How to Gather The Necessary Tools For Your garden

Good sturdy equipment is a necessity when working in and around the landscape. Having the proper tools allows you to work smarter, faster, and will absolutely reduce stress to your body so you can return again tomorrow to continue to tame your jungle.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• money

1. Purchasing quality, durable equipment, should be your main objective when thinking about buying garden equipment. There are some differences in quality and also in ease of use between products, so don’t make it simply a money issue, meaning buying the cheapest. Save your money, buy the best you can and take care of them.
   
   Working in the garden can sometimes test your will power and your heart power. Having the right equipment makes a tremendous difference in how you feel today and how fast you'll come back again tomorrow.
2. ● Good pair of leather gloves $15
   
   Keeps hands clean, minimizes blisters, prevents thorns and splinters from jabbing into fingers. I prefer the tighter fitting variety, provides a better feel to my hands.
   
   ● Long handle Round Point Shovel $25
   
   Good for all around landscape use, installing and transplanting shrubs, digging trenches and many other uses.
   
   ● Square faced Edging Shovel- (6”-8” wide blade) $25
   
   Great for edging beds, dividing and planting perennials. Buy long or short handle varieties, each has a place. I prefer the longer handle, less bending over.
   
   ● Steel bodied Wheel barrow with solid wheel $80
   
   Great for hauling anything around the garden. A must and the solid wheel will never go flat. Do not buy cheap, it will need to take some abuse. I prefer the one wheel varieties wheel barrows, they are easier to manoeuvre
   
   ● 6'x6' Mesh Tarp $25 or 20 Gallon Trash can $20 or both
   
   Easy cleanup and removal of all lighter landscape debris (leaves, weeds, pruning and perennial debris). Buy mesh variety tarp and do not buy bigger than 6'x6'. The bigger tarps can be over filled, become heavy and have to be dragged, tearing over time.
   
   ● Spring mounted leaf rake w/metal tines $25
   
   Good strong action for cleaning debris. Buy with bolts through handle connecting rake head with a nut, not screws. Always tighten nuts before use and apply lock tight if available to hold nuts on.
   
   ● Heavy Mattock $25
   
   Good for plant, stump and root removal, stripping sod, trenching drain pipes and digging clay soil. #### Watch out for your shins when using.
   
   ● Hand Pruners-(Felco) w/case $45
   
   Good for finer cuts when pruning shrubs, trees and all around landscape use. A must and buy quality, they will last forever.
   
   ● Knee Pads- You will thank me $30
   
   Good for saving knees especially on concrete and cold ground when planting bulbs and flowers.
   
   ● Metal Flat Shovel or snow shovel $20
   
   Good for scooping rocks, dirt and debris from any hard surface. Snow shovel is good for more than snow.
   
   ● Heavy Soil Rake $25
   
   Good for spreading and grading soil and rocks. Buy variety with one solid bar connecting rake head to handle instead of the two, smaller bars, it’s stronger.
   
   ● Garden Trowel $10
   
   Good for planting small perennials, ground covers, flowers and removing weeds.
   
   ● Hand Saw-12" blade-w/holster $25
   
   Good for large cuts on trees and shrubs and cutting back ornamental grasses
3. Total cost of the above tools is about $500. Not cheap but all are necessary
   
   Buy as good as you can and take care of each.
   
   What type of handle on shovels and rakes?
   
   Wood compared to fiberglass or steel, it’s your choice. Steel is considerably heavier and not necessary. If you don’t run them over with your car and pay attention to the stress applied when trying to dig out plants, you know, that cracking sound you hear, they will all last for a long, long time.
   
   Cleanliness? Maintenance?
   
   They’re garden tools! They’re supposed to get dirty and scratched and sometimes even a little rusty. Wash them off, check and tighten bolts, hang them up and they will still work for years even with the rust.
   
   **** Always empty debris and water from wheel barrow to keep inside clean and rust free. Rust makes for a weaker bottom and shorter life.
   
   
   Do I need to oil handles or blades?
   
   Not unless you are totally bored, with nothing else to do. It is not necessary.
   
   All the best,
   
   Todd
   
   Visit: landscapeproblemsolver.com for more free tips and advice

Tips & Warnings

• follow above advice and buy the best you can
• keep organized and clean
• put away when done
• spray pruners and loppers with CRC lubricant once or twice a year
• clean inside of wheel barrow or it will rust