Garden Tools

When you first start to garden, there are basic tools you will need. Get the basic garden tools first and if you feel that gardening is the hobby for you, you can add all the "kool" tools.

The basic garden tools are:

• Garden Rake
• Garden Shears
• Gloves
• Hoes
• Shovels
• Spading Forks
• Watering Cans

Garden Rake: There are two types of garden rakes. They have strong tines and are designed to move or remove debris and to work the soil for planting. The bow rake has short tines on one side attached to a metal frame by two curved steel supports, hence the name "bow." The rake is used for leveling the soil after it has been turned and prior to planting. It can also be used to remove large clumps of earth or rocks from the soil. Use the flat side of the bow rake to smooth the soil in preparation for planting.

The flat garden rake has a T-shaped head attached directly to the handle for extra strength.

Garden Shears: Garden shears are used for pruning, shaping, and removing foliage or branches. They should fit comfortably in your hand.

Gloves: Getting your hands dirty is part of the fun of gardening. However, you do not want to get stuck by thorns, and end up with blisters. There are some garden chemicals that should not come in contact with your skin. You should invest in a good pair of gloves.

Hoes: There are three types of hoes. The hoe is used for weeding and light ground breaking. You use a hoe for weeding and cultivating the surface of the soil to allow for penetration of nutrients and water. Use a small hoe when working in your flowerbeds and around permanent plantings. You need to keep the blades sharp for weed removal.

The regular garden hoe has a square or rectangular blade and is a right angle which is good for chopping.

The Warren is used more for planting than weeding. It has v-shaped blade which can be used to dig furrows, and the open part can be used to close furrows.

The weeding hoe has a flat blade on one end for chopping and pointed tips on the other for pulling weeds up by the roots.

The action hoe pivots back and forth under the soil to cut weeds. It cuts on the push or pull stroke.

Pitch Forks: The spading fork looks like a pitchfork but it has a shorter handle and wider tines. It is used for aerating and transplanting. You use it to dig down into hard soil and break the ground.

The hay fork is used to move large amounts of material such as compost, mulch, brush, and hay. It has round tines.

Shovels: For planting shrubs and trees, you should get a round-ended shovel. There are four types of shovels. The round point shovel is used for digging, lifting, and throwing. It cuts into the soil. These shovels have rims where you can put your feet for digging holes. You should get one with a wide rim if you plan to do a lot of digging.

The square point shovel is used to move materials. It is also known as a scoop.

The garden spade, which is similar to the square point shovel, is used for cutting, digging, edging, and lifting sod.

The drain or trench shovel is used when working in restricted spaces. It has a narrow head and straighter handle and can also be used for transplanting.

Watering Cans: Use a watering can for hard to reach places and to water new seedlings. Get one with a long nozzle. The water comes out in a gentle flow. You should get one with a detachable spray head.

Other tools include:

Cultivator: This tool is designed to scratch the soil either prior to planting or around the plants that are growing. Cultivators are available with either long handles or as a hand tool.

Mattock: The Mattock is used for heavy duty ground breaking. It has both chopping and cutting blades so you can cut through roots and break up hard ground.

Pick: The tool has two pointed ends to use for breaking up hard ground.

Trowel: Use a trowel, mini spade, to plant your annuals and perennials.

Weed Knife: To remove tough weeds such as wild garlic, you need a weed knife. Wild garlic has a bulb. Removing the top will not get of the problem. The whole plant has to be removed. Dandelions have a taproot and the entire plant needs to be removed.

As you advance in your gardening, there are other tools that you will see and want. Garden tools can be expensive. If you continue gardening you will want to shop and compare to get the best deal possible. You will be able to find the tools you need on the Internet or at your local hardware store or nursery.