I was first introduced to using machetes in the garden by my husband, who hails from the Bahamas. He grew up using machetes to cut sugar cane, open coconuts, and clear brush in his grandfather’s sprawling tropical garden.
I quickly adopted the machete in my own garden. It’s a relatively inexpensive, versatile tool that I find a reason to use almost every time I’m gardening. In the past week alone, I’ve used it to chop down an invasive honeysuckle bush and remove turf to extend my flower bed.
Machetes can be used to clear brush, chop firewood, remove turf, chop up plants for compost, harvest, prune shrubs, weed, and even dig holes. Their smaller cousin, gardening knives, are more specialized—some knives are designed for cutting turf and weeding, while others are crafted for harvesting.
Master Gardener-Recommended Garden Knives
- Gerber Gear Gator Machete, $30
- Attican Black Iron Hori Hori Garden Knife, $24 (was $30)
- Tramontina Wood Machete, $24
- Fiskars Hori Hori Knife, $25
- Hooyman Machete, $22 (was $35)
- Zenport K310 Brush Clearing Sickle, $23
- Fiskars Harvesting Knife, $17
A high-quality machete or knife will last for years; simply clean the blade after every use. When using blades to prune or harvest, I recommend taking this a step further and sterilizing the blade with alcohol between plants to prevent the transmission of diseases. I also recommend sharpening the blade when it begins to dull and oiling it regularly to prevent rust.
Gardeners should take safety precautions whenever using any tool with a blade. It’s a good idea to wear thick pants to protect your legs, tough boots, and cut-resistant gloves to improve grip and protect your hands. Always be aware of your surroundings and ensure no one is in the radius of your swing; use controlled strokes, not wild swings. When carrying your machete, cover it with the sheath and carry with the tip pointing down or tuck it under your armpit, blade facing down, with the handle in the front.
Machetes and gardening knives are two of my must-have gardening tools. I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite machetes and gardening knives, which can all be purchased on Amazon.
Gerber Gear Gator Machete
AMAZON
This all-purpose machete can act as a blade or a saw; one side of the high carbon stainless steel blade is straight edged and the reverse side is a toothed saw blade. That makes this machete perfect for chopping down small brush and cutting firewood or thicker brush with the saw edge. The 18-inch blade is perfect for most garden chores.
The Gerber Gear Gator Machete has the signature Gator Grip rubber handle, which not only improves comfort, but also helps ensure the machete won’t slip out of your hand while in use. The accompanying nylon sheath can be used for safe carrying and storage.
Attican Black Iron Hori Hori Garden Knife
AMAZON
The hori hori knife originated in Japan and is specifically designed for gardening; “hori” translates to “dig” in Japanese. A hori hori knife typically has one serrated edge and one straight edge, making it perfect for harvesting root vegetables and dividing plants. As the name suggests, it can also be used for digging small holes. This knife has engraved depth measurements in millimeters and inches, perfect for when you’re planting seeds and bulbs.
This knife is made of stainless steel and has a full tang. A full tang knife has a blade that extends through the entire handle as a continuous piece of metal. Full tang knives have extra strength and durability. This blade also comes with a sharpening stone and a thick leather sheath to keep your blade protected.
Tramontina Wood Machete
AMAZON
The Tramontina Wood Machete is a classic, no-frills machete and a fantastic budget buy. This machete holds an edge well, and will last a long time with regular sharpening. I used a Tramontina machete for years and was amazed at the quality for such a low price point. The 18-inch carbon steel blade could hit rocks and tough tree limbs without chipping, yet was sharp enough to do more precise gardening work.
The wooden handle provides a nice heft and grip; however, if you use it for a long time, your hands may blister. You can solve this issue easily by using gloves or wrapping the handle with tennis racket tape or a similar material. The classic style of this machete lends itself to a plethora of garden chores, from removing turf to clearing brush.
Fiskars Hori Hori Knife
AMAZON
Like other hori hori knives, the Fiskars knife has a straight edge and a serrated edge, as well as measurement markers down the blade. What makes this hori hori knife stand out is its forked tip. The sharp blade, combined with the specialized blade tip, make it the perfect tool for removing difficult weeds with taproots, such as dandelions.
This blade has an extended tang for increased strength. It also comes with a hard plastic sheath with a belt loop, so it’s easy to safely carry around the garden.
Hooyman Machete
AMAZON
The Hooyman Machete is stainless steel, parang style blade is perfectly designed for removing thick brush or woody plants like bamboo. The blade is heavier than many other models on the list, so it may be best for more experienced machete users.
This blade has a nonslip H Grip handle; the ergonomic handle is designed to prevent slipping, and the handle material even turns tacky in wet conditions to help ensure a firm grip in all weather conditions. As an added bonus, the blade has a hole for hanging when storing it.
Zenport K310 Brush Clearing Sickle
AMAZON
The sickle (not to be confused with a scythe) may seem old-fashioned, but it has earned its place in modern gardening. A sickle is an amazing tool to destroy thick-stemmed weeds and harvest fruits and vegetables. This sickle is great for clearing out tight places, as you can remove all the plants on one side of the blade without damaging surrounding plants.
The Zenport sickle is incredibly sharp and cuts through tough stalks like they’re made of butter. The 9-inch Japanese high carbon steel blade can easily replace your weed whacker. However, using a sickle with a short handle means your arms are close to the blade—be sure to use this tool with caution.
Fiskars Harvesting Knife
AMAZON
The Fiskars Harvesting Knife has a unique blade with a flat tip specially designed for harvesting fruits and vegetables. The flat tip allows for quick push cuts and the serrated lower half of the blade allows you to cut through fibrous stems when harvesting.
This knife has an easily managed 6- inch blade and ergonomic handle to prevent hand cramps and allow for greater control when harvesting. The included hard plastic sheath with a belt loop is an easy way to safely carry the knife around during a long day of gardening.