Generally, we always focus on the routine of cleaning indoors. This is the major reason why most people simply skip lawn maintenance. Softscaping (part of landscaping) is an integral part of home maintenance. However, as there are a plethora of gardening tools available on the market, you may have a dilemma about what to buy. This article will give you a clear picture of the necessary tools that a lawn owner must have. Before digging into the details of lawn care tools, you must know that all instruments have distinct functions.
It is not always necessary to buy a comprehensive tool kit. Always go for the best from different brands. Here, you will be taken through essential landscaping tools that are essential for the upkeep of your house lawns.
🍁 Carts and wheelbarrows
Wheelbarrows, or carts, are a significant gardening tool. They help you move the plants, mulch, and soil around the garden. Not all carts are used for landscaping, but a few are. They are:
- Garden Cart
These typical flatbeds and four-wheel carts are perfect for working with large quantities of materials. There are some that come with hinged panels for convenient loading and unloading.
- Foldable Cart
Foldable carts facilitate effortless transportation and easy storage. If you have a small garden or are running out of space to store the tools, this is the ideal one.
- Dump Cart
They are partial twins of the garden carts. The only difference between the two carts is that the dump carts have a tilting bed, whereas the latter has a fixed one. The flexible design allows easy unloading of the soil or debris at specific zones.
- Traditional Cart
Traditional carts are generic gardening tools with a front wheel. The deep bucket design, along with two handles, is capable of handling various gardening maintenance tasks.
Note: Before buying one for your garden, check features like the wheel type, load carrying capacity, durability, way of maneuvering it, etc. You must also check the height of the basket and the grip of the handles for post-use comfort.
🍁 Digging Tools
There are various kinds of digging landscaping tools. Each one has its own unique function. We will walk you through these tools and their role in digging:
- Garden Hoe
The garden hoe has basically two uses: Firstly, it helps to spread and move mud or soil with ease. Secondly, the garden hoe allows you to cut the weeds and foliage with a stroke. The tool is available in different widths to make gardening easier.
- Hand Trowels
This small digging equipment is used for lighter gardening jobs like digging small holes, planting seeds, and unbinding the roots of tough weeds.
- Shovels
The role of shovels in gardening is inevitable. They are generally used for moving soil, digging large holes, and transferring gravel. While buying, you must examine the comfort of the handle and the durability of the blade.
- Spade
They are partially similar to the shovel in terms of function and look. However, their blades are square-shaped and narrow. You can use them for digging trenches, edges, or planting plants. Sometimes, they are also useful for eradicating turf and cutting through thick roots.
- Garden Fork
The multiple iron tines of the garden fork loosen the compact soil and can turn the compost. If you have a large garden bed, you must buy Garden fork landscaping tools for future benefits.
- Mattock
It is a combination of an adze-like blade and an axe-like blade. It is especially used for rock removal and trench digging. It is an ideal product for breaking compacted, hard soil. It is a versatile landscaping tool that can be used for various chopping and digging tasks.
- Hand Cultivator
A hand cultivator has many prongs that help aerate the soil. It is useful for preparing the soil for planting or weeding.
🍁 Aerators
Aerated soil is extremely healthy for a lush green garden. There are different types of aerators that are useful for gardening enthusiasts and much widely used as landscaping tools by businesses and homeowners alike:
- Spike Aerator
The spikes of the spike aerator insert deep into the soil and push it over the surface. They are useful for light aeration of soil but not ideal for plugs of soil.
- Manual Core Aerator
A manual core aerator has a long handle with hollow tines at its bottom. The product is best for plugging soil in medium- to small-sized gardens.
- Tow-Behind Aerator
A tow-behind aerator is one of the most time-saving tools for large garden areas. This aerator is recommended for professional usage. You can commonly find them attached to a lawn mower.
🍁 Rakes
The rakes are versatile tools that are designed for a wide variety of tasks, such as:
- Shrub Rake
The shrub rake is a tiny-sized rake needed especially for flower beds, shrubs, etc. They are also useful for small areas, collecting debris, and leveling soil.
- Leaf Rake
As per the name, it is designed for clipping grass, collecting leaves, etc. The flexible tines attached to the fan-shaped head are good for maintaining the garden floor, especially during the fall, the leaf-shedding season.
- Garden Rake
This popular garden rake has robust tines and a sturdy head for leveling the soil and breaking dirt clumps. You can also use them for the ablution of debris or pebbles.
