Long-handled 3-pronged cultivator by Burgon & Ball - RHS Range

The traditional 3-prong cultivator in polished stainless steel by Burgon & Ball allows for superficially aerating and loosening the soil without disturbing the micro-fauna and deep layers to allow for better absorption of water and nutrients. Like the other tools in the traditional range, it features a lightweight FSC-certified hardwood handle, resistant to weather conditions, with a polished stainless steel head that is rust-resistant and non-stick to substrates. The tool is also equipped with a practical leather strap for storage.

 * Fsc is an international ecolabel guaranteeing that wood comes from sustainably managed forests.

Dimensions: head: 7cm - total length: 150cm (59in)

The English have the privilege of being the reference in gardening (if not in cooking). Promesses de Fleurs has chosen the English company Burgon & Ball for the quality of its materials and its soon-to-be tricentennial steel manufacturing methods. The company has been working with steel in Sheffield since 1730, starting 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 for strength, and with chromium to prevent rust. It's a very precise balance that needs to be found between chromium and carbon, different for each part of the tool. For example, the socket, which needs to be strong enough to resist bending, is made of thicker steel with a medium balance between chromium and carbon, while the tines of this cultivator, which require significant strength and hardness to withstand flexing in the soil, are made with a higher carbon content than chromium.

The heat treatment allows for exactly the right hardness of the steel 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. This cultivator needs a thicker steel thickness than a knife, which can be much thinner steel. The thickness of the steel affects the weight, so it's also a balance to be found, which the company Burgon & Ball with its almost 300 years of experience has validated to ensure that its tools are both effective and enjoyable to use.