Gardening Tools & Their Uses

Gardening is a popular pastime, either for pleasure or necessity. The proper tool makes gardening tasks easier, faster and more enjoyable. You don't need all the tools in a hardware store, just the basics will do. Like other tools, each gardening tool is designed for a specific task. Each has a purpose. Imagine what needs to be done in a garden and there will be a tool designed for it.

Hand Tools

The three basic hand tools that will get you through most small jobs are similar in size. The trowel, which looks like a little shovel, works well for planting bulbs. A single scoop of the trowel will make a hole to fit the bulb. Often the trowel will have inch markings along its blade to determine the depth of the hole.
The hand weeder, looking similar to a screwdriver, but with a forked tip, fits down along the deep tap root of weeds like dandelions making it easy to pry them out.
A pruning shears, looking like a heavy-duty scissors, will come in handy for hand trimming throughout your garden. They come in many different styles, but the most important feature is to find one that fits your hand comfortably.

Long-handled tools

Shovels come in many different designs. Their name often describes their function, such as the garden shovel, the irrigation shovel or the scoop shovel, all which come with a straight handle or end in a D shaped handle. Obviously the garden shovel would be your choice for digging and shoveling dirt.
The next most useful long-handled garden tool would be the garden hoe. With this tool weeds can be loosened and removed while working up the soil lightly around your established plants.
A pitchfork or spading fork earns its keep in its ability to break up the dirt and knock dirt clumps down to size. At season's end garden debris can be scraped together and scooped into a pile with the use of the spading/pitchfork.

Mechanical Tools

The only mechanical tool needed in your garden would be a tiller. Models are either gas or electric propelled. The tiller is most often used at the beginning and end of the gardening season. Reminiscent of the old horse-drawn plow, the tiller has a wheel of tines (blades) that dig into and break up the soil. They can also work fertilizers into the garden before planting. At the end of the season the tiller is used to plow the plant remains back into the soil.
A tiller can be expensive to purchase, so you may choose to rent one through a garden center. Or check around your neighborhood to see if you can borrow one.

Tool Care

To extend the life expectancy of your tools you must care for them properly. Always take time to clean them off when you are finished with them. Don't leave them stuck in the ground at the edge of your garden awaiting your next use. Return them to the garage or shed, prolonging their life and making them easier to find the next time you want them.
Never store them wet. This will lead to rust. Rub the long wooden handles of your shovels and hoes with linseed oil at least once a season to keep them from drying out and cracking. Maintain a sharp edge on your metal tools. Do not let any chemicals such as fertilizers, remain on your tools as they corrode the metal parts quickly.

Extras

There are a few items, not necessarily thought of as tools, that will make your gardening more enjoyable. Gloves will keep your hands clean, prevent blisters, and prevent many of the scratches and scrapes inherent to gardening.
If you intend to get down among your garden plants to do your weeding, a knee pad will give you a soft, smooth surface to protect your knees.
A watering can allows you to direct the water right to the plant, while a hose will make watering large areas quick and easy.
A bucket to carry your tools or hold garden waste can also be inverted and used as a seat when you take a break. When moving large items, such as bags of fertilizer or piles of dirt, a wheelbarrow can make the task easier. The list could go on and on: bug spray, a hat to shade your face, twine and stakes to mark your rows, a water bottle, a radio to keep you company, a basket to collect your garden offerings.

Important things to remember

Tools can be found in all price ranges and levels of quality. Try to buy the best you can afford. However, do not overbuy. The biggest won't necessarily be the best, nor is the cheapest a good buy if the tool doesn't fit you or your needs.
Handles should fit your grip. The length and weight should be comfortable for you. Not only will the wrong size hinder you in your gardening tasks, improperly sized tools can be dangerous to use. Something too lightweight for a strong person could snap and break, causing injury. If the tool is too heavy for the user, muscle strain and slips can occur.
Buy tools wisely, take care of them, and you and your tools will enjoy a long and productive gardening life.

References

• Tools, Their Use & Care