🍁 Fertilizer Spreaders
Spreaders are one of the most significant tools in landscaping. With these tools, you can easily spray an even quantity of fertilizer on the soil bed. When choosing a fertilizer spreader, you must consider factors like spreading capacity, method of operation, and holding capacity.
There are two categories of dry spreaders: rotary and drop spreaders, along with spreaders for liquid chemicals.
- Drop Spreaders
The drop spreaders are ideal for those areas where precision with hands is difficult. The swath of product gets out of a narrow yet wide opening located under the spreader. The calibrated coverage increases the chance of covering an area more than once.
The user can regulate the spread of the outlet between the wheels. The only cons of the product are that it does not cover large areas, unlike rotary spreaders.
- Rotary Spreaders
The rotating base plate in the rotary spreader is a multitasker as it can be used for dispersing seeds. They have the capability of spreading in an area three times wider. However, the precision of these spreaders is mostly They are available in sizes ideal for large lawns, tiny gardens, etc.
- Liquid Spreaders
The chemical sprayers act as the perfect liquid fertilizer spreader. It automatically mixes the proportion of chemicals with water prior to throwing the liquid out of the nozzle. Although spraying liquid fertilizer gives quick, effective results, the solution dissipates quickly.
Thus, regular use may hit your pocket. Moreover, it has the most incorrect precision of the other two spreaders.
🍁 Garden Stakes
Garden stakes are used for supporting heavy plants. Thus, you must select durable ones to support your plants. They are available in three types of materials: plastic, wood, and metal. Each of these materials has its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages.
For example, for the support of lighter plants, plastic garden stakes work well. On the other hand, to support the heavy greens, you need metal stakes. The shape of the stake also plays a key role in bracing.
- Ring-like Support
Plants that have multiple stems need ring-like garden stakes. They allow the stems to grow through the grid and help in sprouting fruits. These stakes are widely preferred, but removing them harms the plants.
- Trellis
It stops the plants from growing in a horizontal direction so that they go straight and upward. Pole beans are the plants that commonly grow sideways.
- Single Stake
It is the most often used plant support. The single stake is placed around 6 inches in the soil, and the climbers are then tied to it with garden ties. The ties at certain intervals ensure the delicate plant does not fall off during harsh weather.
- Cage
The cages are similar to those of the ring-like support. The major differences are that they are taller, have open mouths, and provide support from every angle. They are used for supporting young plants and tomatoes.
🍁 Garden Tool Organizers
Finding the right storage for garden tools is tricky. The reason is the different size and height of the gardening tools. Organizing them in the right way will keep your passion for gardening alive. Before shopping for one for yourself, you must evaluate your needs and other features. You can opt for the following kinds of gardening tool storage as per your choice:
- Wall Mount: This storage tool rack is created for the suspension of heavy-duty gardening tools. The wall-mount organizer does not require assembly and is very easy to install.
- Canvas Bag: The canvas bags have multiple compartments to store a variety of tools. The handles allow you to carry the tools anywhere.
🍁 Sprayers
Sprayers are essential tools for home gardeners in Canada to apply pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, or liquid fertilizers to their plants. Here are some types of sprayers that you might find valuable:
- Handheld Sprayer
Handheld sprayers are compact and portable, designed to be operated with one hand. They are suitable for small to medium-sized gardens or specific plant treatments. Handheld sprayers typically have a pump mechanism that builds pressure to deliver a continuous spray. They come in various sizes and capacities, with adjustable nozzles to control the spray pattern.
- Backpack Sprayer
Backpack sprayers are larger and worn on the back, distributing the weight evenly for comfortable use. They have a larger capacity than handheld sprayers and are suitable for medium- to large-sized gardens or areas with dense vegetation. Backpack sprayers typically feature a hand-operated pump or battery-powered mechanism to generate pressure for spraying. They offer a more extended reach and can be equipped with different nozzle types for specific applications.
- Wheeled Sprayer
Wheeled sprayers, also known as garden carts or tow-behind sprayers, are ideal for larger gardens or properties. They feature a tank mounted on wheels, making them easy to maneuver and transport. Wheeled sprayers are typically powered by a hand pump or can be attached to a garden tractor or ATV for towing. They have larger capacities and are suitable for extensive spraying applications or areas with challenging terrain.
