Just like a chef cannot cook without a knife; a tailor cannot make garments without his dressmaking tools; a doctor cannot perform a surgery without surgical instruments; similarly, a gardener cannot operate without basic gardening tools. It is important to note that gardening is all about determination, preparation and planning. So, must-have gardening tools should be your starting point.
So, let’s take a look at what you’ll need:
Gardening Gloves
I know some folks who avoid wearing gardening gloves at all costs because they find them way too uncomfortable and they just want to enjoy the feeling of digging the soil with their bare hands. I completely understand that point of view because I always used to take my gloves off. It’s great to feel the different textures of stems, twigs and leaves, let the soft soil crumble between your fingers, the rich earthly smells reach your nose as it breaks apart in your hands and allow yourself to handle delicate seedlings and let the fine hairs of a tomato plant brush against your skin. Gardening is all about working with your hands, feeling and connecting with the beautiful things of nature.
However, gardening gloves are not worn just to keep your hands from getting dirty. You’ll be avoiding blisters, cuts, scrapes and calluses and shielding existing cuts from infection. But, most important of all, gloves can protect you from the harmful blend of bacteria and fungi that sometimes lurk in the soil.
Tip: Gloves made from breathable and water-resistant fabrics are the best.
Hand Trowels
Designed to dig small holes, transplant plants and herbs, take out weeds and other similar tasks, the hand trowel is the most essential tool for any gardener to have on hand. Gardening experts often suggest in getting stainless steel trowels as they are known to last longer.
Tip: For transplanting, it is recommended to buy a trowel with a broad blade while a trowel that has a narrow blade is more suitable for digging up weeds.
Hoe
A hoe is a gardening staple that comes from an ancient agricultural technology. Most people think that gardening hoes can only be used for stirring up and mounding the soil, but hoes can also be used to dislodge weeds, prepare seedbeds, edge a lawn and other countless gardening chores.
Today, you’ll find a wide range of hoes, but a common Draw or Dutch hoe will be able to match your gardening needs.
Garden Forks
When you are planning to grow a garden, you’ll need appropriate tools with the right strength and function to take care of your plants and a garden fork is one of these important tools.
This large fork consists of four to sometimes eight tines designed with a horizontal curve and a slight upward curve. It’s a multi-purpose equipment that can be used to break up compacted soil, mix in soil treatment, remove weeds and stones, turn over new beds, move plants with large root structures, spread mulches and soften tough ground.
Tip: Remember to keep such sharp tools away from children.
Garden Rake
A garden rake is another essential tool that was designed to pick up leaves and pull out weeds. This landscaping tool can scoop, gather and level leaves and mulch without causing any damage to the lawn or the soil beneath. There are rakes with flat heads and some even come with sharp metal tines that are very useful in breaking up compacted soil or rocks.
Pruning Shears
I’ve had people asking me if they could use scissors instead of pruning shears. The answer is yes; you can use scissors, but there will come a point when you’ll need pruning shears.
You see, scissors and pruning shears may seem as if they are basically the same thing, but there are some differences and the primary one is that pruning shears are meant specifically for gardening purposes.
