Here is a selection of garden tools used for pruning, cutting hedges and grass, plant propagation and other tasks of this nature.
- KnifeA straight-bladed horticultural knife is useful for cutting string and for taking cuttings. Don’t choose one with a stainless-steel blade, as this quickly becomes blunt.
- Long-arm pruner Has a very long shaft (at least 2.4m/8ft) with a cutting blade at the top, operated by a lever at the bottom. Invaluable for high branches.
- Pruners (or loppers) These have two long handles and are essential for “heavy” pruning — that is, stems of 1.25-2.5cm/ 1/2—lin in diameter.
- Pruning saw Used on large branches where loppers or secateurs are inadequate. Usually has a narrow curved blade.
- Scythe Tool with a curved blade and a long shaft with two handles. The blade may be long (for cutting grass) or short (for brambles and so on).
- Secateurs Used for all general pruning, provided that stems are not too thick. Those with a scissor action are recommended. There are lightweight, medium and heavy-duty models.
- Sickle For cutting long grass, cutting down weeds, and similar tasks. Resembles a short-handled scythe.
- Shears For hedge trimming, cutting long grass around trees, and lightly trimming over plants to remove dead flower heads (such as heather and lavender). Make sure they are comfortable to hold..
Eleven lawn care tools
There are numerous tools which are designed for use on lawns.
- Besom A broom made of birch twigs. Ideal for sweeping up leaves and working top-dressings into the lawn. Hold a besom almost level with the ground and make broad sweeps with it.
- Dribble bar A bar-shaped sprinkler attached to the spout of a watering can to apply weedkillers and other solutions evenly.
- Fertilizer distributor A wheeled hand-propelled implement with a hopper, used for spreading fertilizers evenly. Many are quite inexpensive.
- Half-moon iron Has a semi-circular blade on a long handle. Used for cutting turf prior to lifting, and also for re-cutting ragged and damaged lawn edges.
- Lute Can be made at home by fixing a pair of long handles to a 1.5-1.8m/5-6ft long plank of wood (on edge), to form a giant “rake“. Used to work in top-dressings.
- Roller A plastic roller filled with water is adequate for lawns.
- Scarifier Resembles a rake but has half-moon disks instead of tines. Used to remove moss, rake in fertilizer and aerate the soil. An alternative is the wire lawn rake.
- Turfing iron Rather like a spade but has a heart-shaped blade on a curved neck. Used for lifting turf.
- Wire lawn rake (or spring-tine rake) Fan-shaped with long springy teeth of heavy-gauge wire. Used for general lawn raking and for light scarifying.
Four power tools
Those may be useful for owners of large gardens, to cut down on time and effort.
- Chain saw Good for heavy pruning and tree felling. Electrically powered chain saws are much lighter than their petrol-driven counterparts and are thus easier and safer to use.
- Hedge trimmer Makes light work of long tall hedges. There are electric and petrol-driven models, the latter for really heavy work. The 45cm-60cm/18-24in blade may be single- or double-sided: the latter is preferable.
- Rotary cultivator Turns the soil over by steel blades rotating on a central spindle. There are both large and small models, all self-propelled. The larger machines generally cultivate to great depths. Useful for large neglected areas.
- Trimmer Powered trimmers are in vogue. A rapidly rotating nylon cord, or various types of blades, cut long grass, weeds or brambles. Lightweight electric trimmers are suitable for grass, while petrol-driven models are best for tougher work.
Five watering aids
Most of these aids enable the garden to be watered while you get on with something else — or simply relax!
- Hose pipe Most useful if fitted with a sprinkler, drip irrigation or perforated hose. Buy a strong hose pipe which will not kink when bent. A hose storage reel will keep the hose pipe neat and tidy when it is not in use.
- Drip irrigation Lengths of pipe fitted with short drip nozzles, or with longer “spaghetti”tubes, which can be directed to individual plants in the garden or greenhouse. A lot of plants can thus be watered simultaneously, at the turn of a tap.
- Perforated hose A lay-flat perforated hose distributes a fine spray of water among plants.
- Sprinkler There are two main types, both of which are attached to a hose pipe: the rotating type, and the oscillating type which moves backwards and forwards, producing a square or rectangular spray pattern. Sprinklers are especially useful for watering
lawns.
- Watering can A 9-litre/2-gallon watering can will be found most useful for general garden needs. Use this for container plants and for watering in newly planted subjects. Spray heads of “roses” are supplied with most cans.
Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Eight useful cutting tools
- Five types of mower
- Six essential garden tools
- Seeding and Garden Shed
- Green Fingers for Colorful Small Garden Planner (Garden Tools & Preparation)
- Green Fingers for Colorful Small Garden Planner (Garden Tools & Preparation)
- Green Fingers for Colorful Small Garden Planner (Garden Tools & Preparation)
- Sitemap
- Outdoor Eating
- Green Garden Seeding and Sowing, How to Do It
- The Organic Gardening Experimental Farm part 1
It is the perfect description of this exquisite area but does not do justice to the overwhelming experience the Tsitsikamma provides for those fortunate enough to visit it… … Garden Ornaments
While ordering investigations of the plants to be stopped, control equipment for new plants or major remodels of existing facilities. … Soil Preparation
By reducing this delay time, you can sketch several separate lines or shapes in succession and CorelDRAW 12 will recognize them as a single compound path. … Brightly Colored Flowers
$80.00 it Pro Automatic Plant Waterer This cute little green fellow cant croak or catch flies, but hell water a plant for up to two weeks! … Pronounce Plant Names