More Gardening Tools

The market for tools in gardening grows weekly, as do the products. Gardeners are an inventive bunch, all full of fresh new ideas for saving on labor and for insuring their backs, hands and legs make it through their chores intact, if not stronger. Garden gloves, as just one example, are a technology of their own. There are designs from the most simple leather gloves (my personal favorites) to space-aged designs featuring air holes on the back and composed of the newest and most exotic materials. This is not to say the variety is a bad thing. It is most decidedly not! Different people will prefer different styles and for a multitude of reasons – circulatory, allergic reactions to materials, and just the feel all can affect a decision on appropriate garden gloves.

I highly recommend a good pair of gloves, by the way. Not only do they make the cleanup easier, they protect the hands from noxious chemicals – if they exist in your garden – and also from spiny pricks of some plants like, ahem, roses or blackberries. Don’t worry. You will have plenty of dirt under your fingernails anyway. I personally guarantee it! No one gets off Scott Free from the dirt.

Here is a fast review of some tools gardeners have come to appreciate:

The Hand Hoe

This is a killer little item. As can be seen from the illustration, one can not only weed but some digging can also occur with this lightweight, versatile tool. It contains the capacity not only to loosen the soil in a small area but also to literally move earth and shape a small area. Ideal for planting, one can insert the solid end into the ground and separate a hole perfect for inserting either seeds or small “starts”.

The Garden Trowel

Another very popular item, the trowel can do what the Hand Hoe can do, yet its form allows digging in a more serious way. Since many seeds and planting “starts” require excavations of more depth, this tool can deliver. Its small size will not disturb neighboring plants and seeds. This little guy is an excellent item to have. Consider this on the “absolutely necessary” scale of garden tools.

The Wheelbarrow

Consider this on the “absolutely necessary” level as well, particularly when the initial parts of setting the garden up are concerned. The uses for this should be pretty obvious. From debris disposal to the moving of amendments into place, the wheelbarrow performs fabulous functions day in and day out for the active gardener.

The Digging Spade

This spade is a shovel, obviously, but with a more specific function. It is often used in nurseries and among landscapers for purposes of transplanting. The sharpened flat edge can cut roots quickly and can penetrate the soil with minimal effort. As well, the sharp edge can chip away and form a root ball on a transplanted item extremely well. Another important use is for cutting edges alongside gardens, separating them from lawns. The straightness makes this chore easier and quicker than just about any other tool.