- Hose-End Sprayer
Hose-end sprayers are attached to a regular garden hose and draw the concentrate directly from a container or bottle. Gardening tools like this one offer convenience and ease of use, as they eliminate the need for manual pumping or carrying a sprayer. Hose-end sprayers usually have adjustable dials or settings to control the dilution ratio and spray pattern. They are suitable for smaller gardens or spot treatments.
🍁 Gardening Kneelers
Gardening kneelers offer utmost comfort to your knees while working in the garden. The following gardening kneelers are the number one choice of both professionals and gardening addicts:
- Kneeling Stool
It prevents you from kneeling directly on the ground. The padded cushion and robust frame provide comfort for your shins and knees. Many of these tools come with foldable options for convenient storage.
- Foam Kneeling Pad
The foam pads are the most affordable option to rest your shins and knees. Due to their foam composition, they are even suitable for placing on damp ground. It also protects the knees by creating friction against the ground.
You can get a Polar bear kneeling at around $10 from Lowes. They are a non-Canadian company but you get a good product delivered to your home.
- Kneeling Pad
The current kneeling pads come with handle options. Thus, whenever you are getting up from a kneeling position, the handles offer stability.
- Kneeler Bench
The kneeling bench offers the dual functions of sitting and kneeling. The framed, cushioned structure is a seat on one side and a kneeler on the other. It is good for people with limited mobility and for people who prefer to sit while doing gardening activities.
🍁 Gardening Gloves
Gardening gloves protect the hands from thorns, blisters, and splinters. Thus, it is important to buy the gloves as per your comfort, protection, and durability.
- Nitrile Gloves
These gloves offer good grip even when handling small tools or doing delicate work. They are lightweight and thus support a wide range of gardening tasks.
- Leather Gloves
Leather gloves are also popular for their durability. They provide better protection against rough surfaces, abrasive objects, and thorns. While working with logs or rocks, you must always wear leather gloves.
- Cotton Gloves
The gloves are the most breathable of all. Nevertheless, you can only use cotton gloves for light gardening tasks like transplanting and planting seedlings. They are not compatible with sharp objects or thorns.
- PVC Gloves
They are essential for damp and muddy garden conditions. Typically made with PVC or rubber, the gloves act as a waterproof agent and protect the hands from wet soil, water, and moisture.
- Gauntlet Gloves
The gauntlet gloves have extended cuffs, created only to protect the forearms from scratches, irritants, and thorns. It is perfect for tasks like pruning roses or managing thorny vegetation.
🍁 Gardening Hoes
With gardening hoes, you can perform one or more gardening duties like cleaning the weeds, cultivating soil, and shaping the garden beds.
You can get one from Gregg Distributers (Canadian) at around $30 or less.
The various gardening hoes are:
- Scuffle Hoe
The paddle-like-shaped blade is used to cut the weeds from the surface. The bale is pushed forward and pulled back to remove the shallow-rooted weeds from larger areas at a time. Though it slices through the soil, there is minimal soil disturbance.
- Warren Hoe
These hoes have circular, heart-shaped blades with sharp edges. It is used for removing weeds from narrow rows and tight spaces. The other popular name for the Warren hoe is the hoop hoe.
- Collinear Hoe
The collinear hoe, also called a loop hoe or hula hoe, features a loop-shaped blade that oscillates back and forth under the soil surface to cut weeds.
- Garden Hoe
The rectangular blades of garden hoes have a downward angle. The garden hoe is designed for cultivating and breaking up compacted soil, creating furrows for planting, and moving soil or mulch.
🍁 Garden Shears
Gardening shears are essential tools for trimming, shaping, and maintaining plants in your garden. The different types of shears are needed for different purposes. Have a look:
- Bypass Pruners
They have two curved blades that pass by each other, like scissors, when cutting. Bypass pruners provide clean and precise cuts, making them suitable for trimming live branches, stems, and delicate plants.
- Hedge Shears
Hedge shears have long, straight blades with serrated edges. They are specifically designed for trimming and shaping hedges, shrubs, and topiaries. The shears can handle thicker branches and provide a clean, precise cut.
- Anvil Pruners
They are designed for cutting thicker or dead branches and stems. Anvil pruners provide more crushing action and are suitable for tougher pruning jobs. Be careful while using this pruner, as it can crush or damage live branches.
Final Thoughts
Possessing gardening tools will not only boost your gardening task but also allow you to enjoy it. Besides, the tools help in performing the task with efficiency, ease, and perfection. Having your own tool kit gives you the liberty to take care of the garden at your own pace. Moreover, it reduces dependence on others and ensures routine maintenance of the garden.
