Must have garden tools in the Veggie Patch

Garden tools are not needed to garden, but oh boy, do they make things a bit easier and much more enjoyable. You should never feel discouraged about the lack of tools to make a home garden happen, but I must mention that if you can, spend a little bit more money on high-quality garden tools. You’ll end up spending less money in the long run.

Cheap tools are cheaply made and won’t last a lifetime, meaning you’ll buy multiple cheap tools that can easily add up to more than one expensive quality tool.

These are the tools we are currently using in the garden.

Hand tools

• Hand Trowel and Weeding Trowel

This is one of the tools I use the most in the garden. A trowel is a sort of miniature shovel, and it is wonderful for transplanting bedding plants and herbs, planting containers, and removing weeds. Select a broad blade to move more soil or a long, narrow blade to dig up weeds or rocky soil.

• Pruning shears/secateurs

Another standard tool on my gardening belt is my pruning shears.  I prefer using Bypass pruners in almost all situations because the anvil type tends to crush the stem rather than slice it clean.

Anvil-style pruners cut with a sharp blade meeting a flat surface, similar to a knife on a board. Bypass pruners cut with a sharp blade passing by a sharp-edged flat surface, more like scissors.

1. Anvil pruners are best for dead wood. Anvil pruners tend to crush the material being cut and are used where the cleanliness of the cut is not as important as removal.
2. Bypass pruners are better for live plants and green wood.

• Hand Garden Fork

My soil tends to be a bit more compact after heavy rains. I prefer using a hand garden fork to dig into dense soil better than a spade. It is ideal for close work around plants, raking the soil, and breaking up the surface to create a loose, fine tilth ready for planting.

Gloves

I am a girl who prefers working the soil with my bare hands. I feel a deeper connection to the soil; this is my feel-good pilletjie daily. But some days, I have to deal with thorns or bug problems, and in summer, I wear gloves to protect my hands from the sun.

The top points that I consider when buying a glove is

1.  Make sure to get the correct fit.  Nothing is more annoying than a glove that is too big or too small.
2. Get water-resistant gloves
3. Your glove choice will depend on the job at hand.  Thin, lightweight gloves are best for duties where dexterity and feeling what you’re doing is key, such as potting up, weeding and planting. However, heavy-duty gardening gloves are essential for providing protection and support when using tools or doing hard landscaping.

Large gardening tools

• Spade & Fork

Used for general digging, aerating, and for lifting plants

Both spades and forks come in two sizes.

We prefer using the smaller forkhead. This fork is also ideal if you have a compost heap to turn.  We use both the spade sizes in the garden.  A larger spade is preferred when shoveling compost around the garden.

• Loppers

We do not use this tool often, but it is handy when needed. Loppers are long-handled pruners used to trim hard-to-reach areas and cut thicker branches. The long handles provide the leverage needed to cut through branches up to an inch or more in diameter. Just like pruners, there are anvil and bypass types of loppers.

There are anvil and bypass types, just like pruners.

• Wheelbarrow

Even though you might think you do not need one, get one!  A wheelbarrow is handy for dealing with extra soil, moving heavy stones, packing braai wood, and dealing with a quick harvest!

Other tools and gear to consider

• Watering

If you are not using irrigation, you will require a hose with a nozzle. I personally prefer a nozzle with a softer spray. Consider the length of your hose, keeping in mind that you do not damage plants when maneuvering the hose around.

• Fertilizer

If you are new to gardening and have not started growing your own fertilizer, I recommend getting fertilizer when getting your tools. Look at Talbourne Organics’ site to see what fertilizer you might need. You can purchase it on Living Seeds’ website.

• Harvesting containers

Stepping outside to harvest the food you have grown creates a sense of joy, pride, and utmost accomplishment. Why not celebrate that with a beautiful basket on a container? We want our harvest baskets to inspire us to dash outside daily to tend to something and snip some herbs for dinner.

I have three baskets at my front door, so I always have easy access to them.  Yes, there are times when a plastic container is best – especially when we harvest our potatoes, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins, but a basket for daily use is so pretty!

These are the tools I use most in the garden. A good tool belt, a tool apron, or a simple bucket is handy for keeping hand tools together. Don’t forget a wide-brimmed hat and good sunscreen.

Happy Gardening Friends.

Tash and Family