Gardening might be a pleasure but it’s also work and a gardener can find their job so much easier if they have the proper gardening tools. Moreover, the tools must be kept in tip-top shape in order to work at their best. Some tools, especially cutting tools, are actually dangerous if they’re allowed to dull. Here are five gardening tools that the gardener must have:
A File or Whetstone
A file or whetstone keeps garden tools sharp.
A Round Point Spading Shovel
This is ideal for digging large holes, as for transplanting trees. The best come with a boot tread that allows them to be really be pushed down into the soil. The head and the shank should be made of forged steel and should be one piece. The handle should be made of wood, since wood is easier to grip than plastic.
A Spade
This resembles a shovel but it has a flat blade and is used for cutting straight down into the soil. It’s not recommended for digging into hard or rocky soil, but is ideal for soil that’s rich and loamy. The best spades are, again, forged with stainless steel. They’re expensive but last forever.
A Hoe
A hoe can be used to furrow a row, to disrupt weeds or to mix lime, compost and other amendments into the soil. There are a variety of hoes, including onion hoes, swan neck hoes, scuffle hoes and the familiar American pattern hoe.
A Hose
For a gardener with a big space, a hose with a sprinkler is a must. The price depends on how long it is, what it’s made of and its diameter. Hoses vary from 25 feet to 150 feet long. Most gardeners prefer a 50 foot hose, which is long enough to do the job but not unwieldy. A rubber hose is the best, because it’s the most flexible. Vinyl is cheap and brittle and most hoses are a combination of vinyl and rubber.
