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Basic Gardening Tools and Equipment You’ll Need

January 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Basic Gardening Tools and Equipment You’ll Need

Before you start your home garden activities, it’s a must to provide yourself with the needed tools and equipment in your nursery. These tools and equipment must be available all the time to make your gardening works easy and convenient.

You can work peacefully and efficiently if you have a complete tools and equipment in your nursery. You would not be worrying where to borrow because you have a complete sets of them always at hand when eventualities so arises.

You don’t need big amount to start collecting your tools and equipment. You can visit some agriculture stores for garden tools and buy at bargain those that are not so costly, especially during yard sales.

As a gardener, you’ve to follow  this slogan ” Use the Right Tool to the Right Job” to make your gardening work successful.

Some Basic Tools and Equipment

Shovels – A round-ended shovel should be preferred for digging especially for planting trees and smaller shrubs.
Garden Hoes – A garden hoe is useful for weeding and cultivating soil surfaces to allow for deeper plant root penetration of nutrients and water.
Bow Rake –Provide a good heavy duty bow rake, which has short tines on one side attached to a metal frame or ‘bow.’ This tool is vital for leveling the soil to make it ready foor planting, or for removing large clods of earth or rocks from the soil.
Spading Forks – The spading fork is needed to open and improve the soil. It looks like a pitchfork but has a shorter handle and wider tines. It is used to dig down into hard soil and break up the ground.
Dull Bolo – This tool is common in the Philippines, its uses is similar with a garden used for weeding and  cultivation.
Sharp Bolo – A sharp bolo is used to cut some grasses and small branches or generally for clearing operations prior to soil cultivation.
Garden shears – Select a pair of garden shears that fits comfortably in your hand. Shears, sometimes called clippers, are used for pruning, shaping and removing foliage or branches.
Garden Hose – Hose is necessary to water your garden. Depending on how much there is to water a sprinkler is also a good addition to the watering garden equipment list.

Sprinkler Can – This is essential for watering your plants. Long nozzles allow the water to come out at a very gentle flow rate and are useful for reaching across long distances. Select a watering can that has a detachable spray head – this type of watering can is perfect for watering young seedlings.
Hand Sprayer – Hand sprayer is useful for spraying some minor insect pests that are easily managed for minor insect attack in the garden.
Spade – Similar to shovel, but it has a square end point used for digging  and making a straight plots and beds.
Carts and wheelbarrows – are necessary to transfer some gardening tools and equipment used in your garden works. Some other  uses for carts and wheelbarrows are to collect and remove your full grown vegetables from your garden and carry  dirt’s and grass clippings away from the garden.
Garden Pruner – When you want to shape and cut back longer plants you will use the pruner garden tool. Pruners come in two styles. One is the bypass style and the other is the anvil. Pick up a couple of varieties to see which style is best for you. Pruners that have changeable blades and parts that are possible to sharpen will assist in extending the life of this piece of gardening equipment.
Garden Trowel – A garden trowel is also used for weeding and cultivation. Select the one with a steel blade to make it last longer in use. There are different types of handles to choose from. You can either select the one with rubber handles that make them easier to grip while using them and there are some that are designed to relieve stress from your wrist during use.

There are still some equipment to be purchased in your gardening operations, but these tools and equipment mentioned are the basics you should purchase. If you have already your bigger capital,  Roto-tiller or Tractor is also important in your garden.

For the meantime, be satisfied with the basic garden tools and equipment identified, you can already start you garden operations.

Happy gardening!

_________________

Crisologo Ramasasa, Freelance writer, writes home gardening and Internet marketing tips. Get a copy of his latest FREE ebook “Discover How to get started in Flower Gardening”  and “Vegetable Gardening Made Easy”, and get lots of tips, Free articles, and bonuses at: www.crisramasasa.com

Cris Ramasasa is a retired Horticulture teacher for 29 years and Freelance writer. Writes home gardening tips and resources. Written ebooks titled: Discover How To Get Started In Flower Gardening and Vegetable Gardening Made Easy. www.crisramasasa.com

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Vegetable Gardening Supplies Other Than Tools

January 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Vegetable gardening supplies include much more than the tools for watering, weeding, digging and tilling the soil. Other type of vegetable gardening supplies include soil medium, seedlings, seeds, supports or trellises, fertilizers and anything else that is needed to make your vegetable gardening run smoother. 

