Essential Hand Tools

Here is a list of essential hand tools a gardener can use and what types of jobs they are useful for.

Gloves

Gloves are used for planting, pruning, weeding and more. They help to protect your hands from scratches and cuts from sharp objects, such as thorns, and unknown objects buried in the soil. Most gloves are large because they are made for men and are ill fitting on women’s hands, which are smaller. It is important to buy a glove that fits well, to ensure proper protection and a proper grip to prevent accidents. Also, look at the type of material the glove is made from and consider what types of jobs you will be using the gloves for. Thinner, cloth gloves are fine for re-potting and light weeding. Stronger leather gloves are good for pruning. Rubber garden gloves with a foam lining are waterproof and keep hands dry and warm.

Shovels

Shovels can be used for digging, tilling, landscaping, planting and gardening and they come in all shapes and sizes, depending on what you need to do. The end of the shovel can have a round or square point. Round points are good for cutting or digging, while square points are good for scooping and removing material. The handle on a shovel can be short or long. Short handles are good for potting and planting, while long handles are better suited to digging. Finally, no matter what type of shovel you have, make sure to keep your shovel sharp! Otherwise, it will take so much more work to get the job done.

Rake

Garden rakes are useful for more than just raking up loose leaves in the fall. Rakes are also useful for leveling out soil before planting, removing larger stones or debris from a patch of soil, and fluffing up grass that has recently had a heavy object sitting on it. Choose a rake that is sturdy, but light weight so that you won’t tire easily when using it. The rake handle is usually made of wood, so it should be smooth without any slivers on it. The length of the rake handle is important too; the tip of the handle should come up to your ear when standing upright.

Garden Shears

Garden shears come in different types for different jobs. Like shovels, garden shears need to be kept sharp. You can do this with a fine file or sharpening stone, or by cutting through sandpaper.

• Hedge shears are used to trim and shape hedges. Select hedge shears with serrated blades, which will cut through heavy material easier than straight blades.
• Bypass shears are one type of pruning shears. They work like scissors and can be used for most pruning jobs. Compared to anvil shears, bypass shears give a cleaner cut. They also require less effort than anvil shears, which makes them easier on your hands.
• Anvil shears are the second type of pruning shears. They work by chopping; a blade is designed to press against an “anvil” or steel base and chop off the stem. Anvil shears are used mostly to thin shrubs.
• Flower shears are used for cutting flowers. The blade on flower shears is pointed, which makes it easy to get between the flower stems and cut only the flowers you desire.
• Lopping shears are used for cutting heavier wood. Lopping shears can have long or short handles. Long handles to make it easier to reach hedges or tall shrubs, while short handles are great for roses or similar type bushes, where the stems are too thick for bypass shears.
• Grass shears can only be used to trim grass. They are mainly used to trim grass around fences, stonework, or tree trunks.
• Electric shears are great for finishing large jobs fast.

The most important thing to remember when selecting your garden tools is to pay a bit extra for good quality tools that will last year after year.

 

 

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