Garden Tools and Equipment

by John W. Bartok, Jr.

John W. Bartok, Jr., is Extension Agricultural Engineer, University of Connecticut, Storrs.

Size of your garden, the jobs to be done, and the money you wish to spend are important matters to consider when you purchase garden tools and equipment.

Basic tools needed for the small or beginning garden are a spading fork ($4 to $8), steel rake ($4 to $7), and garden hoe ($4 to $7). With these you can turn the soil, smooth and remove the stones and sod, form the rows, cultivate, and dig the root crops.

Garden centers, hardware stores and catalog houses carry a large selection of hand and power tools. It pays to purchase good quality equipment, as it will give better service, stay sharp longer, and when properly cared for may last a lifetime.

In selecting hand tools, look for handles with straight grain and a sturdy attachment between the tool and its handle. To get good service and long life from a tool, use it for its intended purpose. For example, shovels, spades and hoes should not be used as crowbars don't pry with them.

Clean tools after use and before returning them to storage. Wash or brush off all soil and grass. Protect stored tools from rust by coating them with oil, grease, or other rust inhibitors. Keep cutting tools sharp by filing or grinding the cutting edges. Roughened handles should be sanded smooth and a coat of raw linseed oil applied. Also, keep the handles tight in their tools. This can sometimes be done by soaking the tool head in raw linseed oil or motor oil. The oil swells the wood fibers and excludes any moisture.

Store hand tools in an orderly way. Attach a pegboard or plywood rack to the wall of a basement, garage or utility shed. Nails or special hooks can be used to support the tools. With a location for each tool, you can then tell if one has been left outside. Also, you limit the possibility of someone getting injured from stepping on a loose tool lying on the floor.

As your interest and enthusiasm increase and your garden gets larger, you may need additional hand tools. Multi-use tools or equipment that will be used throughout the gardening season should be purchased first.

The round point shovel ($5 to $10) with either "D" or long handle fits the above classification. It is useful for turning sod, digging holes for fruit trees and bushes, moving soil, or edging a bed. For transplanting, a trowel ($1 to $2) is handy.

A hand-held or wheel-supported cultivator ($5 to $40) can often save time and labor in removing weeds from a large garden. This implement with curved tines is dragged or pushed between the rows to pull out weeds. It is also used to loosen the soil so rainwater may penetrate more easily. Hand forks or claws are miniature cultivators ($1 to $2) and often all that's needed in a very small garden.

In areas where stones are numerous, a pick ($6 to $10) will aid in their removal. It is also useful for starting portholes and removing tree roots.

Many types of seeders ($8 to $40) are available. These take the backache out of planting. Most are adaptable to a variety of seed sizes. Some seeders are designed to open the furrow, drop and cover the seed, and firm the soil in one operation.

Lime and fertilizer are usually applied to the soil before planting. On small gardens this can be done by hand. On larger gardens a precision or broadcast spreader ($15 to $30) will reduce the labor and give a more uniform application. The spreader can also be used to fertilize and lime the lawn.

Garden tools

Wheel-supported cultivator

Top, some basic tools for small garden. Above, wheel-supported cultivator removes weeds and loosens dirt around plants while saving a lot of labor in a larger garden.

Several pieces of equipment will aid you in maintaining the berry and fruit orchard. Hand pruning shears ($3 to $6) are used to prune branches and twigs up to about a half inch in diameter. Lopping shears with handles 18 to 24 inches long will cut branches up to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. For larger branches a pruning saw ($4 to $6) can be used. These tools will need to be sharpened from time to time. A fine-tooth file or sharpening stone can be used. Maintain the same cutting angle.

A wheelbarrow or cart ($15 to $40) can make the work of moving soil, stones, peat moss, and tools much easier. Select one with large diameter wheels for easier pushing. Also keep pneumatic tires properly inflated and bearings lubricated.