I’m sure that everyone, whether you garden or not, is aware of many of the gardening tools available. I mean, if you have ever been in a home improvement store, you have probably strolled past the aisles filled with gardening tools.

Even still, I would like to go through them for any beginner gardener out there. If you remember a few week ago, I wrote a post on the beginner gardener: getting ready. By now I am sure that you have had lots of time to think about your garden, what you want and how much time you have for it. I also know that growing season is coming to an end but if you are planning on putting in some bulbs or even starting in the spring, you should look at buying your tools now when the end of season sales start. For this post, I am just going to look at the tools you use for planting and digging and I will go over tools that you use for trimming later.

So without further ado, let’s look at the tools.

The Spade:

Every gardener needs a spade and the type of spade really depends on what you are going to use it for. Generally, you will use your spade for digging. For this reason, you will want to have a spade with a shaft length that is comfortable for your height. Gardening can be backbreaking work, so don’t make it more so by buying tools that are too short for you. The best spades are ones with stainless steel blades since they have a longer shelf life than steel spades and they also cut the soil much easier. Spades are used for the heavy digging when you are removing weeds or putting in trees.

The Trowels:

This is an item that I always called a spade, especially when I started gardening. For years, when I was mostly working with containers and annuals, it was pretty much the only tool that I had. These are the small shovel (or spade-like) tools that you use for scooping out the soil to create holes for new flowers, seeds or bulbs. Again, like the spade, the best type of trowel is one that has a stainless steel blade instead of forged steel.

The Forks:

If you are sticking to small beds or simply using containers, then chances are you will only need a hand fork. These aer used for working in tightly planted areas, removing weeds and also for transplanting seedlings. You can purchase hand forks with three or four prongs and there really is no difference in how they work. Basically, you want one that is comfortable to use, whether it is three or four prongs.

If you are going larger, a garden fork will be something that you may need to purchase one. There are different forks for general digging and others that you can use for working around potatoes. Again, stainless steel is the best option when you are purchasing a garden fork and you will want to find a shaft length that is comfortable. Garden forks can be used for digging and they can also be used for aerating a lawn, moving compost and cultivating a garden.

The Rakes:

Yes, rakes and forks are different and you will need both, especially if you are planting a vegetable garden. Rakes come in many different sizes and you can find wooden, plastic and metal heads for the rakes. Most people prefer rakes with a steel head for their gardening needs. Other than picking up leaves, don’t use a steel head for this since it can damage your lawn, forks can be used to level the soil or for aerating your lawn.

The Hoes:

Occasionally it seems like there are way too many tools for the same job in a garden but each one has a reason for their use. A hoe can be found in several different types such as the draw hoe and the dutch hoe and you may find that you will be purchasing more than one. Again, the best blade is the stainless steel variety but don’t feel that you need to purchase them in stainless steel since they tend to be more expensive than forged steel. You can use your hoe for weeding, breaking up the surface soil, building up mounds for vegetables and also for making a seed furrow.

And there are some of the tools of the trade. You can also purchase a wheelbarrow but they are only necessary if your garden is large. I find my kids wagon is perfect for lugging bags of top soil around the yard to each of the planters but if I am moving loose soil or debris, the wheelbarrow is perfect.

Sirena Van Schaik

Tags: aerating your lawn, beginner gardeners, draw hoe, dutch hoe, garden forks, Garden Tools, Gardening Tips, hand forks, hoes, rakes, spades, tips for gardening, tools, tools for gardening, trowels, wheelbarrows

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