Gardening is a favorite pastime of people around the world. Who doesn't love an opportunity to get dirty, and to touch the cool moist earth? The stillness and tranquility of nature provide many gardeners with a sense of peace. As you tend your garden, you will marvel in its growth and beauty. You will feel great pride as you watch your garden produce delicious and colorful results. Your hard work will be appreciated by all you share your garden with.
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.
Depending on the size of your garden, and the amount of physical labor you wish to commit to, you may wish to use power tools in your garden. Yes, they are somewhat more expensive, however, they get the job done with more ease. If you have a larger garden, a tiller will be very useful in preparing your soil. It is also helpful for people with mobility issues. A tiller is useful for breaking up the ground, to help mix compost and fertilizer into the earth, and to chop up any debris lying around. A tiller can be quite expensive, so they can also be rented at most tool supply stores. You may also choose to share with or borrow from a neighbor. Chippers, chainsaws, and shredders are additional power tools that are useful in the garden.
If you have a variety of small trees, hedges, or shrubs on your land, it is a good idea to have some pruning tools on hand. For branches that are 3/4 inch in diameter or smaller, pruning sheers are sufficient. Lopping shears, on the other hand, are useful for branches from half an inch up to about two inches in diameter. A pole pruner will help with taller trees. They can extend up to 15 feet to reach higher branches. Pruning saws and stronger hedge shears are also useful tools to have for your garden.
Plants need water in order to survive, and Mother Nature doesn't always take care of this business. So, it's essential to have tools and equipment on hand to keep your garden nicely watered. If you have a larger garden and a grass lawn, you'll definitely need to have a garden hose with a good quality spray nozzle or sprinkler. If your garden is limited to containers such as pots and balcony planters, you may be able to get away with a simple watering can. Some gardeners use drip hoses for proper irrigation, and more advanced gardens have entire irrigation system set on timers to provide accurate watering.
Getting down and dirty with nature and creating a lush, healthy garden is a dream come true for many homeowners, but trying to create or tend that garden can be a nightmare without the proper tools. You don't have to invest a lot of money; purchasing the basics including a shovel, trowel, pitchfork, and leaf rake is often all you need. And be sure to pick up a good pair of gardening gloves, or you'll quickly have calluses on your hands along with that dirt under your nails.
