MUST-HAVE TOOLS FOR EVERY GARDENER
Gardening is a beautiful hobby. Those who love greens would love to have their garden. Also known as nature’s best friend, these people ensure they dwell amidst greens colors, the fragrance of flowers, and the taste of other fruits and vegetables.
Well, this requires very special concern and care for the plants. More than planting and watering them, there are other things to be done, say, weeding out, getting rid of dead plants, securing them from bugs and insects, etc.
Furthermore, the tillage should look appealing and splendid. Considering all the factors, any garden maintenance is an exceptional skill that calls for a few tools.
For having any garden, these tools are quintessential. These basic tools do not occupy much space or cost you much, but their usage is highly predominant.
Get these at an affordable cost and a good quality for the best and safe gardening practices.
The 12 must-have tools for every gardener are
1. Gloves
2. Gardening Fork
3. Pruning Shears
4. Loppers
5. Hose with Adjustable Nozzle
6. Spade
7. Hoe
8. Rake
9. Hand Trowel
10. Watering can
11. Wheelbarrow
12. Watering band
GLOVES
It is very important to wear gloves while gardening. Being nature’s best friend, it’s okay to get messed with the soil and mud; simultaneously, we should be aware that there are many harmful bacteria and fungi hidden in the ground.
Bacteria in the soil are useful in breaking down organic matter; a very few of them are treacherous to the living being when allowed to let in.
This can happen through cuts and splinters. At times, this may turn spiky, too.
To avoid such incidents, it’s always better to wear a pair of gloves when gardening.
• When you are working with seedlings or planting them, don’t use bulky gloves. Use a light pair of gloves that is durable enough.
• Ensure the gloves exactly fits your palm. Loose gloves can slip off your hand and might cause blisters.
• It is highly recommended to choose waterproof materials as they don’t soak your palm wet and keep your hands free from dirt.
• If the gloves have a longer cuff, it’s well and good that it doesn’t let the soil get in.
• Always keep your gloves far away from sunlight.
• Foxgloves are the exact kind of gloves one must wear during any landscaping activity. It is water-resistant, breathable, and acts like another skin.
GARDEN FORK
Lifting, turning, digging the soil are mandatory practices in a garden. A tool used for loosening the soil, digging, and turning the soil is Garden Fork. It is now made up of stainless steel.
They show their efficacy in the density of the soil they dig into. There are three major types of garden forks: the forks, Spading Forks, and Border forks.
Different types of soil at various depths demand different kinds of forks.
• Forks should have a slight bend or curve that helps in digging out manure or compost.
• Compacted and clay soil requires a straight fork.
• Flat tines are not that great when they are used against a root or rock. Instead, square tines function well.
• While choosing a fork, ensure it is of great strength; if not, they tend to bend when used against compacted or clayey soil. The money is worth the spend, as it is durable and helps in digging up clayey soil.
PRUNING SHEARS
In a very simple language, if plants had scissors, then it must be pruning shears. Based upon the blade, it is classified into three, anvil, bypass, and parrot-bleak.
• Anvil pruners function like a knife cut on a board; they are used only on the deadwood.
They cannot be used on any other living component of the plant. The blade of the anvil pruner goes into a pocket or just a straight piece of metal.
• Bypass pruners are the best for live wood and plants. The edge goes by the counter blade.
• The pruners should fit in your palm.
• The pruners must be sharpened at regular intervals for a cleaner and sharper cut without causing any damage to the plants.
LOPPERS
If pruners were long enough to cut thick branches and stems, they are termed loppers. They should be long enough, and their handles should range between 16 to 36 inches.
As same as pruners, loppers are also classified into three. There are anvil and bypass loppers. It is aimed to use for pruning twigs and branches.
Loppers are said to be the largest manual garden cutting tool.
• Bypass loppers are said to be the best looper and more precise in what they cut.
• Anvil crushes the branches rather than cutting them. So, this is not used frequently. Wherein they have good strength and are less likely to distort a fibrous material.
• Anvil loppers have a straight sharp blade.
• Loppers are designed in a way such that you know what you are cutting even at greater lengths.
• This should also be maintained well and sharpened regularly.
• It is recommended to use a lopper that can cut branches up to 2 inches in diameter and are dry.
HOSE WITH ADJUSTABLE NOZZLE
Gardening goes well with both sunlight and water. Watering is a very significant task in maintaining a garden. Plants should acquire the required moisture.
A good watering schedule at the correct pressure is essential for green and healthy plants. The hose should be of good length so that that water can be sprayed regularly and all the parts.
There are three basic diameters of hose, half an inch, five-eighths of an inch, and three-fourths of an inch. From sprinkling water to plant to pouring water, the need of the plants is variable; concerning that, a nozzle is used to handle and maintain pressure.
• The length of the hose is essentially an important concern for watering.
• The length of the hose will have an impact on the pressure, too.
• Ensure the hose doesn’t get entangled and develop crimps.
• They should also be light in weight for carrying.
• The hose should be flexible, strong, and kink-resistant.
SPADE
Spade, most commonly used for digging, has short handles. They are substantially used to drill holes, uproot plants, moving mud, etc.
