Gardening Tool Basics
Working in a garden requires some basic tools and equipment. You don't have to invest in all of them at one time, purchase them in as the need arises. Don't overlook buying used garden equipment. House sales are an ideal place to pick up good quality garden tools at bargain prices.
Just how do you know good quality from poor? Use these guidelines when you're purchasing garden equipment and tools. In general, higher priced tools are better tools because they're made of heavier and more durable materials.
When shopping for garden tools look for the following marks of quality:
- heavy gauge steel blades hold their cutting edge better and will last the longest.
- wooden handles should be sealed with either varnish or other finish to prevent moisture damage and provide a smooth gripping surface.
- long-handled tools with heads that fit over the end of the handle shaft forming a socket are stronger and will resist breaking.
Cutting, trimming and pruning tools
Cultivating, planting and raking tools
Other equipment
Tool maintenance
Cutting, trimming and pruning tools
- Pruning Shears are hand-held snippers that easily fit in a back pocket and are used for cutting away excess or dried ends of woody plants and shrubs. The temptation is to make them do more than they're designed to do which can damage them. Don't try to cut through a branch that's thicker than the opening of the shear cutters. And never twist shears to force them while cutting through a thick branch because the blades can easily twist and become misshapen and they cannot be straightened out.
- Loppers are a heavy-duty version of pruning shears. They have two arm length handles which allows you to generate high cutting forces at the blades. They are used to trim and cut heavy branches pruning shears can't penetrate.
- Hedge Shears look like a giant pair of scissors and are suitable for trimming branches of hedges. Because of their long reach and quick straight cuts they are useful garden tools. Better hedge shears have a notch in one blade close to the center pivot to give better control when trimming large branches. This notch helps hold the branch close to the pivot where most cutting leverage is generated.
- A Bow Saw has a steel blade stretched tight between a U-shaped handle resembling a bow. This tool has a thin wide blade with very deep teeth which allows it to cut green wood quickly. Bow saws are used to cut large branches.
- A Pruning Saw has a stiff blade with teeth on both edges. One edge has fine teeth for cutting small branches and the other has large coarse teeth suitable for cutting large branches. Some pruning saws have a curved handle and a folding blade. Because of their small size they're easy to maneuver within the tight confines of an overgrown bush or shrub.
- A Lawn Mower is either man, gas or electrically powered. A man-powered or push mower is ideal for small grass areas or for anyone with a large lawn who wants to work out while cutting the grass. Another benefit is that it's environment-friendly requiring no gas, oil or electricity. There's no fumes either. Gas and electric mowers range in size from a standard 3.5 hp. walk behind unit to an 18 hp. riding tractor mower.
Cultivating, planting and raking tools
- A Spade is a squared off shovel used for digging and moving soil. It's especially good for breaking through tough roots buried beneath the soil and for edging a garden bed.
- A Shovel can be small or large, round or square, scooped or flat but basically it's designed for digging up the soil and moving it around. Choose one that feels comfortable to grip and lightweight to handle. A small shovel will dig just as large a hole as a large shovel and is easier to handle for the weekend gardener.
- A Trowel is a hand-held scoop on a handle used for planting and transplanting. It digs a hole by creating an opening in the soil. It's useful when dividing plants and in working the soil in a container.
- A Garden Fork has four tines and it's designed for cultivating the soil before planting. The fork is used like a shovel to turn over the soil but its tines break the soil into smaller chunks than a shovel will.
- An Oscillating Stirrup Hoe has a long handle with a stirrup-like hinged blade that moves back and forth when you push it through the soil. It disturbs the soil in two directions making it an efficient cultivator. It's blade will also cut weed roots and other vegetation as it is worked back and forth through the soil.
- A Bow Rake has short rigid tines and is used for leveling a bed after digging it up with a shovel or garden fork. Bow rakes will also remove debris and stones from the soil.
- A Leaf Rake is used for raking leaves, grass clipping, pine needles and other debris from the lawn and garden bed.
- A Thatching Rake has crescent shaped blades that you push and pull through a lawn to remove dead and matted grass also known as thatch.
- A Weeder is a hand held tool used to spot remove weeds in garden beds or the lawn. There are various shapes and designs available but basically a weeder has a wooden or plastic handle attached to a metal shaft about a foot long with a sharp pointed tip. The tip plunges into the soil and disturbs the ground around the weed so it can be removed.
- A Cultivator is a hand-held tool with 3 prongs that is used to amend the soil with fertilizer or to weed in small confined areas like a container or raised garden bed. You'll also find cultivators with a long handle for working the soil while you're standing.
Other equipment:
- A Garden Hose with a pistol grip or twist-type attachment is necessary for watering plants and lawn as well as for washing the car and outdoor furniture. Hoses are sold in 1/2-3/4-inch diameters made of plastic, rubber and vinyl tubing in lengths up to 75-feet.
- A Sprinkler attaches to a hose to dispense water to the lawn and garden beds.
- A Hose Sprayer is a plastic or glass container with a spray nozzle that attaches to the end of a garden hose. It's used to spray fertilizers or pesticides mixed with water.
- A Utility Knife is handy for cutting twine, peat pots and heavy plastic containers.
- A Kneeling Pad or old pillow is essential so when you're working on your knees they are cushioned from the hard, uneven surface of the ground.
- A Tool Tote or a bucket with a handle to hold hand garden tools and gloves keeps everything in one container that you can move wherever you're working.
- A Wheelbarrow or utility cart makes short work of transporting large bags of mulch or several trays of flowers. It's also good for hauling debris to a compost pile.
- A Sprinkling Can is handy for special needs watering to plants such as those with fertilizer or nutrients.
- A Drop Spreader is a metal or plastic container on a two-wheel cart with a mechanism for dispensing seed
and fertilizer automatically as you walk behind and push it.
- A Hand Held Broadcast Spreader is a smaller version of the drop spreader that is filled with seed or fertilizer. As you walk you turn a handle that dispenses what is inside.
Tool maintenance
Garden tools require very little maintenance to keep them working. They can last a long time if you spend a few minutes keeping them clean, sharp and lubricated.
- Remove dirt and mud from tools after each use.
- Remove rust and worn paint from metal parts of tools with a wire brush.
- Use a silicone spray or a water displacing lubricant such as WD40 to coat exposed metal parts of the tools after each use and especially before extended storage.
- Tighten or replace loose screws, nails, and nuts and bolts as soon as you notice them. If bolts are left loose and the tool is used the mounting holes which the fastener passes through will elongate. If this happens tightening the bolt may not secure the handle and it might have to be prematurely replaced.
- Don't discard a tool because of a broken handle. Most hardware stores and home centers carry replacement handles that are easily installed.
- Shovels and digging tools will work harder with sharp edges. Use a coarse file to hone the front edges of the tool. Work the file back and forth on both sides of the tool.
written by Gene and Katie Hamilton