One of the most popular hobbies around the world is gardening. Working in a garden can fill one with a great sense of pride and accomplishment. Digging into the warm moist earth is a pleasure unlike any other. And, seeing the beautiful results of your labor will inspire spend more time in your garden, both working in it, and enjoying it. Gardeners often describe a sense of fulfillment and peace that they experience as a result of working in their gardens.
In any situation, the proper tools can make the work more pleasant. Experienced gardeners have their favorite tools. Some remain faithful to traditional tools, while some opt for more modern power tools. Whatever your preference, it is challenging to garden with no tools at all. When choosing gardening tools, it is important to consider the size of your garden, the type of tools you will most enjoy working with, as well as your physical ability. Traditional tools require a little more elbow grease. The cost of the tools, as well as the time you have to devote to your hobby, as also important considerations in your decision making process.
In springtime, even before planting begins, it is necessary to prepare the soil. The soil should be turned and irrigated, and, if desired, some organic fertilizer added at this stage. Many gardeners choose to use tillers and other equipment to help them with this pre-planting preparation. Having the right tools always makes the job easier. There is such a wide variety of cultivating tools available that you will have no trouble choosing the tools most suited for you gardening needs.
Hand tools are the typical choice of traditional gardeners. These include shovels, pitchforks, spades, rakes and trowels. All of these hand-held gardening tools will aid the gardener in preparing the plot for planting. Although they do call for some elbow grease, these tools are relatively easy to use. Other common hand tools are the pickax, mattock, and wheel cultivator.
Power tools are a little more expensive than hand tools, but they really cut down on the hard labor. The tiller is undoubtedly the most essential gardening tool, particularly for people with large plots of land or physical concerns, like back problems. Using a tiller is a fast and easy way to break up the ground and get it ready for planting. Tillers can also help to mix fertilizer and compost into the earth, and chop up any debris. Tillers are very expensive to purchase, so many garden centers and tool supply outlets will rent them for a daily fee. Or, you can ask a friendly neighbor to lend you theirs. Other popular power tools that help many modern gardeners to prepare for the season ahead are shredders, chippers, and chainsaws.
A nice addition to any garden is a small tree, some shrubs, or a neat hedge. To care for these plants, and to make them look their best, it is beneficial to have pruning tools. Pole pruners extend to about 15 feet. These make reaching higher branches a snap. On shrubs and hedges pruning sheers are usually sufficient. If the diameter of the branch you are trimming is more than a half inch, you may wish to use lopping sheers. These are useful up to about two inches in diameter. If these tools do not get the job done, you could consider stronger hedge shears and pruning saws.
Essential for any garden is watering equipment. You may choose between a simple watering can, a garden hose with a spray nozzle, a sprinkler system, or more advance irrigation systems for larger gardens. Drip hoses provide even, gentle watering for your plants. Your decision will likely be based on your local climate, the size of your garden, and the type of plants you're caring for. In any case, water will bring your garden to life.
Remember that the tools you choose should make your gardening experience more pleasant and rewarding. If you want to get on your hands and knees and dig and the dirt, do it. You may simply desire a pair of gardening gloves to protect your hands from cuts and calluses. If you want quick results with a minimum of fuss, consider which tools will best suit your needs. In any case, you will thoroughly enjoy the fruits of your labors. Your lush, beautiful garden will be a haven to return home to every day. Enjoy!
