You finally decided to take farming seriously. So, you walk into the garden center, determined to start this new journey with a shopping list. Twenty minutes later, you are standing amidst these tools, wondering whether you need a spade or a shovel. You find asking yourself, what does a rake do? The sales associates’ language is almost cryptic. You hear – ‘turning soil’, ‘tapering’, ‘aerating beds’, and start doubting the whole decision. Well, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed, especially if you are a debutant. But, how do you pick the right tools, without going overboard? Gardening tools can be expensive, and you certainly don’t want your shed to be overcrowded with tools you don’t need. Don’t worry, we have got you covered. Here is a list of gardening tools, and their uses.
Hoe
This is a weeding tool. It comes with a long-handle with aflat or angled blade, which helps you to break up or loosen the soil. This divide is used to remove weeds between the rows, to aerate the soil arond plants, and also move the soil.
Shovel
This is a quintessential tool if you are a gardener. This is a versatile tool with a flat, rectangular blade used for digging and moving soil. Apart from that you can also use it to lift and move loose materials like soil, sand, snow, or coal. You can use them for creating planting holes, and turning garden beds.
Pruning shears
Every gardener need this one tool in their kid. This hand-held cutting tool is used for removing branches, pruning plants and shrubs, to maintain the shape. The spring loaded tool is kind of a scissor. It operates with two opposing blades that cut on the closing action.
Rake
If your backyard arden has lots of trees, you will need this tool. Rake is a long-handled tool with multiple tines or teeth. You can use this to gather leaves in your garden, loosen the debris and also level the soil.
Watering can
Invest in a decent watering can. It is nothing but a portable container with a spout and perforations or a nozzle used for hand-watering plants. Contrary to other methods, this tool helps you to have greater control over the water distribution. This is an effective tool to water your seedlings and potted plants.
Garden fork
This handy gardening tool has sturdy tines. It is used to loosen, lift, and turn soil. You can also use it to break up compacted earth, remove weeds, and incorporate compost. This tool is great for digging in heavy or clay-based earth. It distributes weight more effectively compared to a shovel, for soil aeration, and hence is a useful tool for your gardening needs.
Spade
This is a digging tool with a sharp, rectangular blade. It is used for digging holes, cutting through roots, edging beds, and turning soil. It is different from a shovel in blade angle, as the spade blade is aligned perpendicular to the handle. In simple terms, a shovel helps to scoop, while a spade cuts through soil.
