Hand Trowel vs Hand Cultivator?
By Nate Sawyer, Editor · Updated July 2026
DIYPicks is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate and affiliate of home-improvement retailers, we may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site — at no extra cost to you. This never affects our recommendations.
Wilcox All-Pro 202S 14" Stainless Trowel
A US-made, one-piece 20-gauge stainless trowel for planting bulbs and transplanting in rocky soil. The weld-free neck won't bend when prying and etched depth marks make spacing repeatable. But it costs 3-4x a big-box trowel, the narrow 14-inch blade won't move wide bedding plants, and the metal handle cushions little.
| Material | One-piece 20-gauge stainless steel |
|---|---|
| Handle | Integral stainless with vinyl grip |
| Type | Digging trowel with depth markings |
| Length | 14 in overall |
| Best for | Planting bulbs, transplanting & digging in tough soil |
Fiskars Ergo 3-Prong Cultivator (300S)
A lightweight, rust-proof 3-prong claw that is the everyday tool for breaking up crusted soil, aerating and weeding between plants. Cheap enough to own several, and the cast head won't snap like stamped cultivators.
| Material | Cast-aluminum head & tines |
|---|---|
| Handle | Ergonomic non-slip polymer grip |
| Type | 3-prong hand cultivator / claw |
| Length | ~10 in overall; 0.56 lb |
| Best for | Loosening topsoil, aerating & light weeding between plants |
Our verdict
A trowel and a cultivator are partners, not rivals. The Wilcox 202S trowel is a digging tool: it scoops soil, opens planting holes and sets bulbs at a measured depth with its one-piece stainless blade. The Fiskars 3-prong cultivator is a loosening tool: its claws break up crusted topsoil, aerate and rake out shallow weeds but cannot dig a hole. If you can only buy one and you are planting, get the trowel; if your soil is compacted and weedy, start with the cultivator. Together they cover nearly all hand planting and bed-prep work for under $50.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a hand cultivator for?
- Loosening rather than digging. The three claws break up crusted topsoil, aerate and work in amendments. They will not dig a planting hole — that is the trowel's job.
- Why does a one-piece trowel cost more?
- Because it has no neck to bend or snap, which is where cheap trowels fail when you pry in rocky soil. The Wilcox also carries etched depth markings, making bulb and transplant depth repeatable.
- Will an aluminum cultivator hold up?
- In normal beds yes — cast aluminum resists rust and the tines will not snap off. In heavy clay or rocky ground they flex where forged steel would not.
- Which should you buy first?
- The trowel, since planting is the more common task and the cultivator cannot substitute for it. At about $13 the cultivator is cheap enough to add later, and light enough (0.56 lb) to leave one in each bed.