Gardening Tools
To get the job done correctly you aways need the tools of the trade. It’s easy to go overboard when purchasing landscape tools, they can take up space and cost a lot of money. Buying the best quality tools and taking good care of them will go a long way to getting the most out of your investment. Here is a list of beginner garden tools that will get you started with your landscape projects.
Gloves: A quality pair of garden gloves will protect your hands from those thorny splintery plants and weeds. Gloves should be durable, waterproof, breathable, and not too bulky. Make sure the gloves fit properly, as poor fitting gloves can cause blisters and slip off causing unwanted accidents. You can purchase long cuff gloves to protect your wrist and arms from scratches and soil getting in.
Pruning Shears: Hand pruners are used for trimming those plants that are getting out of control. For cleaner cuts and less injury to plants, keep your pruners clean and sharpened on a regular basis.
Loppers: These are basically a long-handled pruner used to trim branches in harder to reach areas. The long handles give you leverage to trim thicker branches, making cutting them much easier to cut. Handles generally range between 16 to 36 inches.
Hand Trowel: This is an essential hand tool used for digging small holes and transplanting container plants. Select a wide blade to move more soil, or select a narrow blade to dig up weeds and rocky soil.
Garden Claw: This is a good garden tool to move dirt or mulch from areas you wish to plant. The garden claw is good for digging, loosening roots on container plants before you plant, good for digging clay, rocky soil, or compacted soil.
Weed Puller: Don’t leave this one out of your garden bucket. A good ergonomic weed puller is worth it’s weight in gold. It will make pulling them weeds much easier, and will let you get to the root of the weed before digging them up. Another great weed puller for lawn weeds is the Grandpa’s Weed Puller, a must for senior gardeners that can’t bend down to pull those pesky weeds.
Round Nose & Spade Shovel: These are short handled shovels that are a must for any landscaping project. The round nose shovel is for digging holes and moving small amounts of dirt from one place to another. The spade shovel works best for edging, and lifting sod.
Hedge Shears: When it comes to trimming and shaping bushes you will need a good pair of hedge shears. These will also work great for cutting back leafy plants in fall. (hosta, iris, etc.). If you want to speed thigs up a little when bush trimming, you can always purchase electric trimmers. However, for fine trimming your bushes it is best to use your hedge shears for a more uniform and professional look.
Bucket & Mat: Keeping all your garden tools easy to access is important. Purchasing a five-gallon bucket and a garden tool organizer, will keep your tools safely stored and easy to find when needed. For senior gardeners like my wife and I, we recommend purchasing a garden kneel mat, or portable gardening bench. This is much easier on the back, legs, and knees throughout your gardening day.
Tool Time: Keeping your tools clean is an essential part of gardening maintenance. A well cleaned and lubricated tool will be safer, perform much better, and last a lot longer. To clean garden tools; soak them in vinegar overnight and scrub them with steel wool or wire brush. Dry the tool off and coat with some all purpose lubricating oil. A CLEAN TOOL IS A HAPPY TOOL!