Owners of private houses and dachas for work in the garden use different types of garden tools. Their proper selection determines the subsequent convenience of use and efficiency of work. Armed with the necessary knowledge, both beginners and experienced gardeners can easily understand the variety of tools that are present in the market today.
Garden and vegetable garden tools must have the necessary criteria to get first on store shelves and then in the hands of the gardener.
Safety of use. No matter how good a tool may be, if its use can harm human health, it should not be allowed to be sold.
Convenience of grip, in other words ergonomics. The process and the result of the work depends directly on this parameter. After all, if the design of the conditional secateurs is thought out incorrectly, its useful operation becomes an impossible task. And to hold with his own hands the gardening tools will be clearly not comfortable for a person.
Durability and reliability. This criterion is emphasized after a certain amount of time has passed. A shovel whose handle is made of a quality wood species with appropriate treatment, and a blade cast from quality alloys will last more than one year.
The eternal question with two components in the purchase of any product – price and quality. More precisely, their ratio.
And before proceeding directly to the choice, it is worth determining what type of work is to be done.
Article Summary:
Gardening tools depending on intended use
There is a wide variety of implements for manual cultivation of the ground. But each of them has certain properties and features that allow them to be used in different conditions.
Shovel
Shovels are the most versatile tools. They are used to perform land work of any complexity. A large steel bayonet shovel is used for digging the ground. A titanium shovel is characterized by increased strength and lightness. A shovel made of an alloy of titanium and aluminum, in addition, does not stick to dirt.
A shovel is best for handling loose material. Aluminum and plastic shovels are more convenient to remove snow, because of the softness of these materials. And the handle should be as smooth as possible, so that the gardener does not injure his palms while working.
The cheaper the choice, the more time it takes to check all the fasteners and connections.
Rake
Rake suitable for loosening and leveling soft soil, picking up weeds and various debris. Rakes are available with both soft and hard tines. And it’s worth testing them for durability when you buy one.
The length of the handle depends on the treatment and cleaning area. In particular, it is better to use a small size rake for working in a flower bed.
A fan rake should also be in a gardener’s toolkit. Their soft tines allow you to pick up small debris and fallen leaves. They are appreciated because of their flexibility and tenacity.
Hoe
Hoes and hoes are used to loosen the soil and remove weeds. The small size of the hoe allows you to work carefully between the beds, and not to touch the plants growing nearby.
The hoe’s nozzles can be rectangular or semicircular in shape. As with the shovel, the titanium-aluminum alloy hoe is the strongest.
Fork
The pitchfork is used both for digging up the site and for reloading compost materials (hay, manure, grass clippings). Forks differ in the shape and size of the tines, as well as the material of manufacture.
As in previous cases, tools made of titanium alloys will last longer than others. Another important thing to consider when buying this type of gardening tools is the condition of the fork tines.
Auxiliary pruning tools help beautify a plot of land, giving it a single recognizable look. They allow you to approach the matter with creativity.
Secateurs and loppers
Secateurs and loppers are ideal tools for working on trees, shrubs and flowers. The choice of size depends on the thickness of the branch to be cut. Thick tree branches are best trimmed with secateurs. Smaller flower branches are trimmed with a lopper.
An important aspect in choosing these tools is the material from which the cutting part is made. The teeth made of hardened steel are of very high quality.
Saws
Garden knives and saws come in handy when you need smooth, long cuts. Comfortable grip and sharpness of the blade are the main features of these tools.
Accompanying tools should complement the basic types of
A garden wheelbarrow will prove very useful for carrying sand and earth, as well as other tools and small parts. The number of wheels determines its carrying capacity. The single wheel barrow is the most popular because of its mobility and ease of operation.
The watering can is for hand watering trees, shrubs and flowers. And the bucket can be used for many household purposes. For example, to collect tomatoes and cucumbers from the bed. The size and volume depends only on your preferences.
The planter will make it easy to plant bulbs and seeds in dense soil. Its simple and convenient design will allow you to finish the job in a couple of movements of your hands.
The stool will be an indispensable item in the garden or vegetable garden for people of age. A stepladder will allow you to reach high branches and the tops of stems. Again, the size and configuration depends on your needs.
Technical equipment will save the gardener time and labor. This factor levels out the issue of its high cost.
The universal power tiller can do the work of loosening and plowing the soil. And by changing the attachment you can collect hay, mow the lawn and shovel snow. What’s more, you can connect a toolbar to turn it into a small tractor. The dimensions of this gardening equipment in the photo differ from the actual size.
Loosening the soil can also be done by the cultivator. In addition to this function, it can remove weeds. There are both small cultivators weighing up to thirty kilograms and large cultivators weighing up to ninety kilograms.
In turn, an expensive alternative to the hand saw is its gasoline and electric counterparts. Depending on their power and energy capacity, they can run continuously from one to several hours.
Garden maintenance
To keep garden tools in working order, they need careful and constant care. Cleaning them after use should be one of the basic rules for any gardener.
Metal parts require regular lubrication. This will protect them from corrosion. The teeth and blade of the scissors will need sharpening. Roughnesses and abrasions on wooden handles should be polished with medium-hard sandpaper.
Wooden and plastic tool parts should be washed with water and cleaned of dirt. Particular attention should be paid to stale tools. Often many of them are left idle in the winter time, sitting in a tool stand. This can cause the wooden handles to dry out noticeably and the fasteners to loosen.
You can get rid of backlash simply by leaving these very parts in water to swell. All these uncomplicated steps can extend the life of all the equipment for a long time.
Storing garden tools
The previously mentioned rule of every gardener stems from the point about storing tools. After working with them, it is not necessary to leave them in an open place.
The best thing to do is to provide a separate small covered room for all your tools. This will protect them from the effects of sun and precipitation. The room should not be humid or too cramped. Its air permeability is also very important.
The ideal storage option for tools is to divide the room into compartments with containers, shelves and drawers for inventory. All inventory should be separated and stacked by size and type. This way they will look neat and tidy.
Conclusion
As can be seen from the above material, the modern market for gardening tools offers the widest assortment. The well-known shovels and pitchforks have been supplemented by planters and fan rakes.
Gardening equipment makes working in the garden easier. The right tools will make your work efficient and the money invested in them justified.
Gardening Tools Photo
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