A Look Back at How Garden Weasel Popped up in Pop Culture

A look into Garden Weasel Pop Culture

In its 45-year history, Garden Weasel tools have earned their place as gardening essentials in potting sheds across the country. Leading to gardeners reaching for them to weed, cultivate, aerate, plant, and maintain their outdoor space. But did you know that the original Garden Weasel Cultivator also became an influential part of pop culture history on television, in song, and even in the wrestling ring? Here’s a fun history of America’s favorite garden tool.

The Garden Weasel was invented by Gerhardt Guetschow and first discovered in Cologne Germany in 1974. Bringing the revolutionary ergonomic tool to the US market by Gordon T. Beaham III, who was president of Faultless Starch Company at the time.

Through its iconic TV commercials, however, sales skyrocketed as the Garden Weasel Cultivator. As a result, it became the go-to tool for gardeners. Over the years, more products followed, including the Weed Popper, Weasel Claw Pro, and the Weasel Nut Gatherer. 

A (TV) star is born

Firstly, the Garden Weasel Pop Culture began when it had become so popular that it became the plot for the now-famous first episode of HBO’s mega-hit television series, The Gary Shandling Show in 1992. 

For instance, in the now-famous scene, Shandlings’s alter-ego, TV host Larry Sanders, was asked to do a sponsored live commercial for the Garden Weasel for instance. Reading the script and hearing the audience giggle, Larry can’t resist turning the spot into a comedy bit. He did this, however, by making fun of the product, and calling it ‘the amazing rat stick’. 

A parody becomes a hit song

Also in the early 1990s for instance, comedian and songwriter Stuart Mitchell, who performs as Heywood Banks, released The Weasel, This, however, was a song all about – you guessed it! – the Garden Weasel Cultivator. As a result, the hilarious song added to our Garden Weasel Pop Culture went viral after he sang it on The Bob and Tom Show, a nationally syndicated radio program.

An unusual competitive edge

In perhaps the most bizarre use of a gardening tool ever, the Weasel became part of the arsenal in the pro wrestling ring. The wrestlers were seen wielding the Weasel. This, however, replaced of the folding chairs that often made their way into the fights. Talk about creative ways to win!

We’re proud of our place in garden tool history, and in popular culture, too. Share your Garden Weasel Pop Culture memories and photos with us!