The Dibber-A Marriage of Garden Art and Functionality

The Dibber-
A Marriage of Garden
Art and Functionality

THE TOOLS DISCUSSED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ARE AVAILABLE
ON OUR WEBSITE AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: THE DIBBER

WATCH A DEMONSTRATION OF THE DIBBER
AND OTHER TOOLS ON OUR THE
HARVESTING HISTORY YOUTUBE CHANNEL

For the next two weeks we are going to enrich your Holiday Garden Gift buying experience by teaching you about the history of some of the most beloved heirloom garden products known to man. If you purchase these products from us, we can assure you that they will become some of the most treasured and most frequently used products by your loved ones, family or friends.
In this newsletter, we are going to discuss the Dibber, recipient of the Endorsement of The Royal Horticultural Society – the highest accolade a garden tool can receive.
The Dibber may be the simplest of all gardening hand tools. It has one function and that is to poke holes in soil in order to plant something: seeds, seedlings, bulbs, etc. Possibly because of its simplicity, the Dibber has remained virtually unchanged since Roman times. This tool has more names than it does functions. In Britain it is called a Dibble and throughout the European Community and the Americas it is called a Dibber.

The Dibber
In the 1400s, the tool is mentioned in various horticultural documents, and in the 1700s and 1800s farmers developed long handled dibbers. One farmer would walk in front of a second farmer. The first farmer would plunge the dibber into the soil and then the second farmer would place a seed, bulb or seedling in the hole and fill the hole with soil. In the late 1800s the first stainless steel dibbers were introduced, and they began to dominate the market. Today dibbers with stainless steel points or pointed shafts made entirely of stainless steel are the way the tool is constructed.
The Harvesting History Dibber consists of two parts: a 10-inch, stainless steel, pointed plunger which is sturdily connected to a rounded, 5-inch wide polished hardwood handle and secured with a screw.
The Harvesting History Dibber is invaluable for planting seeds, seedlings and bulbs. Ergonomically designed, the sharp-tipped dibber glides effortlessly into all soils, helped by the smooth stainless steel finish which simply slides past hidden stones, roots and other unseen obstacles. So much easier than digging individual holes!

The Dibber – Handle Detail
One caution: when using the dibber to plant seedlings be careful to create a hole of correct depth. If the hole is too deep, an air pocket may form beneath the seedling’s root ball and this will damage the young fragile roots.
Our Dibber is manufactured by Burgon & Ball, perhaps the oldest hand tool manufacturer in the world established in 1730. This exquisitely designed tool is endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society. The Royal Horticultural Society is the oldest and largest horticultural society in the world. The Society was established in 1804 and is the precursor of ALL the horticultural societies on this planet. Endorsement from the Royal Horticultural Society is perhaps the ultimate accolade in the gardening world.

Harvesting History