Hand Tools for Gardening
There are literally thousands of gardening hand tools on the market today from basic no-frills standards to niche gadgets for many conceivable uses. Garden hand tools come in hundreds of styles, colors, materials and price ranges, but whether you're new to gardening or an old pro, the basics of gardening hand tools remain the same. You can find "ergonomic" tools now. Their design reduces stress on the hand and wrist. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Trowel
-
Trowels are ideal for smaller plants in the garden. The trowel is the tool you will most likely use the most. They come in a variety of widths and lengths depending on the job on which you're going to use them. However, one mid-sized trowel will handle many tasks in the garden. . Many trowels are marked on the blade in inches for tasks such as planting bulbs where the right depth is important.
Weeder
-
A weeder makes quick work of pathway weeds. A weeder is a long, thin tool, normally with two points at the end and a notch in the middle. These are practical for weeding in tight places such as between bricks and pathway stones, and getting deep down next to weeds with long taproots, such as dandelions.
-
Hand rake
-
Hand rakes help loosen the soil surface around plants. Hand rakes are exactly that--small rakes. Gardeners use them for loosening soil around plant bases, scratching the soil for seeds that are surface sown and removing small stones from a garden bed. They also work well for pulling mulch back when adding plants to the garden, and for smoothing the soil and mulch out afterward.
Hoe
-
A combination hoe is two tools in one. Small hoes are handy for breaking up or smoothing out the soil in-between plants. They come pointed, flat edged or as a combination with both types in a one- or two-sided head, or one type at each end.The pointed hoe works well for making seed furrows and chopping up hardened soil. The flat hoe will break up hard soil and woody plant roots.
Pruners
-
Sharp pruners make the job easy. A pair of hand pruners is the one garden tool you should not skimp on. You can have a good pair of pruners for decades if you buy a quality pair. The better brands will offer replacement parts and blades. "Anvil" pruners have one sharp blade. "Bypass" pruners have two blades and work like scissors. Gardeners use pruners for cleanup and pruning flowers, shrubs and small tree branches. Keeping them oiled and sharp will help you get clean healthy pruning cuts.
Materials
-
Gardening hand tools today are made of metal and plastic, and some composite materials. Stainless steel is the strongest and most maintenance-free material for garden tools. Besides being strong, stainless steel will not rust.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
Comments
-
making garden complete.
