One of the great joys of the coming of springtime is a visit to the gardening section of the hardware store. There, arrayed in pristine splendor, are the tools of the home gardener's trade, gleaming with promise. They all look so useful, so necessary, so shiny, you may find yourself wanting to buy more than you need. But before you fall prey to the siren song of the sod shovel, consider your particular garden and what it requires, as well as the qualities of these particular garden tools. Here are some thoughts about how to make the most of your time working in the garden.
1. Think of the old folks at home. You have a shovel in the garage. It's a bit worse for wear, a bit grey, perhaps, but it gets the job done, more or less. Rather than spending money on a new shovel, consider a makeover for your old one. A shovel that has lasted long enough to become completely boring is, above all, a well-made shovel. Sharpen it, at home or the hardware store, and it will amaze you with how much faster its work becomes. If the surface of its handle is cracking or otherwise damaged, replace it. If the handle is only a bit rough, sand it and protect it with linseed oil. You have renovated a fine respectable shovel for very little money, and you have preserved resources into the bargain. The same renewal can occur with any elderly but good quality tool - a rake, a mattock, a machete, and so on. Do not neglect your local thrift shops, either. Some can become great sources for old tools that require just a bit of attention to return to their former glory.
2. Make a shopping list for your own garden, not anybody else's. It is a truth pretty widely acknowledged that the number of tools available to gardeners is greater than any one gardener's need. Buyer's regret, a feeling of melancholy when passing the shadowy corner of the garage where your telescoping bow rake lies abandoned, can be avoided with some planning. Some tools are essential: spade, shovel, hoe, rake, and trowel make part of this list. But beyond that, the kind of garden you want to design will determine which tools to get. Will you need a lopper? An edging knife? Evaluate what you expect from your garden, and this will guide your tool choices. Quality, too, will prevent tools from being cast aside. Look for wooden handles, unadorned with paint, and tempered steel. Paint hides flaws, and it's only steel that will make your investment worthwhile. Keeping your list close by and quality in mind can prevent you from costly and annoying mistakes in the garden section.
3. Respect yourself. What all the garden tools that you've restored or carefully chosen have in common is that you will be outside, in the sun or in the mud, using them regularly. Just as you want to protect your plants, so too should you protect yourself. Some other tools to think about are gloves, sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, shoes for the damp earth, or a kneeling pad. These, like any good tool, will allow you to work longer and better, and to make the most out of the gardening season.
Copyright (c) 2012 Poppy Lynch
