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Index : Miscellaneous Gardening Topics
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- 47. Gardeners Need Proper Tools - Top
- Just as it is with most hobbies, the selection of proper tools is very important to a successful outcome. This is especially true in gardening. Digging, raking, pruning, watering, and numerous other tasks are much easier, provided you have the right tools for the job.
First, and foremost, get a good pair of gardening gloves. I learned the hard way, the importance of gloves. Working at home around landscape timbers I jammed a long splinter into my finger, dirt and all. Bacteria in the soil caused a nasty infection, which took a long time to clear up.
Protecting the hands is especially important here in the desert with all of our barbed and thorny plants. A thick pair of leather gloves may be hot in the summer but their the only ones that will prevent thorns from penetrating through to your hands. Quality gloves aren't cheap, but the protection they provide is well work the expense. And for pruning jobs, a pair of safety goggles is a must for protecting the eyes from dangerous thorns projecting from stems and branches.
When considering tools, compare their design, the materials they are made from, and the way they are built. All these factors affect their ease of use and how well they last. For instance, fiberglass handles are stronger than wood. This may be important if you put a lot of strain on the tool. Shovels, rakes, and hoes are also stronger if the working end of the tool is riveted onto the handle.
When choosing shovels, make sure that the shovel is designed for the use intended. Round-point shovels are best for digging. Flat-point shovels are best for cutting and scooping. Narrow shovels are best for trenching. And scoop-type shovels are best for moving large amounts of mulch and manure. If you have only one shovel, make it one with a round-point and long hand. You can dig, cut, and move smaller amounts of soil, stone and mulch with this type. The long handle is easier on the back when it comes to digging. Some shovels even have a handle end, making them easier to hold.
Hand pruners and loppers also come in many forms. Always select a bypass type of pruning tool. These have a scissors cutting action that cleanly cuts without damaging plant tissue, providing the blade is kept sharp. Do not use anvil-type pruners. They act by pushing the cutting blade against a flat anvil-like surface. In the process, plant tissue is crushed, rather than cleanly cut and healing is difficult.
Gardeners should possess a hand pruner, a lopper, and a folding hand saw. The hand pruner can be used to cut stems up to one-quarter inch in diameter. Lopper, or long handled pruners, are used on branches up to one-half inch in diameter. And a folding hand saw will effectively cut larger limbs. Bow saws are not recommended. Their blades have a tendency to twist and turn, making precision cutting difficult.
Raking gravel and things out of gravel is a major chore here in the desert. A good quality rake can make the job much easier. I like the adjustable rakes. These have a lever on the handle that can be released to allow the tines to slide up or down. In so doing, the distance between the tines can be varied from close to far apart. You can adjust the tine spacing to accommodate the job your doing. Thin but strong, rounded tines are also much more durable than the older flat metal tine type rakes.
Because gardening is considered one of the most popular hobbies in the country, new products are always being offered. But many tried and true tools are still the best for gardening activities. Before you make your selection, find the tool that works best for the job at hand. Compare like tools for quality, durability and ease of use. Finally, get out there and enjoy the physical and mental benefits of gardening.
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Written by John Begeman, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Arizona, 520-626-5161.
Material originally appeared in Arizona Daily Star gardening column, on January 09, 2000
- Updated: January 09, 2000
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