Gardening should be a safe and enjoyable activity. Gardeners who want to get the most durability, efficiency and safety from their tools should consider the following ten tips for using garden tools.

Choose The Right Tool for the Job

It is important to choose the proper tool for each gardening job. If using a tool that is not made for the task at hand, the tool can break and cause physical injury. Additionally, improper use of a tool will most likely not get the job done as effectively, and can even cause tool damage.

Choose Comfort

When purchasing tools, not only is it important to select the proper tool, but to also choose a tool that fits comfortably in one's hands. Not all gardeners are the same size or have the same size of hands. Fortunately, many tools are made in varying sizes. Gardeners want to choose a tool that they can enjoy using without discomfort or struggle.

Keep Tools Clean

Dirty tools can impede efficiency as well as cause risk of physical injury and the transfer of diseases and pests between plants. Additionally, dirty tools can camouflage tool damage and cause tools to corrode more quickly. A good practice is to just give the tool a good wipe down after a job, or rinse it off with a garden hose.

Keep Tools Sharp

It is important to keep edged tools sharp. Edged tools include hoes, garden knives, shears, saws, axes and even shovels. When edged tools are kept sharp, they function more efficiently as well as more safely.

Protect Tools

Garden tools should last a long time. It is a good idea to always put tools up in a dry, protected location after every use because wet weather, hot sun, extreme temperatures and chemicals can damage tools, making them less useful.

Keep Tools Away from Pets and Children

Since many tools are heavy, pointed and sharp, they can cause harm and injury to children. Pets also can be at risk of harm by chewing and climbing on tools. It is always a good idea to store tools away safely after every use.

Be Mindful of Surroundings When Using Tools

When using gardening tools, it is wise to be mindful of one's surroundings, Other people or animals can suddenly and unexpectedly approach, causing potential harm to them or the gardener. Also, gardeners should be mindful of digging near underground utilities.

Place Tools in a Safe Position

When storing tools or momentarily setting tools aside, gardeners should be careful to place them in a safe position. If not placed safely, tools can fall and cause injury. Also, others can approach and stumble upon the tool if not placed in a safe position.

Use Personal Protective Equipment

While gardening, it is in a gardener's best interest to wear personal protective equipment such as gloves, boots, safety glasses, ear plugs or muffs, knee pads and sun screen. Additionally, it is advisable for gardeners to avoid wearing loose clothing and long hair while using power tools.

Disinfect Tools

To prevent the transfer of diseases between plants, it is recommended that tools should be disinfected after using around diseased plants. Before disinfecting, tools should first be washed with plain soap and water to clean away debris. Most gardening centers sell already mixed disinfectants for tools. However, home solutions can be used as well such as bleach, rubbing alcohol and some household cleaning products like Pine Sol and Lysol. Some household chemicals can corrode tools so it is a good idea to not use too much of the chemical or to leave the tool soaking too long.


Copyright (c) 2012 Poppy Lynch