A spade has the efficiency to break down bigger mud particles into smaller ones and move them to another location. Shovel and Spades are different tools. Shovels have a broad bottom.
Shovels can only be used to move loose materials. It is really helpful to break lumps in the ground. This helps in creating a uniform and a leveled soil stratum.
• The comfortability lies in the tread on the blade that eases out the push into the earth.
• These are mostly available with short handles, but long handles are pretty heavier when compared to short grips.
• Ash hardwood handles are strong and durable. They hold the capacity to absorb shock.
• If the heads are made up of stainless steel, it is an added benefit. These heads are strong, and they don’t rust.
HOE
Hoes are simple garden tools that help weed out. This has a long handle along with a blade or paddle at the end. There are numerous types of hoes, like Paddle Hoe, Stirrup Hoe, Onion Hoe, and Dutch Hoe.
The type of hoe depends upon the type of garden you maintain. When the soil is dry, it is the ideal time to hoe. The draw hoe is the best for weeding as it helps in slicing them also.
• It mainly aids in making flower beds.
• If your garden is persistent and regular, the use of a thin, delicate hoe is appreciated.
• The grip should be long enough and be able to have greater reach.
• The hoes have square heads for weeding, and these are pushed front and back to cut down the weeds. These hoes are called Scuffle hoes that function on a push and pull mechanism.
• Before watering the plants, they should be hoed early in the morning.
• Keep your position upright and straight while hoeing, and change hands while hoeing.
RAKE
Going through the seasonal variation, it’s the autumn that brings more leaf-fall. And generally, other factors like wind contribute to the fall of leaves. A handle is fixed to tines or teeth, transversely.
To remove leaves and other debris from the garden, a rake is used. There are a lot of styles and sizes. This helps in leveling the soil for new plants. The mechanism is to and fro the motion of the head.
The different types of rakes include Garden Rake, Thatch Rake, Plastic leaf Rake, Metal leaf Rake, and Shrub Rake. Depending upon the type of accumulation of debris, the rake is chosen and selected.
• Both steel and plastic rakes are available.
• Steel tines are stronger and more durable than plastic tines.
• Rakes can be adjusted; such rakes can reach into narrow areas and gather a larger leaves pile.
• They help in developing plant rows and breaking hard clumps of the soil.
HAND TROWEL
The most important hand tool is the hand trowel. This is a small tool that is used to dig the soil and move small quantities of it. This is also helpful to transplant seedlings for future plantations.
This has a pointed metal or wooden blade with plastic, metal, or a wooden handle. This helps in mixing fertilizer with the plants.
They help in transferring plants to pots. They also help in removing weeds.
• The blade should be broad enough.
• If the blade is narrow, it should essentially be used for rocky soil or dig up weeds.
• Ensure that it fits in your hand with utmost comfort.
• Stainless steel trowels are more durable.
• An ideal hand trowel should have sharp blades so that it helps to cut roots beneath easily and helps in planting new plants.
WATERING CAN
Water plays a major role in gardening. Watering cans come in both plastic and metal.
If you are practicing gardening on your balcony or any constricted space, a watering can is of greater use. The soil must be watered for good plant growth and not the leaves.
There are several styles, colors of the watering can. The soil shouldn’t be clogging wet. Instead, it should have had some moisture previously. Know the water content required by the plant before watering. You are doing a finger test before watering is also helpful.
The soil may seem to be dry, but there are times when the soil below the surface might be moist. Only if a few inches below the surface is dry watering is mandatory. The watering can is a must-have gardening tool for beginners.
• Metal cans need to be galvanized or painted to be free from rusting.
• Plastic cans are not sustainable nor durable.
• Know the capacity and size of the watering can.
• Make sure you fill the water at optimum level and handle it in a position that enables you to pour water easily.
• Water cans come with a sprinkler nozzle; it is recommended to use a water can with a dual handle and is BPA free.
WHEELBARROW
For a bigger garden, there are many things to be transported, for instance, extra soil to be moved, compost, fertilizer, or any other heavy material to be transported.
These things can be done using a wheelbarrow. A wheelbarrow can also be used to bring out the accumulated debris and leaves. There are both steel and plastic wheelbarrows available.
Steel wheelbarrows can carry and transport more weight, like rocks, bricks, or any large plants. Plastic wheelbarrows can carry only lightweight objects.
• Wheelbarrows with only one handle can only be pushed or pulled.
• Wheelbarrows with only one handle and two wheels can be balanced easily. Wherein wheelbarrows with two handles and one wheel will create an imbalance.
• Inflate the wheels at regular intervals for proper functioning.
WATERING WAND
A watering wand helps to give the plants a gentle shower. It comes in varying lengths. Say, from 10 inches to 48 inches.
• Choose the length of the wand as per your requirement.
• The length should be long for hanging baskets and shorter for small spaces.
• Choose the ones with built-in valves that help you to adjust the flow of water automatically.
PLAN YOUR GARDEN
If you want to maintain your garden, plan your space and decide the type of plants you want to grow. It could be vegetables, flowers, fruits, etc. Choosing the plant and watering them alone is not sufficient, but choosing the right tools and this article on must-have tools for every gardener helps better maintain your garden.
Happy Gardening!