Most vegetable gardeners find that if they add some type of organic matter such as compost it creates a healthy, well-balanced soil for the vegetable crop. Organic material continuously adds nitrogen and other nutrients to improve the structure and fertility to all types of soil. It provides the soil microbes with rich food to help your plants grow healthy and strong. Occasionally you might need to add fertilizers and nutrients to the garden in order to maintain health to the soil.

Most garden vegetables need at least six hours of sun each day; the root vegetables such as beets, carrots, and radishes along with the ones that depend on healthy roots such as squash, peppers, and tomatoes want to soak up all the sun they need.

Some leafy vegetables such as lettuce, endive, and spinach would prefer to receive some shade. There is a way to increase the value of the sun along with maximizing your garden space is to plant those vegetables in raised beds or grow beds that are roughly 4 feet wide instead of planting them in rows. When you plant in rows you need to have paths between each row for maintaining and harvesting, planting in grow beds means you have more square footage for your vegetables; this is also called intensive planting. 

When you plant your vegetables in this way it will shade and cool the ground which means less watering, mulching and weeding which also means less work. When you grow your vegetables in rows you need to walk between the rows more often and this creates compacted soil which will prevent the roots of your vegetables to penetrate through it. If you plant intensively you end up with more room to grow, the ground will remain aerated and the roots have an easier way of traveling through it.

Some vegetable gardening supplies should include a small hand shovel or trowel for digging those smaller holes, a pruner for cutting any dead branches, a spade for tilling the soil for row planting, a small round shovel for tilling the soil in a grow bed or raised bed, pads for kneeling or sitting, garden gloves for protection, and a spray nozzle device for attaching to a watering can or hose to water your crops. Other supplies that just might come in handy for a healthy garden are organic matter to enhance the soil, and the extra fertilizers and nutrients you may need, enriched organic soil for raised beds or grow beds, the seeds you wish to plant and/or seedlings.

Besides for intensive planting to increase your gardening space your vegetable garden should also grow up, not out, so trellises or vegetable supports are the best items to use. The small garden will need vegetable ladders or supports so you will be able to grow as many vegetables as possible using less room. Even the larger garden will benefit from trellises and supports for vegetables such as peas and pole beans and by using these devices will also keep your vegetables clean by keeping them off the ground. The vegetables that absolutely need some type of support are peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, and cucumbers. No matter what type of trellis or support you use remember to place them in the ground long before the plant needs it. Sometimes it may be necessary to gently tie the plant with garden tape to the support. A little gentle weaving on your part will also encourage the plants.

Some of these ideas may help you particularly if you are new at growing vegetables. Most seed packets have complete growing instructions printed on the back side. When these guidelines are met your vegetable garden should be a success. Many of these supplies you probably already have but the trellises and vegetable supports are always changing so you may want to include more than one type to include with your vegetable gardening supplies.

Barbara feels vegetable gardening supplies include more than tools. Her website Gardeners Garden Supplies has more interesting ideas regarding gardening and accessories.

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All The Basic Garden Tools You’ll Need

December 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Are you new to planting a garden? If so, make sure you have the right tools ahead of time before any plants go into the ground. While gardening stores often have several tools, some geared toward professional gardeners or landscapers, the average person with an interest in growing some plants just needs the basics: tools for digging, cultivating, cutting, and watering.

When it comes to digging tools, make sure you have those that accommodate the types of plants being put into the ground. If you’re planning to add a few potted flowers into the soil, make sure you go with a hand trowel or shovel. But if you’re planning to add a bush or similarly large plant, such garden tools are too small, and a larger shovel is necessary.

In some cases, soil may not be ready for planting: the dirt has too many rocks, it’s too dense, or it needs some fertilizer.

In order for the ground to be ready for planting, have a cultivating tool. Although a shovel or trowel can sometimes be used to break apart dense or rocky soil, neither is helpful when it comes to adding fertilizer. As you prepare to plant, make sure you have a cultivating tool of an appropriate size.

Once the plants are in the ground, they will need to be watered on occasion. Otherwise, the soil will dry up – and so will your flowers and bushes. In most cases, a hose is acceptable for watering plants, but for smaller plots, a watering can may suffice.

Plants, especially larger bushes, need maintenance over time. Leaves or branches may need to be cut, and in order for your plants to stay in good condition, have the appropriate cutting tools available. Pruners, loppers, and shears are the most common but vary with the plants being cut. For flowers or smaller leafing plants, stick with shears. If smaller branches need to be trimmed or cut off, make sure a pair of pruners is available. If larger branches – those measuring an inch or greater in diameter – need to be cut, have a pair of loppers on hand.

