Importance of Gardening Tools

You need the right tools to make you gardening experience enjoyable.

Gardening is an enjoyable hobby. The right tools for this hobby are essential to making your gardening experience enjoyable and easier.

Hoe

Using a hoe makes your weeding and planting easier.

The purpose of a hoe is to make weeding easier by allowing you to dig the weed without having to bend over, straining your back and hands in the process. The hoe also makes creating garden rows easier, and allows you to loosen the soil so the roots of your plants receive the air and water they need to thrive.

Shovels

Turning the soil is essential to keeping your garden healthy.

Shovels come into play mostly when you plant trees or shrubs, but they do have a beneficial use in your garden in general. You use a shovel to turn the soil so you can add nutrients and air circulation. Digging also exposes insect eggs to the elements, and helps keep weeds from taking root in your garden bed. Use hand shovels if you are digging small holes.

Rakes

There are two basic types of rakes you will need for your garden. The leaf rake is beneficial to covering your garden plot in winter with leaves and other compost material. Leaves help by smothering weeds, while adding beneficial nutrients to your garden as they decompose. Use a garden or dirt rake to keep the top layer of soil in your garden loose or to rake weeds and debris out from around your tender plants.

Wheelbarrows

Wheelbarrows will help you transport heavy items to your garden area.

Wheelbarrows are helpful, but not a necessity unless your garden is a distance from your tool shed. It will aid in transporting heavy bags or large amounts of compost and soil. You can also carry tools, water or other necessities from your shed to your garden plot.

Container Tools

Container gardens need smaller tools.

If you garden by using containers on your deck or patio, then you'll need smaller tools in place of full sized tools. Hand shovels, or trowels, and hand rakes will help you keep the soil in your containers loose. Use a watering can instead of a hose when watering a container.

References

• Good Housekeeping: 4 Gardening Tools To Take The Work Out of Weeding; Kathleen Huddy; 2010
• National Gardening Association: Garden Tools and Ergonomic
• Mother Earth News: Choose Long Handled Garden Tools For Easier Garden Care; Brook Elliott; 2001

Resources

• Mother Earth News: Organic Gardening