Your Favorite Tools and Some New Discoveries

By Linda Wilson and Paula Coley

Anthropologists—and common sense—tell us that man first cultivated the earth using his hands. The earliest recorded use of a tool was a rock that made the going a little easier on the fingers. The rock was later affixed to a piece of wood with strips of leather and lo! A cross between a trowel and a hoe was born. With the advent of metal, crude forms of tools we would recognize today began to put in an appearance over the next thousands of years. Hatchets and axes, scythes, shovels and pitchforks were revolutionary items as each evolved.

Even today we continue to refine the basics, as many of you who responded to our call for your favorite gardening tools pointed out, with nominations such as a circle how and a swan-necked hoe.

The sharpened front bottom edge cleanly cuts weeks below the ground even slicing through clay and adobe. The sides and back of the blade are dull so you can get in close to your plants without damaging them. The blade is pulled through the soil lifting and breading it up, but it does not transport the soil along.

Many of us had forebears, and some of them quite recent, who practiced farming for a living or grew large gardens out of necessity. They worked efficiently and economically and we have them to thank for heirloom seeds as well as prototypes for many gardening tools that were later mass produced, such as the swan-necked hoe.

How we work the ground has become a serious subject for all gardeners as we face not only the health of the soil when we till it (see illustrated a small, nimble version of a rototiller that weeds between rows but does not dig into the hard pan), but ergonomic considerations when we do common- place chores such as working with a trowel.

By the way, not all trowels are created equal. Below, you will see illustrated an ergonomic trowel that places less strain on the wrist and carpel tunnel areas than the traditional version, also pictured. There are many types of trowels for different functions including broad soil scoops, narrow blade types for weeding and small bulb planting, as well as, the more all-purpose varieties pictured here. Again, trowels can be worth an investment. Inspect for sturdiness before purchasing, especially where the handle is joined to the scoop. Many gardeners swear by one-piece forged heavy-duty aluminum trowels.

You can also find ergonomic trowels with serrated edges for opening bags of mulch, etc. and with inch markers.

Near the top of most respondents’ “must have” tools were good bypass pruners. This tool is also worth a significant investment, but demands careful cleaning and regular sharpening for optimal performance. Inexpensive pruning sharpeners make the job quick and easy. Some models have replacement blades, avoiding purchasing of new tools as blades wear out.

A relative of the pruner, the small lopper, was also a favorite among Norfolk Master Gardeners who answered our survey. Permitting the gardener to stay anchored to the ground while keeping shrubbery growth in check is one of the lopper’s primary advantages. It is another tool that demands regular disinfecting to minimize spread of disease from plant to plant, as well as routine sharpening.

There is no doubt about it—we spend a fair amount of time keeping things cut back, judging from our selection of tools. Right up there in popularity with the pruner and small lopper was the folding pruning saw. Then branches have outgrown the jaws of these smaller cutting tools, we whip out this perennial favorite.

More than one gardener expressed affection for the humble pair of scissors as a necessary item for the green thumb tool kit.

Many of us go after the weeds in our yards and gardens manually, with dandelions being enemy number one. There are several good forked dandelion tools on the market such as the one you see here.

This weeder works better for almost all gardeners if you are working from a gardening seat that is lightweight, pivots and is useful for more things than you an imagine when working outdoors. The gardener below is the picture of comfort while tending her perennial bed.

Another valuable dandelion digger that does not require kneeling or sitting but is trademarked is one that can be purchased at any of the “big box” stores. You locate the dandelion, step down on a lever, twist and up comes the weed and root. It also aerates the lawn! We cannot illustrate it because the trademark is prominently displayed.

Also listed among the favorites were shovels of many descriptions, especially edgers. The favorite edger, however, was a step edger that cuts cleanly into the turf that abuts a hard surface, something no “weed whacker” can do.

As Master Gardeners become more senior gardeners, the value of lightweight tools becomes more important. Small bamboo rakes, lightweight coil hoses, and small pop-up containers to hold garden waste are all useful.

No list of a gardener’s necessary tools would be complete without noting the mandatory sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, a brimmed hat, a ready supply of water and work gloves. Many ophthalmologists recommend sunglasses as highly advisory during sunny days, and mandatory for senior gardeners.

Paula and I are grateful to those of you who took the time to respond to the survey this month. It was heartening to receive a good response. We hope this information will be useful as you budget for your upcoming season’s gardening investments.

Let the hunt begin! And, please pass your comments and suggestions along.