A Done with That® Project by Koper, America’s #1 Connected ContractorTM, Free Augmented Article©
There are about as many types of gardening tools as there are jobs around the garden. Choosing the right one is a matter of price, quality and intended purpose.
A variety of gardening tools is essential for performing the many tasks required for a well-kept lawn and attractive garden. Some of the more common tools are shovels, spades, forks, rakes, hoes, pruners and shears.
A shovel is used to carry and scoop loose soil and gravel. The blade can be flat or scooped, with either a squared or rounded end. A spade, with a flat, square head, is used for digging and edging around the garden.
A garden fork is good for breaking up and cultivating soil. The tines can be flat or triangular.
Rakes come in many styles. A bow rake has a reinforced head for heavy-duty pushing and pulling of soil or gravel. A level-head rake is suited for lighter pushing and pulling, as well as leveling soil. A leaf rake has a broad head made of plastic, metal or bamboo, with flexible tines.
Basic garden hoes are used to cut weeds and cultivate the soil around plants. Head sizes can range from three to eight inches wide. A swan-necked hoe, so-called because of the curve of the head and neck, allows you to work with little bending over. A scuffle hoe is moved back and forth at ground level like a shuffleboard pole, cutting weeds with each stroke.
Pruners and shears are used to cut or trim vegetation. Hand pruners for small twigs come in two forms: anvil, where the blades meet, and bypass, where the blades move past each other.
Loppers are for heavy pruning, as their longer handles give greater leverage. Pruning saws are used for thick branches. The long, scissor- like blades of pruning shears are used to trim hedges or shape bushes and trellis plants.
Good tools are well designed and made of sturdy materials. Top-quality products may be higher priced, but they should last for many years.
Invest in a tool that is made from strong, tempered steel — it will hold its edge and keep its strength better than metal alloy. The joint between the head and the handle should be sturdy, ideally cast from a single piece of steel. Handles should be of ash, hickory or fiberglass.
Start small when beginning
your collection of gardening tools; many tools do an adequate job at more than one task. Begin by buying a spade, garden hoe and bow rake. You can add to your collection as the need arises.
When shopping, be sure to take the tool off the rack to test its weight, size and heft, or how it feels in your hand. If you plan to spend long hours in the garden, you want a tool that is light enough to work with easily but large enough to do the job.
You can even make a few basic tools at home. A dibble, used t plant seeds, is easily constructed by filing the broken handle of a spade to a dull point. A garden screen, used to sift soil and gravel, can be made from a few pieces of lumber and steel mesh.
Digging and Planting Tools
Hand trowel. Test several styles in the store to find a good fit for your hand. The handle must be firmly fixed to the blade and should not wobble.
Bulb planter. Because this tool is plunged into the soil, look for sturdy metal construction. The cross handle should not rotate.
Dibble. This tool is a short metal spike with a wooden handle. Driven into the soil, it creates holes for seeds or small plants.
Shovels, spades and forks
The angled handle and raised sides of the shovel (center) make it well suited for scooping and moving loose material such as soil or gravel. The blade may be either pointed or flat. The spade (left) with its straight handle and flat, sharp blade is ideal for
digging, edging and cultivating plants in the garden. The metal tines of a large garden fork (right) break up soil without having to turn it over. A fork is also the best choice of tool for digging up plants without damaging their roots.
Cultivating and Weeding Tools
Bow-head rake. The curved frame of this rake gives it greater strength for heavy-duty jobs such as pushing and pulling soil or gravel.
Leaf rake. The flexible tines of this tool resist rust. The slightly heavier metal is more durable and effective than plastic or bamboo.
Hoes. These tools have heads of different widths to suit a variety of gardening needs. They both cut weeds and loosen soil.
Three-pronged cultivator. The rigid tines are used to break up hard soil around plants and loosen weeds.
Dandelion fork. The nétched end grips the tap roots of weeds so they can be removed completely.
Pruning Tools
Lopper. This is essentially a long- handled bypass pruner for heavier tasks, such as cutting through tree branches as thick as 11/4 inches.
Pole pruner. Used to cut high tree branches, this tool has a hook for holding the branch while a blade, operated with a cord, saws the branch.
Pruning saw. The teeth of this saw are specially designed for cutting through the tough green wood of thick tree branches.
Hand pruners. The grip should not be too wide for your hand. Pruners should have a spring to open the blades and a locking mechanism.
Shears. The long blades of this tool trim the small branches of hedges, bushes and young trees easily with a scissor-like cutting action.
Storing tools
Rinse and dry garden tools before putting them away. Coat metal parts with a light film of oil to prevent rust. Hang your tools on pegs or hooks in a garage, basement or shed when not in use.
Other Useful Gardening Tools
Fruit picker. This tool helps pull fruit , off hard-to-reach branches. The basket
or catcher saves the fruit from being bruised by a fall.
Watering can. A plastic can is lighter than a metal one. This nozzle provides a fine spray that is good for watering seedlings and fragile plants.
Lawn edger. This tool is pushed into the ground by foot to cut a border between lawns and planting beds or to edge around walkways and patios.
Garden cart. This cart, used for general garden carrying tasks, has a flat bottom and high sides. The two bicycle-style wheels offer better balance than a wheelbarrow with a single wheel.
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