Best dibbers for seeds and what to use them for

Sowing seeds doesn’t need to be a tricky business. Whether you are planting vegetable seeds such as chillies and tomatoes, or colourful sweet pea flowers or cornflowers, a dibber will help you out.

An ideal tool for gardening, a dibber is a long pointed stick that pokes identical holes into the soil to create the perfect place to plant seeds, seedlings, cuttings and small bulbs.

They are usually made from wood, metal, or plastic, and vary in their widths. Different dibbers will have a range of handle styles, including straight, T-shaped and D-shaped.

We’ve pulled together a selection of some of the best dibbers to buy on the market, including stainless steel and brass-tipped options to prevent rusting over time. We’ve also included some handy advice on what a dibber is used for and how exactly to use it.

For more tips and advice on planting tools, check out our guide to the 10 essential allotment tools in 2023. You can also read our reviews of the best garden hoes and best garden hand trowels on test. And, if you need to invest in some new essentials, try our guides to the best watering cans and clothes for gardeners.

From wooden to stainless steel, browse our pick of the best dibbers.

This RHS-endorsed dibber is ergonomically designed to be wide enough to plant seeds, seedlings and bulbs. Made from British stainless steel, the dibber has a sharp end to easily pierce the soil and a total length of 27cm.

Price: £18.76

Buy Burgon and Ball Stainless Dibber at Amazon

Crafted from pinewood, this dibber has 2cm increments up the length of its shaft to help measure the exact depth of any holes made. The point is rounded and the full length of the