Illustrations by Michael Gellatly

It seems that a specialized tool exists for just about every garden task. If your urge is to simplify rather than collect more gadgets, carefully consider what types of gardening tasks you perform on a regular basis. Then purchase good-quality tools to help those chores go smoothly.

DIGGING, RAKING AND
WEEDING

For strength and durability, choose tools that have the blade and collar forged as one piece of metal. High-carbon forged steel is strong and maintains a sharp blade. Stainless steel also is good and offers rust resistance, although it is more difficult to keep a sharp edge. Aluminum typically is not sturdy enough for desert gardening conditions, although recent tool innovations, such as aluminum and magnesium alloy, offer durability with less weight. This is especially useful when hefting hand tools throughout the day.

Better-quality shovels, spades, rakes and hoes have handles with either solid-strap or solid-socket attachments. A solid-strap handle has a metal tongue that extends from the blade into the handle, where it is secured with a rivet. A solid-socket handle inserts into a closed metal tube.

PRUNING

Bypass pruners (pictured above) and loppers use two blades in a scissor action to make a clean cut, allowing plant tissue to heal quickly. They come in various sizes and styles, so test their feel and “action” before purchasing. Make sure the pruner fits your hand and that its grip is comfortable when you squeeze the tool repeatedly. Blades should be easily removable for sharpening or replacement. Pruners designed for women’s smaller hands and for left-handed gardeners also are available. Note: Anvil-style pruners are not recommended because they use one blade to crush plant material against a flat surface (the anvil).

Consider what types of plants you’ll be trimming, and select the appropriate tool. As a general guideline, use bypass pruners to cut small stems that are less than one-half inch in diameter. Bypass loppers can be used to cut thicker stems, from one-half to 11/2 inches in diameter. Use a razor-tooth pruning saw for branches more than 11/2 inches in diameter.


OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• Padded grips—Choose trowels, cultivators, weeders and other hand tools with cushioned grips.
 
• Bright colors—Vividly colored handles are easy to spot when you set a tool down.

• Telescoping handles—Extendable “telescoping” handles make it easy to adjust a tool’s reach, which also encourages you to stand upright, reducing back strain.

• Ergonomic design—Most garden chores involve repetitive motion, which, over time, can strain joints and muscles. Ergonomic tool design encourages “neutral” body positions that alleviate strain. For example, the contoured handle grip of Radius™ hand tools transfers arm strength in a direct line to the tool head, thus reducing stress on the weaker wrists and hands. Another option is a tool with a forearm brace that requires the arm to perform the bulk of the work, also eliminating stress on wrists and hands.

TIP: Consider a shovel with a “boot tread,” or thicker top edge, that allows your foot to push against the blade with more power.