Tag Archives: Tools

Gardening Advice

Tips For Making Garden Tools Last a Lifetime

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The best gardeners keep and maintain their gardening tools with great care. One of the least talked about secrets to a fulfilling garden are the tools needed to foster a healthy and beautiful garden. The following are a few tips for keeping your valuable garden tools damage free and working in your garden for many, many years.

Garden Hoses and Hose Reels

The garden hose is one of the most valuable and most used tools in the yard and garden. The serious gardener will own a sturdy and flexible garden hose – one that can be would up after use on a garden hose reel. To prevent cracking, the garden hose should be drained in the fall, wound on the reel and stored inside during the winter.

Shears, Blades and Cutting Tools

Every gardener needs the proper tools to cut and trim plants, bushes and flowers. Plan on thoroughly cleaning your electric cutting tools at least every season, preferably twice per year. All hand held shears and cutting tools should be well lubricated to prevent rust – an element that can be the mortal enemy of garden tools. Store garden equipment on hooks away from direct sunlight and the elements. It may not be necessary to store them inside during the winter, but be certain that they stay dry and away from children when not being used.

Hoes, Shovels and Rakes

These types of tools are bulkier and harder to store than simple hand tools or hoses. After each use, spray each tool with a high pressure hose to remove dirt, then dry them and store them upright onto hooks. Most tools made within the last few years are made of a carbon coating or stainless steel and should not rust easily. A light coat of oil in the fall however will keep these metal tools free from rust for many years.

Tool Shed

Many home improvement stores now sell ready-made sheds for storing manual and electric garden tools. It is a good idea to store all of your tools in the same dry place, and these types of sheds fit the bill perfectly. The most important aspect of the shed is simply keeping it organized. There is nothing worse than opening a shed in the spring, only to have tools falling every which way due to lack of organization and proper planning.  Instead, organize tools by size and by function. This simple tip will save you alot of frustration.  It will also save you time and money since you won’t be replacing broken tools frequently.

A good collection of garden and yard tools can be an expensive proposition. With a little care and forethought, you should be able to maintain your garden tools for a lifetime of use.

For more information on garden hoses, garden hose reels and gardening in general, visit http://www.garden-hose-guide.com

Gardening Advice

Selecting the Right Garden Tools

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If you’re thinking about taking your gardening seriously and getting out there every day to increase the attractiveness of your garden, then you will want to get the right tools to help you in this. You might be tempted to go out to the store and just buy the nearest things you see, but you’ll be much happier if you put lots of thought into the styles and types of tools you’re buying. There are styles designed just for gardening, and you’ll be better off buying those.

You can find most of the tools you will need at your local gardening or home improvement shop. Usually the employees will be thrilled to assist you in finding the ideal tools. If you go to a shop that specializes in gardening, you can usually get some advice in addition to service. Gardening store employees are usually an untapped wealth of wisdom, and they are how I learned almost all that I know about gardening today.

If you are having a hard time finding the right tool or if you want to save some money, you might try looking online for the supplies you need. You may have to pay the shipping costs and wait an extra week or two, but often the total savings will be worth it. My favorite online site is Bargain Outdoor Tools at http://www.outdoortoolbargains4u.com.  The site specializes on power tools and is also a good resource for information.  The site also includes product reviews.

A great thing about this site is that it is affiliated with eBay which means your transactions are secure and if you pay with PayPal you can obtain a full refund, plus shipping costs, if your purchase is defective or not as described.

You should always buy from a reputable seller, though, and always check the seller feedback beforehand for anything negative that people had to say about their buying experience.
 
As far as basic digging tools go, you might already have all you’ll need. There are several types that you should get though, for different specific tasks. A round point shovel is good for digging holes for plants. A spade is necessary for all the more intricate work. A garden fork you might not use as much, but I have one in my tool shed and I’ve been thankful for it on multiple occasions. Having these different varieties of digging tools can help you to minimize the work you have to do. For example, if you try digging a big hole with a little spade then you’ll end up rather tired.
 
The same goes if you are attempting to do more detailed work with a big clumsy shovel. A rake is an absolute necessity. You most likely already have one, but I’m guessing it’s a lawn rake and not a garden rake. There is definitely a difference, and if you try to use a lawn rake in a garden then you will not be happy with the results. Same if you buy a grading or a contractor’s rake. You’ll want to look for a bowhead rake. I’ve found these are the best for gardening purposes. They will provide you the maximum control and accuracy, so you don’t accidentally tear up your precious plants.
As far as hoes go, I don’t believe any gardener should have less than 3. There are so many useful varieties on the market that I have a hard time recommending just one, and that’s why I’ll tell you all the ones I usually use. The one I use the most is the onion hoe, which is very lightweight and ideal for small cultivations and weeding. The Warren hoe is a larger model, with a pointed end. If you need to make a hole or dig out a pesky weed, this is the one for you. There are several other varieties, but I recommend starting with the ones I mentioned.  As you progress in your gardening savvy, you will find the need for more types.

Most people believe that gardening just consists of a simple spade. But there are many, many tools with many more variations that you will use in your gardening career. Usually you can start with just a few different tools, but you’ll always find that you can use more varieties for special situations. It’s just a matter of recognizing when one tool could be more efficient than another.

If your garden is large you will want to buy a tiller.  A tiller will save a great deal of back-breaking work and will do a much better job of preparing the soil for planting.  Once again, I recommend Outdoor Tool Bargains for buying a tiller.

You may also want to purchase a garden tractor to assist in your gardening efforts and making your yard the envy of the neighborhood as well. When shopping for a garden tractor, I recommend Riding Mower Bargains at http://www.riding-mower-bargains.com where you can often get free shipping and have the tractor delivered to your door step.

The writer operates several websites dealing with yard and garden. Bargain Outdoor Tools at http://www.outdoortoolbargains4u.com features a large selection of power tools. Riding Mower Bargains at http://www.riding-mower-bargains.com features garden tractors, riding mowers, and zero turn mowers.