BookmarkAll About Garden Hand Tools
Inside the gardener's toolbox
Gardening hand tools come in an array of shapes, functions, and sizes every bit as diverse as the plants, flowers, and other forms of flora people cultivate. From the basic to the bizarre, any number of tools can show up in a gardener's able hand, and ultimately, help in the creation and nurturing of plant life. With a little ingenuity and plenty of elbow grease, these hand tools help your garden flourish. And while all these tools can be purchased at any good-sized garden department, reliable, quality tools can be purchased on the second hand market as well.
The basics
Experts agree on a few must have items to achieve a well-appointed tool shed:
a garden cart or wheel barrow for hauling yard debris, dirt, and leaves
a rake, preferably with sturdy metal tines, for collecting loose matter into piles
a shovel to bury seedling and sprouts or to carry rubbish to a suitable receptacle
As far as hand tools are concerned, most of the basic tools cut various forms of plants. Although many manufacturers produce variant versions of these tools, look for a few simple traits to distinguish a quality piece: ergonomic handles and designs, rust-resistant fabrication, and blades that can be sharpened or replaced. The most basic cutting tools are pruners (for cutting rose bushes or other thin branches), loppers (long handled clips for leverage on thicker branches or to reach things farther off the ground), and hedge shears (designed to cut straight, level plains for shaping large bushes into geometrically precise configurations).
Files or a whetstone are essential for sharpening gardening tools.
Release your inner MacGyver
You might not associate claw hammers and screwdrivers with gardening, but many expert gardeners have found novel uses for many common construction tools.
Screwdrivers come in handy for cleaning out crevices between stones.
Claw hammers can aid in planting. They can be used to punch tiny holes in the ground for seedlings, planters, or saplings. The claw portion of the hammer makes a good mini-cultivator.
Sledgehammers can be used to drive in poles or tomato stakes through tough soil. Extreme gardeners can use them to break up large stones.
Pry bars provide the leverage necessary to move a large stone or railroad tie into position. Pry bars can also be used for loosening the soil in the bottom of a planting hole, or to remove roots.
Specialty gardening knives, designed specifically for outdoor use, can take care of roots, vines, and branches.
Scissors will cut greens and other edibles.
Wire cutters are needed for cutting wire around hay or straw bales. Bolt cutters are needed to cut the mesh for tomato cages or rebar for stakes.
Stiff wire brushes are good for knocking dirt off your favorite tool. Plastic or natural bristle brushes are ideal for various projects such as scrubbing stones, getting grease off paved surfaces and cleaning clay pots. Soft brushes can gently dust plants.
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