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How to Clean and Store Your Garden Tools

December 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you are an avid gardener you may have found yourself replacing your tools year after year; and if you are a novice gardener you may want to know how you should store your tools to ensure that they are protected and last you for years to come. By properly cleaning and storing your garden tools after each use you will ensure that the tools retain their usefulness and beauty.

After a day of gardening the first thing that you will want to do is wipe any excess dirt off of each tool with a dry cloth to make the cleansing process simpler. Next you can let the tools soak in water to remove any caked on dirt, it is important to dry the tools immediately after soaking and wiping them off to ensure that they do not rust. After the tools are completely dry you can rub each tool with a light coat of oil to prevent rust. If you are unsure of what type of oil to use to coat your garden tools you should consult with your gardening retailer.

If you know that you have been working on diseased plants or plants with garden pests then you will want to take a different cleaning route before moving on to the next healthy plant.

Instead of simply soaking the tools in water you should mix three parts water and one part household bleach to ensure that all of the disease is eradicated. After these tools are done soaking in your water and bleach mixture it is important to dry them and oil them as you would with any other gardening tool.

And finally at the end of the day you can store them in your garage, gardening shed, or any other covered area. It is important not to leave your gardening tools out in the open in case it rains which could ultimately lead to rust. It is a good idea that each of your gardening tools has its own place in your garage or shed; this is not required but it will make your gardening a great deal easier as you won’t have to spend time searching for your tools.

By properly cleaning and storing your garden tools you are ensuring that your tools will last you for years to come and bring you a happy and healthy garden.

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How To Apply Protective Coat On Gardening Tools

December 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Gardening tools go through an incredible amount of wear and tear. The constant exposure to water, gardening chemicals and inclement weather in daily use can quickly destroy even the most robust spade or bush trimmer. Constantly replacing your garden tools can get very expensive easily.

You can make your garden implements last longer by treating them with a top quality metal protective coating. These compounds will protect your tools from impact, abrasions and every manner of rust and corrosion. Theyre affordable, effective and best of all, easy to accomplish by yourself. All you need to do is purchase a bottle of the stuff and acquire either a fresh disposable aerosol can or a dedicated air compressor.

Collect all your gardening equipment that you want to protect and thoroughly clean all the metal parts. If necessary, use a chemical degreaser in order to remove all traces of foreign substances. Its important that you leave nothing behind; any impurities will taint the process and prevent the proper adhesion of the shielding compound.

Once clean, you should dry all pieces with a clean towel. Now, get some masking tape and cover all the non metallic parts of the tools. For shears, utility knives and other tools with sharp edges, carefully cover the edge with a thin strip of tape. Take care not to hurt yourself when you do this. Your next step is rough up the exposed surfaces with a 180 grit aluminum oxide sheet. Sanding down the metal will give the protective metal coating a stronger foundation to bind with.

When you spray on the protective metal coating, try to keep your hand movements steady and consistent. Dont hurry and crisscross back and forth. Run the nozzle in one direction per sweep. Its important to let the individual layers dry before applying the next. Not doing so may cause the finish to turn out uneven and rough.

Before the garden tools can be used again, the protective metal coating needs sufficient time to cure and dry. If youre in a hurry, putting them in a kiln or oven can greatly accelerate the process. Just a word of warning: doing so may damage the nonmetallic parts of your implements if not removed beforehand.

Visit www.KGCoatings.com for more details.

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Garden Tool Gifts For That Special Someone in Your Life

December 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Here is an extremely short list of great garden tool gifts for that certain special gardener in your life.

But don’t be fooled by the lack of 100′s of gift ideas. I would practically guarantee that your gardener does not have all of these special tools. Any one of these suggested gifts are enough to bring out the gratitude and smiles in even the most discerning gardener.

