Selecting Essential Tools for Gardening
For any kind of garden project having the proper essential garden tools will make the work a lot easier to complete and finish the job properly. It's not always necessary to have a large selection of gardening tools to be a successful gardener. Just a couple of basic gardening hand tools that you may require may include a cultivator,trowel,Fork, a square ended Spade, and narrow bladed hoe or a small pair of pruning shears. 
There are additional tools that you may want to consider which include a hoe with a small blade that allows you to fit into narrow spaces such as between plants. You may also find that having a wheeled garden cart or wheelbarrow is very handy for hauling and moving soil and plants. It is important that when you are selecting your garden tools to try and invest in a good quality tool right at the start.
You may find that buying cheap tools may seem like a good idea at the beginning but typically they will make the work harder, and usually they're likely to break when you go to use them and exert force on them.
You will find that if you are paying a higher price for a good quality shovel that lasts many years it is a lot cheaper than paying for the lower price and replacing it multiple times compared to the high quality tool.
Choosing A Good Quality Garden Tool
When buying gardening tools take note of the construction of several different brands of each individual tool that you are planning on buying so that you get a good idea which are solidly built. Quality details that you can look for would include wooden handles made of Hickory or ash and check to make sure the grain is running straight along the full length of the handle.
Check that the metal portion of the tool is securely fitted and attached to the wooden handle, (stay away from where a single rivet is holding the tool together). Check for a edge that is rolled along the top of the blade which allows you to push more on the surface with your foot providing more strength. Shanks on the blade that are designed with reinforcement rather than of a single thickness and blade Shanks that expand down the side of the wooden handle providing extra strength.
What to Look for in Quality Garden Tools:
- Choose a specific tool for the right job will make the job easier to complete.
- Choose a solid garden tool that has some weight to it, not plastics that are hollow as they break easy.
- Check the grip of the garden tool that it fits right in your hand and feels like a good grip, Should not be too small or too big.
- Check for any cracks in the tool around the joints, check for any loose screws or rivets.
- Make sure that the handle is securely attached and is not loose where it is attached to the garden tool itself.
- Check scissors, hand pruners by checking the springs or any attachment hinges that may be sticking or may not have the proper resistance to help cut quickly.
Ask Questions For Tips On Garden Tool Choices
Good tips are gathered by asking garden center employees on their recommendations. Get them to point out advantages and disadvantages of each product and brand that they are carrying. Your best source of information is to ask experienced gardening friends on which tools and what features that they found important when they were doing their yard work and gardening.
In addition to your basic tools you will find other garden gadgets that are available. A wheelbarrow will allow you to save lots of time by moving large amounts of soil and plants. It's a good idea to invest in these types of garden equipment only after using the basic garden tools and gain more experience in gardening. Over time, you will start to add specialty tools to help make your work easier.
What Type of Material Is Good for Garden Tools:
- Carbon fiber material is a very strong light weight option and is great for poles or handles.
- Fiberglass not as strong as carbon fiber is still a great choice as it is a plastic that will not rust but they can break as they do not absorb shock but overall very durable.
- Metal is typically the strongest material for blades which include carbon steel, hand forged steel and stainless steel garden tools.Proper maintenance will help with longevity.
- Wood Garden tool handles are a good choice, look for ash and you will find that they are very strong and last a long time.
How to Maintain Garden Tools to Make Them Last
Keeping good care of your tools will keep them in top condition. You can do this by storing them carefully in places that will be protected from the weather and keeping them dry. Clean the dirt and any mud off of the tools after you have used them.
As a habit you can wipe the metal parts with a lightly oiled cloth which will help keep them from rusting. Sharpening the blades periodically on shovels and hoes and on your shears and pruning clips will make your gardening a lot easier.
Typically there are more injuries when using a dull tool compared to a sharper tool as more force is needed when you are using them. When you're storing your tools hanging them will help keep the blades sharp longer, another benefit is also a more tidier storage area with less clutter.
Cleaning and Storage of Garden Tools
Proper cleaning and storage of your garden tools can help extend the life of your tools because they are an investment. By keeping them clean and working properly you will help by preventing any diseases that possibly can spread between plants in your garden.
