
The Mini Dragon doesn’t set weeds on fire; it warms them enough that they wither and die—a small flame with pinpoint precision and control does the work for you. Made with durable steel with a surprisingly lightweight design, this weed puller tool is perfect for spot-weeding driveways, sidewalks, patios and along fences. Your weeds will be, well, toast.
Classic Steel Weeder with Wood Handle
The popular Grampa’s Weeder is a claw-style tool with a lever that allows you to effortlessly snatch weeds out of the ground without straining your back. This stand-up weed puller still features the old-school 1913 design with a sleek new look, thanks to real bamboo construction and a four-claw steel head.
To use it, simply jab the forked end of the pole into the middle of the weed and tip it to one side. This engages the clawed “grabber.” Once weeds are in its clutches, lift the pole up and out of the ground and watch crabgrass, dandelions, and other weeds come up—roots and all!
“Stand-up claw devices work best on established weeds, in all soil types, and especially after a good rain or watering,” says Dubow.
Extended Length Bulb Auger
When your weeds go deep, the Power Planter Extended Length Auger Drill Bit has the length and spiral shape to do the job.
“An easy way to get the whole root out of the soil without breaking the weed’s root (or your back) is to use an extended-length auger,” Dubow says.
The 48-inch shaft is made of sturdy 5/8-inch steel. Attach the auger to any standard power drill (not included) to retrieve hard-to-reach woody tree and shrub roots that a regular stand-up weed puller can’t. It effectively loosens the toughest soil around subterranean tubers and dead shoots, making them much easier to pull out.
Looped Steel Blade Hoe
With a distinctive shape and looped blade, the Craftsman Wood-Handled Action Hoe slices its way through weeds. It lets you get in close to plants without damaging stems that are disrupting the soil.
This product features a strong steel blade that can be twisted, pushed and pulled to easily uproot weeds. The lightweight hardwood handle is UV-coated and extends 54 inches for excellent reach. It’s also a great cultivating tool for edging along flower beds.
What to look for in a stand up weed puller
- Weed-specific operation: Choose a tool specifically for the type of weeds you need to remove.
- Ergonomic design: Tools made to fit your natural body positions decrease the chance of injury. “Look for a lightweight, ergonomic wood handle at least 50 inches long to reduce back strain,” Dubow says.
- Weight: Plastic is less durable, but lighter and easier to wield.
- Sturdiness: Weeding tools made of powder-coated steel with screws to hold parts together will last longer than other materials.
- Helpful features: Things like telescoping handles, foot pedals and easy-release buttons make weeding less tedious.
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