3-tine Cultivator by Burgon & Ball - RHS Range

The Burgon & Ball polished stainless steel traditional 3-tine cultivator superficially aerates and loosens soil to enable better absorption of water and nutrients, without disturbing the microfauna and deep layers. This small hand tool is highly appreciated by professional gardeners. It is extremely practical for raised beds. The hardened steel tines are pointed at an ergonomic angle, perfect for breaking up soil, even in hard ground. Like the other tools in the traditional range, it features a lightweight FSC*-certified hardwood handle that is weather-resistant. Its stainless-steel head resists rust and sticky substrates. The tool also comes with a practical leather strap for storage.

 * FSC is an international ecological label guaranteeing that the wood comes from sustainably managed forests

Total length: 47cm (19in).

Promesse de fleurs has chosen the English company Burgon & Ball for the quality of its materials and its nearly three centuries-old steel manufacturing methods. The company has been working with steel in Sheffield since 1730, initially with a patent for solid steel sheep shears. The production of garden shears and equipment quickly surpassed that of sheep shears, but the stainless-steel tools from Burgon & Ball are officially approved by the Royal Horticultural Society - probably the ultimate reward in the gardening industry.

The steel used for Burgon & Ball tools is alloyed with carbon to give it strength, and with chrome to prevent rust. It's a very precise balance that needs to be found between chrome and carbon, different for each part of the tool. For example, the socket, which needs to be strong enough to withstand bending, is made of thicker steel with a medium balance between chrome and carbon, while the blade of this weeding knife, which requires significant strength and hardness to withstand bending in the soil, is made with a higher carbon content than chrome.

The heat treatment creates the right level of hardness for each tool. Too hard and the metal can break or chip, not hard enough and it will bend or lose its sharpness. The thickness of the steel used also depends on the tool. The thickness of the steel affects the weight, so it's also a balance to be found, which the company Burgon & Ball, with its nearly 300 years of experience, has validated to ensure that its tools are both effective and comfortable to use.