Having the right tools for your garden this spring will help your gardening work go smoothly and make it more fun! Don’t be overwhelmed by all the gardening tool choices out there. In order to have a beautiful garden this spring, simply stick with the basics. These 8 essential garden tools will help you make the most of your spring garden.
1. Pruning Shears
Pruning shears are a great handheld tool, which are basically heavy duty scissors for your garden. They are best used on plants and bushes, to remove any damaged or dead stems or branches. This helps prevent unwanted insects and can improve the health of the plant. Pruning shears are used for smaller branches and stems, measuring around half an inch or less in width. They can also help control and cut back areas of overgrowth. Choose pruners that fit easily in the palm of your hand, for ease of use.
2. Loppers
Loppers are similar to pruning shears, but they have longer handles, and require two hands to use. They provide more leverage, so they are best used to trim thicker branches on bushes and trees. Loopers can cut through wood up to one inch in diameter, or sometimes more. They also provide a longer reach due to their length.
3. Garden Shovel
A good garden shovel is a necessity for your spring garden. It will be used for digging, cutting through sod, moving soil, mulch and fertilizer, and edging around the garden.
When choosing a garden shovel, you will want to look for one with a flat ledge on top. This will allow you to step on it comfortably and easily with your foot, which will help with digging. The ideal height of a shovel should be roughly four inches below your shoulder when standing it up straight.
4. Garden Hoe
The classic garden hoe will come in handy this spring, as it can be used for digging up weeds without having to bend over. It can help cultivate the soil and prevent it from becoming compacted. The best time to use a garden hoe is when the soil is dry. If the soil is too wet, it will be difficult to shift the dirt and disrupt the root system of the weed.
5. Trowel
A trowel is a small garden tool which is used for removing weeds, digging small holes for planting bulbs, or taking up plants. Gardening trowels can be especially useful in small, tight areas, where larger tools have a hard time reaching.
6. Hori Hori Knife
The hori hori knife is a Japanese, multipurpose gardening tool, used for both digging and cutting. In Japanese, hori hori literally means “dig dig”. Gardeners love this tool for its versatility. It can be used for all kinds of digging, cutting, transplanting, sowing seed, planting seedlings, weeding, and can even measure soil depth for planting bulbs.
7. Wheelbarrow
A wheelbarrow is an important garden essential. You can easily haul all kinds of things, from compost to plants to bags of soil. A wheelbarrow can be especially helpful when hauling loose materials that need to be dumped out, like soil, compost, or gravel. Wheelbarrows can also be used for tasks such as clearing trash and transporting garden tools.
8. Gardening Gloves
It is important to protect your hands when gardening. A good, sturdy pair of gardening gloves can protect your hands from painful thorns and splinters. They can also prevent bacteria and fungi from entering small cuts or scrapes on your hands. They can also prevent hand injuries such as sunburn, irritation from allergies, and pesticide or chemical contact.
Having a beautiful garden does not require a lot of money, simply the right tools. These 8 essential garden tools will help make your garden easy to maintain this spring.
If you find yourself needing extra help this gardening season, Jack’s Lawn Care & Landscaping offers a variety of services, including shrub trimming and pruning for our customers.
