Which Gardening Tools Are the Top Choices for Your Garden
Which Gardening Tools Are the Top Choices for Your Garden
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 Lowe’s or Home Depot 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. A good idea is to go online to begin your investigation by doing a Hey Alexa or Hey Siri search for quality home gardening tools.
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 such as Tyler Tool, Garrett-Wade, and Garden Works USA you need as the selection will be bigger. 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. When it comes to digging, one of the tasks you are going to be faced with is planting seedlings and/or bulbs. Using a shovel and carving out a hole that is 5x’s too big for what you need is not the best option. The best tools to use for this are a 3” x 9” power auger, which attaches to a 3/8” drive power drill for planting shallow bulbs and seedlings such as tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. For plants that need to be rooted deeper or for aerating your compost heap, a 3” auger with a 24” depth is a most helpful tool. These items are made by several companies such as Power Planter, Ames, Lichter, Jissco, Hiltex, 7 Penn, and Yard Butler. We like Tech Team’s https://techteamproducts.com/ offering the best. Their 777 3” x 9” Auger https://www.amazon.com/Tech-Team-Planter-Seedlings-Planters/dp/B07S385BW7/ref=sr_1_197?keywords=bulb+auger&qid=1568384841&s=gateway&sr=8-197 is great for your bulbs and seedlings and their item 778 3” x 24” Auger https://www.amazon.com/Tech-Team-Planter-Seedlings-Planters/dp/B07S386MWG/ref=sr_1_53?keywords=bulb+auger&qid=1568384749&s=gateway&sr=8-53 is absolutely perfect for plants that need to be rooted deeper. The other option for planting bulbs and seedlings is a bulb planter. Generally speaking, there are two types. There is one that you hold in your hand and press into the soil, but this one tends to be problematic because it puts a lot of stress on the wrist and if you’re a fragile gardener, this is not suitable. The best solution is the type that you step on and push into the ground with your foot, but you need one that also disengages the soil easily. These are made by several companies, but the one that does the best job is made by Tech Team https://techteamproducts.com/. Their model 776 Bulb Planter (link). Not only does it quickly and easily make the right diameter and depth hole and disengages the soil promptly, it is sturdy to the point of being full professional grade.
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.
