There is nothing worse than being in the garden without your pruners when you spot a broken limb on a shrub, so you use your hands to break it off. Or, you have no hand shovel, so you yank a weed off at its neck and leave the roots intact. In order to keep your garden in the best condition and free of problems such as compact soil, weeds, and even broken branches that encourage disease, you need the right garden tools.
Using incorrect tools such as using a short-handled shovel if you are a tall gardener; or using a long-handled shovel if you are a shorter, uses unnecessary strength and is far more stressful. There is no reason to fight with your garden; if you use the proper tools, you can not only get the job done, but get it done right. Having the right garden tools for the job often makes the difference between a pleasurable gardening experience and a frustrating chore. Some gardeners collect tools and garden gadgets as lovingly as others collect plants. Yet it is surprising how few tools actually are needed in order to garden. The most useful gardening tools are not high-tech.
Gardening really doesn’t require a shed full of tools. In fact, I recommend starting with
just a few essential tools and then building your collection as specific jobs call for more-specialized tools. As your gardening and landscaping interests expand, you will require more specific tools such as loppers, which are long-handled pruners, for thicker, hard-to-reach branches of shrubs, canes of roses, and raspberry bush branches. Eventually, you may find yourself investing in hedgers, tree pruners, a rotary tiller, and even specialized hose attachments for watering. Of course, once new tools and larger equipment start accumulating, the problem of storage arises. But for now, all you need are the essentials listed below.
Nine Fundamental Gardening Tools:
Hand Trowel—Buy one that fits your hand. Good for close-up weeding
jobs, digging small holes, and transplanting.
Shovel/Spade—This is the single, most versatile tool you can own. You need a
shovel for digging, turning, scooping, planting, prying up large stones, and
chopping hard ground.
Pruners—Once you discover the world of pruners and find the perfect pair
that fits your hand and produces a clean cut with little effort, you’ll never
enter the garden without them.
Garden Hoe—To weed between rows as well as chop and break up packed
surfaces.
Grass Rake—Bamboo or metal rakes are great for lawn clippings and leaves.
Heavy-duty Iron Rake – For grading, moving small rock and debris. Essential for leveling soil
Garden Hose—Remember to choose one that reaches all of the areas that
need to be watered.
Garden Cart/Wheelbarrow—You can load, transport and dump soil, plants,
containers, wood, and even tools.
Gardening Gloves—A pair heavy enough to protect your hands, yet not so
clunky that you can’t maneuver small objects.
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