Good Gardeners Employ the Correct Garden Tools
Proper Gardening Tools Ensure Better Looking Gardens with Less Work
Aug 17, 2009
Where gardens are concerned, Keats' poem “A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever” can be paraphrased to state “A garden is a thing of beauty and a job forever”. This “forever job” can be lessened and the backbreaking work can be reduced by using the proper tools for the job. Equally important is the maintenance of the tools. Sharp clean tools are much more effective than old, blunt tools with damaged cutting edges.
Buying Garden Tools
No matter what size the garden is certain tools are always needed and it makes very good sense to buy the best quality the coffers will allow.
- Cheap tools will do the job satisfactorily in the beginning but after a season or two they will begin to lose their sharpness and form.
- Start off the tool collection with the bare essentials, more choices can be added as time goes by.
- Always use suitable tools so as not to have to bend unnecessarily when digging or hoeing. Before buying any tools handle them well, getting a feel for the height and weight.
- Check for foot space with digging forks and spades. Make sure there is a flange or lip to prevent boots from slipping off when the pressure of digging is put on the tool head.
- It is very important to have a comfortable handle. Search until the right one has been found and remember it might be necessary to wear gloves sometimes so include this factor if D-shaped handles are being used.
Garden Tools for the Job
The basic tools needed are:
- Spade. An essential tool for digging and planting. Also used for skimming weeds and clearing the area before digging. Spades can have many different styles of handles: D-handle, T-Handle and straight handles. With wooden handles make certain the shaft area is smooth and free of splinters. The beauty of modern polypropylene handles is their ageless smoothness.
- Digging Forks. Forks can have the same handles as spades and are also used for digging especially in soil where gravel or stones are present. Forks are also better than spades for digging heavy clay soil. What’s more they help aerate the soil as the work continues.
- Hoe. There are two types of garden hoe, the Dutch hoe and the draw hoe. The Dutch hoe, with its small flat blade is used for skimming lightweight seasonal weeds and turning over the top soil between plants and flowers. The draw hoe with its sturdy upright blade attached to a long handle is used for clearing more stubborn weeds between shrubs and along gravel paths by pushing and pulling them to and fro.
- Rake. When buying a rake buy one with strong teeth. A flimsy rake head will only annoy because it will bend and twist and become ineffective very quickly. Rakes are used for gathering weeds and stones from a dug area and for preparing seed beds. Use a fine-toothed rake for seed beds. Leaf rakes, which are a wide headed, fan-like rake are used for gathering autumn leaves and are available in both steel and plastic.
- Trowels, forks and dibbers. These hand tools are used for the finer points in gardening. Trowels and forks are for digging and sowing and a dibber is used for making holes for planting seeds and bulbs. If a lot of planting is to be done use a dibber with a long handle.
- Shears, loppers and secateurs are used for trimming hedges and pruning shrubs and trees.
It is important to keep spades and hoes sharp and clean. Occasionally rub the blade edge along a grindstone or file and clean away any encrusted soil. Oil any moving parts of shears and secateurs during the season and before putting them away for the dormant period. With proper care and maintenance garden tools can give good service and last forever.
Whether gardening is a job or a hobby, the use of correct garden tools will ensure that working in the garden is always a pleasure. Mechanical tools such as shears, loppers and secateurs ensure perfect pruning, electrical tools such as mowers and trimmers produce picture perfect gardens and garden watering systems guarantee perfect blooms and foliage.
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