Bionic Gardening Gloves: This brand of garden gloves carries the “Ease of Use Commendation” by the Arthritis Foundation. They have been named “Best Gardening Glove on the Market” by the LA Times.
Felco Pruners: Felco is the pruner of choice by discerning gardeners. If your favorite gardener has had Felco Pruners on his or her want list, perhaps it is the perfect gift. Recommended for all types of pruning.
Composting Bin – PVC Style: Composting is a part of every serious gardener’s existence. Compost bins made of PVC are very sturdy and built to last as long as the gardener that uses it.
Radius Garden Pro Digging Fork (and Transplanting Spade): This tool has a radical new design with extra gripping surface compared to conventional digging forks. Stainless steel blade design and resin encased steel shaft make it super durable.
WheelEasy Collapsible Garden Cart: The ideal multi-purpose tool for the gardener that you”think” has it all. The design of the WheelEasy makes it perfect for every hauling situation. It is durable and versatile. And it can be collapsed and stored almost anywhere.
Gardener’s Bible: Think about a reference book with all the answers to tough gardening questions, written by experts from Rodale or Better Homes & Gardens. Your gardener will thank you each time he (or she) uses it.

Garden tool gifts can be a blessing not only to the receiver, but also to the giver (you), since you, the giver, will be one of the recipients of the organic gold that comes from the garden. Since Ezine articles does not host images, please go to Garden Tool Gifts to see the items listed as well as finding out how to get them into the hands of your extra special gardener.

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Garden Tool Storage Buildings – What Are the Main Benefits

December 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The main benefits of using garden tool storage buildings include the fact that you can keep your lawnmowers, hedge trimmers and gardening tools away from the elements, secure from theft and out of reach from children and pets. Depending upon the type of garden machinery and tools you want storage for you will need to work out what size and type of garden building you will need in order to cover and secure it.

Wooden Sheds, Tool Storage & Larger Solutions

For the average home-owner who may only have a small collection of garden tools such as forks, spades, hoes and maybe some weed-killer and other garden chemicals, a small wooden shed is an ideal storage solution. If however you have a large garden or you are responsible for the maintenance of a large garden for stately home and need to store much large items of garden machinery you will need a larger garden tool storage solution.

There are a number of large storage buildings available on the market from metal sheds to buildings the size of small garages, although if you are particular about how a building sits within your garden and want something which will blend in, a bespoke garden shed is more than likely your best option.

You can custom build a shed to your exacting requirements with a certain number of windows which are positioned in certain walls as to gain the most natural light and choose whether to have single or double doors which is an important option when you consider what you may need to get through it such as a lawn-mower, etc.

Water-proof Garden Storage

The great benefit of a sturdy garden tool storage building to house your tools is the fact that it keeps your tools dry and away from the elements as there is nothing worse than loosing tools to rust and mould. In addition a garden storage building or shed gives you a perfect working space if you have a hobby such as model making or motor-bicycle restoration then having a water-proof building in your garden is the ideal place for you to concentrate and escape good old British weather.

Garden Storage Security

There are a number of garden tool storage security options available on the market today, ranging from low budget padlocks, and simple security systems up to security alarms with motion sensors and halogen bulbs which flick on to alert the house-holder. Of course having motion sensors with external lighting is useful for the home-owner who uses the storage building in the evenings and early morning anyway, but being lit up can deter burglars from trying to break-in even if the house-holder is out.

Find a range of garden tool storage options please browse our garden buildings website. Himley Garden Buildings offers a range pent sheds, small and large summer houses as well as a bespoke shed manufacturing service.

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Cleaning,maintaining and sharpening Garden Hand tools. hand tools,

December 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Summer is almost upon us and thoughts turn to digging out our old tools or replacing new and worn ones. We can almost forget where we have left them, maybe in an old shed or the garage and when we find them again, they may not be in the working order they originally were. All too often we end up replacing hand tools and buying new ones but in fact if you take proper care, your hand tools can last the test of time.

The most important factor is to make sure you select and choose carefully when buying hand tools. Make sure you take the time to look at what is available on the market and depending on your budget, always try and buy good quality tools that are comfortable to use and of a good quality.

The key to maintaining your tools is cleaning and storage after use, especially over the winter period when they are not likely to be used. Many home owners leave tools outside after use and hedge trimmers are a popular tool to leave outside in the garden which will ultimately blunt the blades and render them unusable.  When we come to find them again, they are likely to have rusted a little and the blade will be ineffective leaving us very frustrated. Hand tools need to be cleaned after use and then put away safely for the next time they are required.

Tools should always be stored off the floor in order to reduce the amount of damp and if they can’t be stored off the ground then place them on plastic which will help reduce the amount of damp absorbed.

Many hand tools will become blunt over time but they can be successfully sharpened again in order to make them effective. Spades, forks hedge trimmers and trowels can all be sharpened effectively but all guidelines should be followed and any safety wear needed should be fully worn before you begin any sharpening task.

