i like to use a pickle fork; in fact, i use forks of all sizes for various garden purposes.

i didn't mean to start a new thread & didn't read all the palette knife article but since i did here are a few more observations. i am a lazy gardener and a penny wise one also. i start seeds in styro boxes w/drainage holes poked in bottom or old large pots of any kind and fill them 3/4 with ordinary garden soil, next comes several inches of seed starting soil or good potting soil; then just like MN scatter seeds and either lightly press into soil or cover according to needs of seed. i don't aim for the sprouting of every seed. when they develope a good root system I prick them out w/pickle fork and depending on the type plant either pot into a larger single pot or plant them directly where I want them (zinnias, balsam, marigold, vinca, morning glory, etc.).

I don't know if you can tell by the pictures or not but I use paper pots

In archaeology we use a grapefruit knife for fine intricate excavation work, and as a gardener I found these work great for getting under a seedling without damaging the roots. The grapefruit knife seems to have disappeared from stores lately, but it used to be found wherever food preparation tools were sold. It has a bent tip, serrated edge blade. This is a double bladed one, but a single bladed grapefruit knife was more common.

http://www.williams-sonoma.com...

That is a great idea as well. I won't give up my good grapefruit knife but I have a couple of cheap ones I can try out.