Like most people, I get a lot of junk email. I’ll admit some of it is my own fault as I voluntarily subscribe to certain sites. One of them is a cooking magazine. About once a month, they send out an email with a themed “curated” collection of kitchen tools, for example for the baker or the barbecuer. That got me thinking of the tools I regularly use a gardener.
A couple of ground-rules, first, I’m a strong believer in “tools for life.” They must be sturdy, solid (no hollow metal tubes for handles if I can help it) and non-rusting, stainless steel if possible. Second, they have to be comfortable to use and actually be good at what they’re supposed to do.
Here a short list of some of my favourites.
Heavy duty, one-piece cast aluminum trowels. I have two – a 4” wide one for digging substantial holes quickly (great for planting large transplants in the spring) – and a long narrow one for digging narrow deep holes, excellent for getting out dandelion roots from the lawn without leaving large craters or planting bulbs individually. The handles have bright orange rough rubber grips for visibility and comfort.
Hori hori knife. A friend of mine couldn’t shut up about hers so I had to give it a try. Now it’s my constant gardening companion. It looks like a cross between an ordinary trowel and a kabar military knife – shiny, stainless steel, slightly curved, pointed 7” long blade with a sharpened smooth edge on one side and a sharp serrated edge on the other. For an added bonus, it has a six-inch ruler embossed down the middle of the blade. Great for digging up and dividing perennials.
Japanese hand-hoe. The basic design is an offset, four-inch wide half-moon head attached to a short handle. The business end is sharp and is useful for simply separating weeds from their root system as you pull it along the soil surface. It has pointy ends that are good at getting in close to dig out small weeds without damaging your vegetables or ornamentals. This is my absolute favourite gardening tool!
Rabbiting spade. The shovelhead is narrower and longer (five to six inches wide by up to 12 inches long) than your usual spade. This is great tool for digging up and transplanting perennials and small shrubs. It is also good for digging deep narrow trenches (hence, it’s other common name – trenching spade) if you’re installing an irrigation line or a short, shallow drainage trench.
Axe file. This is invaluable for keeping shovels, hoes (including the hand-hoe) and, of course, axes sharp. A sharp tool make for quick and easy work – a real back saver.
Wide landscape rake. I bought my three-foot wide rake when I was redoing my lawn several years ago. It is super for spreading out low mounds of soil and makes quick work of leveling larger areas. I now use it every spring to level out my community garden plot.
Good quality hand pruner. My pruner of choice is the Swiss-made Felco No. 2 pruner. The blade is easy to keep sharp and can be replaced if damaged. There are left-handed versions as well as long-handled and ergonomic ones. The handles are solid cast-aluminum for durability and covered with bright red plastic for visibility. Obviously designed to cut branches cleanly without crushing, I also use mine to trim back grasses and other perennials in the fall.
Leather gloves. No cloth or rubber gloves for me. My leather gloves are comfortable and long wearing. They protect my hands from drying soil and peat moss as well as the errant sharp blades of my pruners on the occasions when I’m not paying close enough attention.
— This column is provided courtesy of the Saskatchewan Perennial Society (www.saskperennial.ca; hortscene@yahoo.com; www.facebook.com/saskperennial). Check out our Bulletin Board or Calendar for upcoming garden information sessions, workshops, tours and other events.