- Cultivation Tools: Make sure that you clean with a brush and water after every use and make sure you clean it thoroughly. This will allow you to remove all the excess soil by rinsing the tool properly especially the tool head.
- Cutting Tools: To protect the blades on your tool you do not want to allow the plant resin or the sap to build up. You can use a cleaning rag that can be soaked with gasoline will allow you to help loosen up and move the resin off the tool head. To help prevent the spreading of diseases you can use alcohol or solvent to help disinfect the tool. To keep your blades in top form you can use a whetstone or a file to help sharpen the blades especially on shears or the lawnmower blade.
- Storing Your Garden Tools: By storing your tools properly you will help to protect them from rust which will help shorten the lifespan of your tool. Try to keep them in a dry area and hand them with the handles down.
Basic Types Of Garden Tools and Their Names
Illustrated are some of the basic gardening equipment. If you start with these basic tools and start adding as your experience and need for them arises.
11 Essential Must Have Gardening Tools
- Wheel barrels
- Garden Trowel
- Spade for Gardening
- Garden Fork
- Garden Hoe
- Garden Cultivator
- Types of Garden Rakes
- Types of Garden Shovels
- Pruning Shears
- Garden Kneeling Pad
- Gardening Gloves
How can a garden wheelbarrow help?
Wheel barrels are a hand propelled garden tool with the basic design of one or two wheels on the front and is designed to be pushed and moved around by a single person depending on the size it can move a lot of soil in the garden or help move plants when you're planting. Wheelbarrows are also good for doing light construction work around the home.
When doing landscaping wheelbarrels will help transport smaller trees and shrubs that are to be planted,they will also help caring the fertilizer. Wheelbarrows are also handy when your planting or cleaning out flower beds as you can move them through the rows or the side of flower beds and load up the discarded waste. Cleaning up sticks that are lying in your yard so you won't hit them with the lawnmower. Some people love to make their wheelbarrows into permanent planting containers.
What Is a Garden Trowel?
A Garden trowel is a very handy tool that can be used in many different ways to help you in the garden. You can move plants from one location to another (transplanting), or use it to help loosen up soil in a small garden. A trowel has curved sides so that it will easily hold the soil or compost when you are planting flowers into pots (potting).
Some garden trowels will have sharp teeth on the ends that will allow you to cut through long roots such as the weeding and Tulip type trowels. Some garden trowels will have specific measurements on the inside of the blade so you can use it as a tool for checking the depth of the soil.
What Is a Spade for Gardening?
A gardening spade is a hand tool that is used for digging, breaking up dirt lumps, loosen and moving the soil around, weeding, planting.They are a great tool that are used for transplanting or putting in new plants or working in flower beds. Spades may look like a small shovel but they're very different as the blade itself is flat with nearly a straight edge.
It has a shorter shaft compared to a shovel and it also may have a T or D handle. Typically the head of the Spade is 6 to 8 inches wide and the garden spade handle is 9 to 11 inches long. The blade size is smaller than a shovel allowing you to easily slice through soil and roots.
What is a garden fork used for?
Garden forks are typically used for digging and breaking new ground, removing sod and to help aerating the soil. The heavier duty types of Garden forks are typically built with a fiberglass handle as it is usually stronger than the wood and is better resistant to the climate. The all one piece forks are your most durable.
Typically will have a D handle for good grip and the popular choice of a 4-Tine fork (number of forks in the tool ).There are many varieties of forks, garden spading fork, compost fork, digging forks and a smaller version of a hand fork which looks like a miniature garden fork allows you to work in small gardens or complete small tasks, it also is a great tool to do touchup work on plants as it allows you to get closer to the plant while you are digging.
What Is a Use of Garden Hoe?
A garden hoe is a tool that allows you to shape or agitate the soil around the base of plants giving you the hilling affect. This type of garden tool also allows you to dig shallow trenches allowing you to plant bulbs or seeds. It is also a handheld garden tool to help clean up around plants by removing weeds clearing the soil or to harvest garden vegetables such as potatoes when they are ready. There are typically two types of garden hoes that you will use.
A draw hoe which will allow you to chop into the ground and then pull the blade toward yourself allowing you to agitate the soil towards you. Adjusting the angle head will allow you to dig deeper or shallower depending on the technique. A scuffle hoe will allow you to scrape the soil surface and loosen up soil that may be on the top inch or so and not allow you to cut the roots of the plants and disrupt the growth of the plant.
