By Home Garden Seed Association
Photographs courtesy of Home Garden Seed Association
It’s a fact: good gardeners need good tools. Here are a few of our suggestions for tools that will make you a better gardener.
Bypass pruners are a better choice than anvil pruners, which crush stems when they cut. There are plenty of acceptable choices, depending on your budget and your hand size. Ask five avid gardeners about favorite hand pruners, and you’re likely to get five different responses. Here are three popular favorites, for good reasons: They’re easy to sharpen, ergonomic in design, and have replaceable parts.
The Bahco Ergo Bypass Pruner (pictured above) has a high carbon blade that stays sharp, and comes in small, medium, and large sizes.
The Felco F-2 Classic Hand Pruner is comfortable and light. Parts are readily available.
The ARS Signature Heavy Duty Pruner is ergonomic in design, and also comes in three sizes.
A sharpener will help keep your pruners in good working order. Look for one specifically designed for hand pruners, such as the Swiss-made Istor sharpener, that will slip easily into the tight space between pruner blades.
A hand weeder is your constant garden companion. Here are two popular weeders:
The Cobrahead Weeder is rugged and versatile. Use it for rooting out weeds, planting, and cultivating. Cobrahead designer Noel Valdes refers to it as a “steel fingernail.”
The Leonard Deluxe Stainless Steel Soil Knife (pictured below) is great for digging, dividing, planting bulbs, and more. Plus it has a serrated edge to cut through roots and twine.
Shovels and spades vary widely in design. For digging in clay soil, you’ll want a spade with a narrow tip, such as the Radius PRO Ergonomic Stainless Steel Transplanter. For edging, choose a spade with a sharp, flat blade. For general work, buy a quality tool with a strong handle that connects solidly to the blade. Proportions are important—if you are tall, you may need a handle that’s taller than the standard 48 inches.
A digging fork is good for loosening soil, or incorporating compost into your garden. A cheap fork will not last; you get what you pay for. Look for a comfortable handle and a forged steel head. Radius Garden PRO Ergonomic Stainless Steel Fork is one sturdy option. Another is the Spear & Jackson Traditional Digging Fork.
All-purpose gloves should be tough, washable, and inexpensive. Atlas Nitrile Garden Gloves fit all those criteria. In addition, you’ll want a pair of leather gloves for specific tasks that require better protection, such as pruning roses.
Loppers are for cutting branches larger than what your hand pruners can handle—3/4 inch or more in diameter. Look for an easy-on-the-body design with gears or rachets, such as Fiskars PowerGear Loppers, which come in several sizes.
Pruning saws are essential for shaping shrubs and removing dead or fallen branches. Some fold for easy transport, and others come with sheaths. Corona, Fiskars, ARS, and Stihl all make multiple versions in various sizes. Pruning saws get dull over time, so purchase a saw file also. Sharpen both sides of each blade tooth— a slow but effective process.
Last but not least, a wide-brimmed garden hat is an essential piece of equipment. Look for one that’s washable, and that has a chin strap so it doesn’t fly away on windy days.
All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.
By Heirloom Roses
Images courtesy of Heirloom Roses
Insects can create quite a headache for rose lovers. But think about a proactive approach for your garden’s health instead of a reactive response once the pests arrive.
Think beneficial insects. Click here for an informative article on the topic.
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