Spades and other garden tools
Gardening can be heavy and exhausting work, so in order to plant out and maintain a garden with the minimum of effort, it is important to use the right garden tools.
Most of us enjoy relaxing in a well kept garden and the majority of households will have invested in some garden tools to keep their outside space in good order.
The most popular garden tools are the garden fork, garden spade, garden hoe, garden rake, and garden shears.
Most households will also own a lawnmower if they have grassed areas,hedge trimmers, loppers for garden trees, watering cans, hoses, dibbers, trugs, trowels, hand forks, a wheelbarrow and, of course, a good pair of thick gardening gloves.
If you are an experienced gardener or just starting our with your first garden, investing in quality garden tools is a good idea, as they will last for many years if used and cared for properly.
- Choose a fork as your first tool. Before you plant anything, you will need to open and improve the soil. The fork should have a short handle and wider tines. There are various sizes available – choose one to suit you. It is used to dig down into hard soil and break up the ground.
- Choose a hoe. A hoe is useful for weeding and cultivating the surface of the soil to allow for penetration of nutrients and water.
- Choose a watering can. Long nozzles allow the water to come out at a very gentle flow rate and are useful for reaching across long distances. Select a watering can that has a detachable spray head – this type of watering can is perfect for watering young seedlings.
- Choose a spade for larger digging projects, such as planting shrubs and trees.
- Buy a good rake, which has short tines on one side attached to a metal frame. It is used for levelling the soil after it has been turned and prior to planting, or for removing large clods of earth or rocks from the soil. You can also turn a rake over and use the flat side to smooth soil in preparation for planting.
- Choose a pair of garden shears that fits comfortably in your hand. Shears are used for pruning, shaping and removing foliage or branches. Don’t buy the most expensive shears until you decide you like gardening.
- You may also include a hose pipe. Not only will you be able to use a hose for watering, you’ll also need it to clean away some of the dirt and mess in the area around your garden. Unless you really want to invest in a pressure washer!
Don’t buy the most expensive tools when you are just starting. You may find that you don’t really like gardening – and if that is the case, you will not have lost a large investment.