What Is a Garden Cultivator Used for?
A Garden cultivator is used to loosen up the dirt and help prepare the soil for adding seeds. The cultivator is also used to help control or remove weeds from your vegetable garden or flower bed and to ensure that the soil is loosened up enough to allow enough water and nutrients into the soil to help grow plants.
The cultivators can be also handheld allowing you to be closer to the soil and work in tighter areas. Some of the Rotary cultivators will have removable teeth allowing you to get custom results in different types of cultivating.
What are the different types of Garden Rakes?
There are many different garden rakes that you can choose from and each one will provide you with different purposes. Varieties may include bow Rake with fiberglass handle, aluminum landscape rakes, adjustable thatch rakes, floral level Rake allowing for tight corners right down to the smaller handheld steel hand rake that you use for grading and moving garden soil.
Rakes can be made from a variety of different flexible metal, plastic and aluminum and may have a wooden or metal handle. Some higher-quality rakes may have steel reinforced fiberglass handles for the extra strength. You will find that a big fan Rake works very well when you are raking leaves and large areas whereas a smaller shrub Rake allows you to get into smaller and tighter spaces.
What are the Different types of Garden Shovels?
There are many different types of garden shovels and each one is particular in the job it is to be used for. Shovel types might include a trench shovel, edging shovels, flat shovels, digging shovels or you may have a harder more compact ground and need a pointed digger shovel, a radius garden roots layer shovel that will help cut the roots when you are removing plants.
You first have to consider your needs and the type of gardening you're doing but more than likely you will need more than just one type of garden shovel when you are working in your garden.
Shovels are usually made from aluminum or a strong steel, the blade itself is what is doing the work so keeping it sharp and clean is a good tip. The basic anatomy of the shovel is rounded or flat and will depend on the type of job that you are trying to accomplish.
What Is the Function of Pruning Shears?
Also known as hand pruners typically look like scissors but have an angled cutting head that help with pruning awkward angles and are used for trimming plants and small branches. They are built so they are strong enough to allow you to prune small branches of shrubs or hedges and small tree branches some allowing up to thickness of 2 cm or 1 inch in thickness.
Some of the pruning shears will allow you to change the blade tension to help with your hand strength when you're cutting different materials. Most of the pruning shears handle designs allow for comfortable left or right hand operation.
Choosing a Kneeling Pad for Gardening
Working in the garden means that you are on your hands and knees quite a bit because you want to be closer to the ground when you're working with your plants. This can be very hard on your knees and this is why using garden kneeling pads is a really simple and perfect way to make gardening a little more comfortable.
Typically the kneeling pads are made from a high density foam and provide good firm support while kneeling on the ground. They are lightweight and extremely portable and can be used both indoor and outdoor. With all the many different designs and colors available you can choose your own personalized garden kneeling pad that can even match your garden gloves.
Gardening Gloves Help Protect Your Hands
Gardening gloves are used to help to protect your hands from the soil and water. They can also keep your hands warm when it is cooler out. Gardening gloves can be made from many different materials such as light weight cotton, leather or a rubber material (nitrile garden gloves) that is waterproof and also provides extra gripping power when carrying things or using tools.
Typically you will find a combination of any of these mixed together. Try to choose a good gardening glove that will give you maximum dexterity and hand movement freedom to keep the fatigue down when working in the garden. Gardening gloves can be a very personal choice as they come in many different colors and patterns.
Good Practice in Sharpening Garden Cutting Tools
Using a metal file to sharpen periodically the inside surface on the garden hoe and underside surface of the garden spade.Lawnmower blades are very important to keep clean and sharp.
This will allow you to actually cut your grass better and make it easier on your lawnmower especially in heavier grass areas.Before sharpening wash away any soil or mud using water. Remove any stubborn soil such a sap. Wipe dry and allow to dry before sharpening.
Tools that are sharp will help your job seem more effortless. Keeping your blades clean will prolong the life of your cutting-edge. Always hang up your tools rather than standing them on the edge as this will keep them from damaging and also give you less clutter in your garden shed.
Top Choice Garden Tools
