Easily Remove Weeds From Gravel Driveways With A Back-Saving European Tool

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

You've installed your new gravel driveway and you love it. It was a relatively affordable, easy-to-install driveway material, and seems durable. Long and inviting, it's added so much beauty and charm to your property, you've convinced yourself you're living on a grand English country garden estate. But six months down the road, your bucolic dream is shattered with the appearance of first one clump of grass, then a dandelion or two, then several mystery weeds. What do you do? 

You get a Dutch hoe, that's what you do. Manual removal is one of the most foolproof ways to remove weeds in a gravel drive, and the right weeding tool can make the job a whole lot easier. Used for centuries in Europe, a Dutch hoe, sometimes called a push hoe, is a handheld tool used for removing weeds in the garden, and it can work just as well on gravel driveways, allowing you to target weeds without digging down into the gravel.

Dutch hoes have long handles (of either hardwood or carbon steel) and a metal blade head that gently slopes forward, rather than a downward-facing, 90-degree head like a common garden hoe. Dutch hoe blades usually have an open area on top that casts off the cut weeds as you move the blade through soil or gravel. The trick is to slice just under the surface, cutting off weeds at the root. Some blades have sharp faces on the top and bottom edge, so you get cutting action both when you push and when you pull back. Once you get the hang of handling a Dutch hoe, they're much easier to use than a regular garden hoe, and allow you to work standing up straight. 

Removing weeds from your garden or gravel driveway with a regular hoe requires an up and down motion like chopping wood, which can take a real toll on your back and forearms. With a Dutch hoe, you can stand vertically and use your body weight to push forward through the loose stone. To find the best ergonomic fit for you and your body, look for handles long enough to allow you to stand comfortably without hunching over. Although not as common as in Europe, you can find Dutch hoes at Home Depot, like this 68-inch Dutch hoe from English Garden. There's also a pretty big selection on Amazon, including this affordably priced Berry&Bird Dutch hoe.