
My New Favorite Tool: The Garden Dibber/Dibbler
The Garden Tool Used For Centuries With Many Names (Dibble, Dibbler, Dibber)
We’ve all used many different things to make holes in the ground for seeds or bulbs. I know I have. Nothing has been off limits: a stick, screwdriver, dowel, shovel handle, and yes, even a finger. But a dibber, also known as a
What Should I Look For When Buying A Modern Dibber/Dibbler?
Today, many of the dibbers on the market are made in China and have a metal tip, and are made of low quality wood in the form of a “T”. High quality dibbles have the following features:
- Made of hardwood (maple, mahogany, etc)
- Hand turned, handmade
- Inch marks and quarter inch marks
- Flattened tip for solid seed contact
- Ball or grip handle
- Specifically made for seeds or bulb
- Finished with Linseed Oil to protect
Find a shape and size you like, and add a nice handmade dibble to your garden tool kit.
Are Dibblers Just Used For Seed Planting/Starting?
There are two different types of dibblers, those for planting seeds and those for planting bulbs. Bulb dibbles are typically longer with a fat body and point to create a large hole. They have a flat point to create a firm contact point for the bottom of the bulb, and lines at one inch intervals for reference.
Seed dibbles on the other hand, are typically skinny and pointy, and create a small hole for starting seeds. Quality dibblers will have quarter inch marks, and then inch increments. These dibblers also have a flat tip for solid seed contact in the soil.
How Are Wood Dibbers Made?
All natural wood dibbers are made through the process of wood turning on a lathe. Here is a time-lapse video of a seed bidder being turned in our shop.
What Are Dibbers Made Of?
Dibbers are made of all different types or materials, including wood, metal and plastic. It is all a matter of preference which one you would like in the garden. I use a wood dibber garden tool for my outdoor bulb planting, and a nice small plastic one for inside seed planting. Here are the attributes of a quality dibber in the modern age, and one any gardener would appreciate:
- Dibbers are made of a solid hardwood (maple or mahogany) and weather the elements quite well
- A solid wood dibber handle for leverage in making deep holes or penetrating hard soil.
- A pointed tip to keep going and going
- Turned wood handle for aesthetics
- Thick wood for a solid grip
Are There Different Types of Dibbers?
The Plastic Dibber
The Steel Tipped Dibble
The Wood Turned Dibber
What is the purpose of a Dibbers/Dibble?
I know we use ours on the farm constantly (I just used it for planting Ranunculus and Anemone today), and after a 1000 bulbs, i am thankful for this handy tool. Dibbers have a wide variety of uses. Here are all the uses for a dibber:
- To make holes in soil for seed planting
- A hole-maker in soil for bulb planting
- You can break up potted plant roots as you plant them in the garden
- For cleaning dirt from tubers
- For leverage in propagation with large roots.
- To aerate the soil around a plant
- For creating deep water holes for plants in hot climates
Tags: bulb planting tool, dibber, dibble, dibbler, garden dibber, garden tool, gardeners tool, handmade garden tool, handmade garden tools, maple dibbler, seed hole maker, seed planter, what is a dibber, wood dibber
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