April 16, 2008

Gardening Equipment All Gardeners Should Have

Every gardener needs gardening equipment. At least that's what we tell ourselves as we buy that new ultra-light shovel that's on sale this week! The fact is, not every gardener has every tool they need and most of us make do with what we've got. Improvisation is the key here.

But if gardening is your game, then you will at least have some of the more basic gardening equipment that is needed to maintain your garden. Namely, a hoe, a shovel, and a rake come to mind offhandedly. There is also naturally other gardening equipment that is equally important, and I know that I simply can't be without my pruning scissors.

Over the years, I found myself with quite a collection of gardening equipment - to the point that my shed is overflowing. Of all those things, my absolutely favorite tool is a pair of old but comfortable gardening gloves and my trust old kitchen knife.

If my pruning scissors aren't handy, the kitchen knife takes their place quite well. If my shovel and hoe aren't within reach, the tip of the knife usually does the job. And sometimes I don't even go that far and just use my hands to dig the soil.

It probably sounds a little unorganized, but as you probably know when you're knee-deep in the garden the last thing you want to do is drop everything to go find a piece of equipment.

However, that said, some jobs are easier with the proper equipment at hand, and it is worth your while to go and fetch it from whatever nook or corner that you stuffed it into. One of my favorite pieces of gardening equipment is the garden claw.

I've got two different types - one for kneeling work and one for standing up. I just stick the claw into the dirt, give it a twist and pull it back out. It does a great job of loosening the soil and is particularly helpful for pulling weeds.

Really the key thing to remember about gardening equipment is that although we might want it, we don't always need it. Besides it's always a good thing not to get too attached to your gardening equipment, it makes life easier if you're not always trotting back and forth between your work patch and the shed. Ultimately you'd not get too much done, (unless you're using your handy garden claw!).

Filed under Garden Tool Kits, Gardening Tools by Rex Magnum aka The Garden Guru

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