My first few weeks going to meetings I saw this tool sitting next to a person. I asked him what it was, and he said it was a root hook to straighten the roots......

Said tool looked suspiciously like a horse hoof pick to me, with a higher price tag! Go to any feed store and for a few dollars get a hoof pick-they even come in "ergonomic" versions. If it can stand up to a horses' hooves, it can stand up to roots. You can even get the folding versions!

And of course, root rakes- bend the tines of a fork over and viola! Root rake!

I use one of those 3 pronged weeding/soil working hand rakes with the 2 outer prongs busted off (accidentally). By the way, the hoof pick is a great idea.

Dave

I agree about hoof picks, less ripping away of the feeder roots. Using the fork as I did when first starting out caused the demise of of a lot of feeder roots. I was lucky to buy a replica of the root hooks the Japanese use from a guy in Melbourne for $12 a few years ago, lucky break.
But it looks like whether it be 1,2 or 3 prongs causing no real damage is the way to go. Guess it's all down to spacing between the prongs.

Ash

I made mine out of "drill stock", works great. I also never use a rake anymore for previously stated reasons. Often thought I'll just use a chopstick.

Ok Rick, what's a drill stick?

Drill stock is what they make drill bits out of.

I actually got an old screwdriver, ground to a point. You then heat it at the point you wish to bend it, and then stick it in a bench vice or something solid and bend it over, works perfectly.

Jezz wrote:I actually got an old screwdriver, ground to a point. You then heat it at the point you wish to bend it, and then stick it in a bench vice or something solid and bend it over, works perfectly.

... pretty much what I did with my drill stock but made a mahogany handle out of scraps I had lying around the shop.

BTW drill stock is also used to make screwdrivers etc...

Thats a dam fine looking root hook Rick.

Thanks Brett, just a quick pic I took this am. Basically it never cost me a cent, talk about frugal. Folks will need to beat that one

I basically designed it similar to what we see on line. It has a nice balance and grip to it and it is a charm to work with.