Person gardening with a potted plant and trowel, wearing a beige apron.
Gardening tools including a trowel, fork, and pruners on a wooden surface with plants.

Moku Trowel

$64.00
Niwaki

Hand-forged by a father-and-son team in Sanjo, Japan, this carbon steel spade is an essential tool for light greenhouse and garden work, ideal for repotting plants, sowing seeds, and digging up small plants.

The beautiful hammer marks on the trowel’s face reflect traditional Japanese craftsmanship and Niwaki’s meticulous attention to detail, while a handy loop makes it easy to hang in a tool shed or garage, or keep in your gardening bag for quick access.

Materials

SK5 carbon steel, ash wood handle
Specifications
  • 11" x 2" x 1.3"
  • made in Japan
Use

This trowel is best for potting and light garden use. We do not recommend using for digging in heavy or unbroken soils.
Care

Carbon steel is very hard, sharp, and retains its sharpness better than stainless steel. However, it is more prone to rusting, and can be more brittle than some people are used to—it will chip if abused, and must be treated with a little more care.

  • If you are using the trowel for an extended potting session, we recommend keeping a clean, dry cloth handy and giving the prongs an occasional wipe, especially if it's getting wet. 
  • After using, remove leaf residue, rust and gunk with a Clean Mate and water. Dry with a clean cloth and wipe with Camellia Oil. Store in a dry place. 
Further Reading

The word niwaki in Japanese means "garden tree", and it refers to the art of training trees through care, attention, and detail. Niwaki brings the very best in Japanese design and craftsmanship, inspiring gardeners, chefs, and craftsmen to do the stuff they love, even better. 

Explore our Niwaki collection for thoughtfully crafted Japanese tools designed for the home, garden, and daily life.
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