All rust must be removed from any tools before sharpening and you can use steel wool to do this, you also need to file down any chips and gouges in order to create a smooth surface. Honing stones and oil stones are really good at sharpening prunes and shears and for heavy duty equipment such as spades and shovels, files can be used.  There are many different types of files and it is important you use the correct one for the equipment you are using but a round mill file is a good tool to use for heavy duty equipment.

Tool box supplies offer a wide variety of Hand tools and garden tools. http://www.toolboxsupplies.co.uk

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Purchasing and Storing Garden Hand tools.

December 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to spend hundreds of pounds on Hand tools in order to have good quality tools that last the test of time. It is however important that you select the exact Hand tool for the job you are attempting and do not try to improvise with other tools. Good quality hand tools can be purchased at a reasonable price and if they are good quality, they will last a  long time.

One of the main reasons homeowners spend a lot of money on replacement hand tools is not taking proper care of them during the months when they are not used. Hand tools will be damaged by weather, pollution, wet and damp and if they are stored poorly over the winter period, when we come to use them again, they are likely to be damaged.

Hedge trimmers and pruners are ideal examples of tools that will not last long if they are left outside in wet conditions and you may find when you come to use them again, the blades are blunt and ineffective.

There is such a wide selection of Gardening hand tools on the market and each does its own specific job, first establish the job you are carrying out and the tool you need to purchase.  It isn’t always necessary to opt for the most expensive Hand tool on the market but don’t be tempted to opt for the cheapest either, always use your judgment and choose wisely and get a feel for the hand tools before you purchase.

It is always wise to purchase tough, well made hand tools to ensure they last, hand tools will take quite a bashing over the years and you need to purchase tools which have good, sturdy handles and thick metal blades.  Tools have a tendency to weaken over time and it is important that your hand tools have a good blade handle connection.

A gardener’s collection should always include a trowel, spade, fork, rake and a selection of smaller forks for awkward weeding around rock beds and smaller spaces.  A hoe is also a good idea to help with awkward weeding between plants.

Always purchase a material holder for the very small hand tools as this will help keep them dry and keep your hand tools in good condition. Purchasing brightly coloured tools is also a good idea because they are easier to find when left in gardens or outdoors.

Tool Box supplies supply a wide range of Garden Hand tools,Hand tools and Stanley hand tools. http://www.toolboxsupplies.co.uk

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Tools For Your Vegetable Garden

December 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There are a number of different vegetable gardening tools currently available. Some of these are vital to a proper vegetable garden, with others being more of a luxury or rarely used item. Whether you are starting your first vegetable garden, or have been doing so for many years, it is important to know what you will need to have.

The first thing to determine is what kind of vegetable garden you want to have. The most well known option is obviously the traditional vegetable garden. This can be virtually any size and commonly appears on a raised bed. Other options include container gardens, potted vegetables and hanging vegetables. Obviously, you may need some different tools for different types of planting, but there are some tools that are vital, no matter what. Those tools will usually consist of a bow rake, hand trowel, shovel, hose, hoe and watering can.

You may also need a wheelbarrow, square blade spade, and hori hori knife.

If you are using the familiar vegetable garden, located in your yard, you will almost certainly need the use of the wheelbarrow. Although this can be somewhat more expensive than the other tools, it has been found to save a lot of time and energy, especially when it comes to a larger vegetable garden. If there is quite a bit of greenery in your yard, you may also find a hand saw or hedge shears to be a good investment.

There is a common misconception that you will need to buy the highest quality tools for your vegetable garden. That is not necessarily true, but if you choose to buy a less expensive version of you tool, you should inspect it regularly for cracks or imperfections in the tool itself. You may want to rinse it off after each use and consider the use of a protective wax.

You should also determine the size and weight of the tools you would like to purchase.

Some shovels, for example, provide a sturdy and reliable texture that causes it to be heavy and bulky to use. An item with a fiberglass handle is easier to use, but the thinner texture may absorb and transfer vibrations more easily. With extended use, this could easily become uncomfortable.

There are many retail locations that carry the tools you will be using. Most discount and home improvement stores have many options to choose from, and with the large selection available you are sure to find the items you are looking for and be on your way to more efficient gardening in no time.

You can learn more about garden tool sets, and get much more information, articles and resources about garden tools by visiting lawn and garden tools.

I am a freelance writer with expertise in a variety of subjects and topics. I run numerous informational websites on subjects which I am knowledgeable about, and enjoy writing articles to help out other people looking for some guides or tips.

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