The right garden tools for the right job can make gardening less of an ordeal and more of a pleasure. Though the gardener doesn't need to possess every single tool and gadget on the market, there are a few that are indispensable. What's also important is that they be kept in good shape. Some, especially tools made to cut like pruning shears, can be dangerous if their cutting edges are allowed to dull, though the danger is greater for the plants than the gardener. A dull pruning shear won't make a clean cut, but will simply crush a plants' stem and injure it.

Spades and Shovels

Spades and shovels come in all kinds of sizes and the gardener should pick the one he or she feels the most comfortable with. The best have blades that are made out of stainless steel. They dig into the earth easily, they're rust proof and are easy to keep clean. They're expensive, but a well maintained spade can be passed down through the generations. For that matter, this is true of just about all gardening tools.

The spade or shovel is the most important garden tool because it's used for digging holes and trenches and for planting trees and shrubs.

Rakes

Garden rakes are used for clearing an area. Rakes for fallen leaves have springier tines than the normal ones, whose tines are rigid and shorter. Rakes allow the gardener to make the soil fine enough for sowing seeds. They also keep gravel paths and graveled areas looking tidy. Like spades, rakes come in different sizes.

Hoes

A good, sturdy Dutch hoe is indispensable for getting rid of weeds between rows of herbs and vegetables. The hoe can also be used to make seed drills by dragging it down a line stretched between pegs.

Hand Forks and Trowels

These are important little tools for hand weeding and planting. Like shovels and spades, the best are made out of stainless steel. This means they can be left out in the garden and won't rust.

Pruners

There are many kinds of pruners for jobs ranging from snipping off roses for a floral arrangement to lopping off the large branches of trees. Whatever sort of pruner a gardener buys should be the best.

A Wheelbarrow

A wheelbarrow should be strong and sturdy, yet light enough to be easily handled. The wheels should have a rubber covering, and the lanes between garden plots should be wide enough to accommodate it.

Pruning Saws

Gardeners might want a set of these tools. They can start with a bow saw, which has a thin steel blade that doesn't cause too much friction. They might also buy a saw with a curved blade that can work in tight spots, and a smaller, folding saw.

Pegs

A gardener tends not to think of these simple tools until they're desperately needed. Pegs can straighten a leaning tree or shrub and, best of all, can help the gardener accurately lay out a plot or a seed drill. Good ones are made out of acrylic resin. Wooden pegs will rot over time and can be difficult to drive into hard soil.


Copyright (c) 2012 Poppy Lynch