If you’re thinking about taking your gardening seriously and
getting out there every day to increase the attractiveness of
your garden, then you will want to get the right tools to help
you in this. You might be tempted
to go out to the store and just buy the nearest things you see,
but you’ll be much happier if you put lots of thought into the
styles and types of tools you’re buying. There are styles
designed just for gardening, and you’ll be better off buying
those.
You can find most of the tools you will need at your local
gardening or home improvement shop. Usually the employees will
be simply thrilled to assist you in finding the ideal tools. If
you go to a shop that specializes in gardening, you can usually
get some advice in addition to service. Gardening store
employees are usually an untapped wealth of wisdom, and they are
how I learned almost all that I know about gardening today.
If you are having a hard time finding the right tool or if you
want to save some money, you might try looking online for the
supplies you need. You’ll have to pay the shipping costs and
wait an extra week or two, but often if you buy more than one
tool, the total savings will be worth it. You should always buy
from a reputable seller, though, and search around beforehand
for anything negative that people had to say about their buying
experience.
As far as basic digging tools go, you might already have all
you’ll need. There are several types that you should get though,
for different specific tasks. A round point shovel is good for
digging holes for plants. A spade is necessary for all the more
intricate work. A garden fork you might not use as much, but I
have one in my tool shed and I’ve been thankful for it on
multiple occasions. Having these different varieties of digging
tools can help you to minimize the work you have to do. For
example, if you try digging a big hole with a little spade then
you’ll end up rather tired. The same goes if you are attempting
to do more detailed work with a big clumsy shovel.
A rake is an absolute necessity. You most likely already have
one, but I’m guessing it’s a lawn rake and not a garden rake.
There is definitely a difference, and if you try to use a lawn
rake in a garden then you will
not be happy with the results. Same if you buy a grading or a
contractor’s rake. You’ll want to look for a bowhead rake. I’ve
found these are the best for gardening purposes. They will
provide you the maximum control and accuracy, so you don’t
accidentally tear up your precious plants.
As far as hoes go, I don’t believe any gardener should have less
than 3. There are so many useful varieties on the market that I
have a hard time recommending just one, and that’s why I’ll tell
you all the ones I usually use. The one I use the most is the
onion hoe, which is very lightweight and ideal for small
cultivations and weeding. The Warren hoe is a larger model, with
a pointed end. If you need to make a hole or dig out a pesky
weed, this is the one for you. There are several other
varieties, but I recommend starting with the ones I mentioned.
As you progress in your gardening savvy, you will find the need
for more types.
Most people believe that gardening just consists of a simple
spade. But there are many, many tools with many more variations
that you will use in your gardening career. Usually you can
start with just a few different tools, but you’ll always find
that you can use more varieties for special situations. It’s
just a matter of recognizing when one tool could be more
efficient than another.
