Over the millennia, this one-size-fits-all garden tool evolved into a set of specialized hoes, each with a specific function.

Putting it to the test Hand weeding half of a 10-by-20-feet garden took Wirecutter staffer Sebastian Compagnucci around 15 minutes, whereas using a stirrup hoe on the other half took seven minutes.

The Fiskars Xact Weed Puller and Wilkinson Sword Dutch Hoe Carbon Steel are among this year’s best long-handled weeding tools ...