Why is a good choice of hand garden tools important?
The choice of hand garden tools is of great importance for gardening. In order for the work in the garden or greenhouse to be efficient, you need to choose quality and innovative garden tools that are, in addition to making the job more accessible, easier to use. When selecting a garden tool, the size of the tool should be taken into account. Size is important because the bigger the tool, the heavier it is, which means that it is harder to handle. Also, too many garden tools create a pile of things in the pantry or storage space, so choosing a functional and usable tool is essential.
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What factors influence the choice of hand garden tools?
Gardening work and growing plants in the garden or greenhouse must always start with a good choice of hand garden tools. Due to the large offer on the market, choosing a quality hand garden tool can be difficult, and below are some simple tips that can help you make the best possible choice of hand garden tools.
The purpose of the tool
Garden tools have a variety of applications. When choosing a hand garden tool for tillage, knowing if the soil has been previously tilled is essential. For soil that is hard because it has not been previously cultivated, innovative tools made of quality steel can be used to avoid tool breakage. The choice of hand garden pruning tools depends on the plants being cultivated, orchards, or whether it is arranging flowers in the garden.
Budget
Depending on the tools’ usage frequency, it can be determined how much money needs to be invested in the tool. If light gardening is done a couple of times a year, affordable gardening tools can be used. In the case of serious gardening, it is always necessary to procure the highest quality garden tools.
Tool design
Gardening jobs are demanding, so it is important to choose a tool that is light and easy to use. Therefore, you should try the tool before making a purchase. In the case of online shopping, it is necessary to check the dimensions and weight of the tool. When buying tillage tools, you can choose those that are sold without a handle, and thus the use of tools can be expanded. In the case of heavier jobs where more force is required, shorter handles are used for better control. For lighter jobs, longer handles are used, which allows for proper holding during work.
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Material
The durability and sharpness of the tool depend on the material from which it is made. Thus, a good choice of hand garden tools includes the Weeding Tool from the domestic manufacturer Irgot. The Weeding Tool slides through the soil more easily with sharp blades and is easy to use. The most robust tools are the ones made of forged steel, while tools made of plastic are the easiest to use.
The most popular hand tools
Garden shovel
Hand garden shovels are used to treat smaller areas in the garden or greenhouse. Thanks to their diverse design and wide range of applications, they have been shortlisted for hand garden tools.
- A traditional garden shovel has rounded sharp edges that help dig weeds and make indentations for seedlings.
- The second version of this garden shovel has a slightly sharper tip and is used for digging and moving the soil applying compost or other types of organic matter.
- An extended hand shovel with a narrow and blunt tip is used to remove weeds, which helps when transplanting plants.
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Shovel
Garden shovels can be of different sizes and designs. They are most often used for digging and transporting the earth. Shovels with a wide work surface and slightly rounded edges are used to apply soil after planting, while shovels with square corners can be used to move things. For smaller and inaccessible places, a narrow shovel is used. It also helps with digging and planting rows.
Pitchforks
This is an irreplaceable garden tool that always finds its place when it comes to choosing a hand garden tool. From a simple design to the innovative Broadfork with wheels, it also helps with more demanding gardening tasks. The pitchforks differ in the size and number of blades, where wide pitchforks, slightly bent with thicker blades, are used to move hay or compost. On the other hand, five-blade pitchforks are used for stronger and heavier materials such as wood remains. Flat pitchforks with four blades will be used to remove vigorous weeds because they soften the soil and make it easier to remove them.
Weed removal tools
Weeds are one of the reasons why plants cannot grow and spread their roots in the ground. If weeds are not removed from the soil regularly, the plants will not have enough nutrients, which will negatively impact their fertility. Therefore, various tools help keep the ground free of weeds:
- Garden knives for removing weeds have an advantage over ordinary garden knives because they effectively remove even the most persistent weeds. They are designed to allow weed depth to be checked and help remove multiple weeds at once.
- In the case of narrow and inaccessible parts, an innovative tool is used that removes weeds in one go. Due to its sharp edges, it is also used to make rows before planting.
- Handmade small pitchforks are suitable for everyday use. With the help of sharp teeth, they immerse it in the ground, shake it and remove the weeds around the plants.
Source: irgot
Multifunctional tillage tools
Innovative homemade tools are increasingly replacing traditional garden tools. These tools are designed to make gardening easier and offer more features through one tool. This saves money and space, so they are a good choice for hand garden tools.
Double-sided garden hoe
This hand tool has a variety of uses in the garden or greenhouse.
When used as a hoe, it helps hoe and remove bark from the ground. It helps remove small weeds and shreds the soil. In that way, it provides better air flow, which affects the increase of microorganisms in the soil.
On the other side of the hoe, sharp forks serve as diggers. The soil cultivated with a hoe is soft and loose, and strong forks will also crush and soften the ground. It is suitable for cultivating a smaller land area and making rows before planting.
Rake
One of the most commonly used garden tools is a rake.
A fan-shaped leaf rake is suitable for collecting leaves and green debris in the yard and for spreading compost or other nutrients on the soil.
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Manual pruning and irrigation tools
Shears are one of the basic tools for gardening and are always an excellent choice for hand garden tools. Shears are most often used for pruning branches, so there are shears with one or two blades. Single-blade shears are used for thin and young stems. These stems are still young and soft, so one blade is enough for easy and proper pruning. Shears with two blades differ in size: small, large and professional and are used for pruning orchards and vineyards.
- Fruit shears are the most popular among gardeners. They have rounded blades that are usually made of steel. They are used for pruning dry branches in plants that are entirely woody. It is not used for pruning soft branches because then there would be crushing and improper pruning.
- Vineyard shears have rounded crescent-shaped blades that are held on straight or slightly bent handles. They are highly sharp and therefore used to prune green and young branches, such as vines or roses.
- Hedge trimmers are divided into those with one-sided, two-sided, and telescopic blades. The choice depends on how the fence is shaped. Hedge trimmers with one-sided blades are intended for flat parts of the hedge, while scissors with double-sided blades are used to shape the hedge. Telescopic trimmers are intended for cutting both low and high hedges.
When it comes to tools used for cultivating land and plants, hand garden tools also include irrigation tools that provide a sufficient water supply to the plants and help them grow properly.
When buying an irrigation hose, you should consider the length because it makes it easier to handle during gardening.
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The drip system is an excellent choice of hand garden tools because it positively affects crops and reduces water loss. It is intended for placement around crops and can be used around hedges or lawns. The advantage of the drip system is that it provides a constant flow of water and irrigates the soil evenly.