Garden Tools

Every gardener requires a good set of tools for carrying out various gardening jobs. A garden tool is one of those many types of tools that are used for gardening, horticulture and agriculture. Garden tools can largely be divided into short and long-handled hand tools and garden power tools. Some common hand tools include spade, garden hoe, pitchfork, garden fork, garden rake and plough. Examples of garden power tools are lawn mower, cultivators, string trimmers, irrigation sprinklers, hedge trimmers, lawn aerators, leaf sweepers, leaf blowers and mini-tractors. These tools are combined with other gardening items such as wheelbarrow, hose and watering to create and maintain yards and gardens, at their best. Read on to find the details of some of the different types of gardening tools.

 

 

Shovel or spade is the most basic necessity of a garden. A shovel has a scoop blade and is best suited for moving dirt and garden soil around. A spade, on the other hand, has a flat blade and is used for cutting edges, digging and dividing plants. For clean and efficient cutting, the edge of the spade should always be kept sharpened.

 

Fork is another important tool in a garden that is used for turning and aerating compost, thereby breaking the lumps of the soil. Forks are best used for digging potatoes and lifting piles of fresh weeds into barrows. It is best to opt for expensive stronger forks as opposed to the cheaper ones that are not strong enough to lift heavy soil.

 

A chipping hoe is a handy tool used for removing small weeds. The Dutch or push-hoe is a better and user-friendly version of the chipping hoe, as it does not strain the neck and shoulders while using it. A three-pronged hoe is useful for digging and dragging out weeds that are buried under the soil.

 

Yet another basic tool in the garden, a rake can be found in different materials. A metal rake has a flat head and sharp prongs, which are used for smoothing out a garden bed and removing the last lumps and weeds. Conversely, a plastic, bamboo or lightweight rake is used for gathering leaves and grass clippings only.

 

Traditionally, wheelbarrows with one-wheel style were used by builders. These days, one can find pull along barrows with two wheels as well. Much lower to the ground, it makes it easier for a puller to lift the wheelbarrow high.

 

Hand pruners, also known as secateurs, are used for pruning plants like roses, while a pruning saw is used for pruning trees and larger shrubs. A pruning saw has a narrow curved blade that fits between the stems or branches, making it easier for you to cut them while pulling it backwards. One can even find telescopic tree pruners to make the job easier for pruning taller trees.

 

Shredders are a recent addition to the gardening world. They are excellent for disposing waste and creating mulch for the soil. This will save you from spending money on buying mulch and disposing off the waste.

 

A lawn mower is a gardening tool that has one or more revolving blades used for cutting a lawn at an even length. Lawn mowers are classified into two types - rotary mowers and cylinder or reel mowers. Rotary mowers use a blade that rotates about a vertical axis, while cylinder mowers use a blade that rotates about a horizontal axis.