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[G39]Garden Tools For Kids

by Richard Murray, Ric

Gardening tools are absolutely necessary for the small garden, but because so few tools are really needed, buy only basic high-quality gardening tools which will last you for many years. When purchasing tools, be sure the tools are the right size for you, as well as the job at hand, too small or too large a tool will make extra work.

If you maintain your tools well, they will serve you well. When storing your tools keep a roll of paper towels handy to wipe off mud and dry the tools, then apply a light coating of oil to prevent rust. Hoes, spades and shovels will get dull with use and not cut into the earth smoothly, but they can easily be sharpened with a 10 in. mill bastard file. Shears and clippers should also be sharpened on a regular basis, but it may be best to have a professional do this job. It is amazing how much better and safer tools work when they are sharp.

A checklist of hand tools for a small garden could include the following:

* Spade
* Trench spade
* Spading fork
* Steel bow rake
* Common hoe
* Pointed hoe
* Strong cord for laying out rows
* Stakes
* A small wheel barrow or garden cart
* Watering hoses
* Gardening gloves
* Gardening shoes

Gardening with your children is a wonderful opportunity for fun family participation. However, don't make it too difficult for them to actually work in the garden, think about investing in child sized gardening tools. These tools are readily available, and will make a huge difference in their enthusiasm. .

An advantage of a smaller garden is that it is not necessary to use power tools while maintaining your plot, if you do feel the need for power tools the most useful and popular is probably the rotary tiller. Tillers can always be rented, but unfortunately when you need one you may not find one available, so buying a tiller is an option.

Once again buy the best that you can afford; you want to be able to use it and not have it in the repair shop when you need it the most. They obviously come in different styles with front tillers and rear tillers and in different sizes. Most gardeners prefer to the rear tillers style due to the ease of operation. Because of the expense involved, it would be wise to do your homework before you invest in one.

Your local hardware store or garden center has a wide variety of garden tools that are not listed above and may be added when ever you feel the need to treat yourself with more gardening equipment.

* Sprayers
* Dusters
* Shredders (for the compost pile)
* Leaf rake
* Watering can
* Soaker hoses
* Drip irrigation systems
* Hand-held the three-pronged cultivator
* Hand-held trowel
* Fertilizer spreader
* Pruners and shears

As winter days grow longer, the gardener in all of us longs to be out digging in the dirt. After many cold months of sitting in warm kitchens and happily dreaming of flower and vegetable gardens, it is a wonderful feeling to finally get outside in the sun and feel the earth beneath your fingertips. If you have never before known the satisfaction of working the soil and nurturing plants, there is no time like the present to start enjoying everything that gardening has to offer. You will need a few simple tools to start on your way. Many of the tools available are extraneous and easily done without, but there are a few basics that no gardener should be without. Use this handy checklist to take stock of the tools in your garden shed.

Spading Fork: This tool is usually the first tool that you will use when spring rolls around. A spading fork is an important tool for breaking up hard, winter packed soil and combing additives such as compost or manure into your dirt. A spading tool looks like a smaller version of the pitchfork farmers have used for years. Unlike the pitchfork, a spading fork has wider tines and a smaller handle.

Hoe: This tool is very helpful for tearing weeds out of your soil. A hoe is also a great device for cultivating the surface of the soil so that water and feed can penetrate to your plants roots. If your hoe is dull, get a new one or have the blade sharpened, because there is nothing worse that slaving over weeds with a dull hoe that is ineffective.

Shovel: A sturdy round ended shovel will come in very handy for all sorts of gardening projects. You can use it to break up soil, dig up grass or weeds, and dig deep holes form planting your vegetable and flower plants, shrubs, and even trees. Choose a shovel with a smooth and sturdy handle that fits well in your hand. You should also make sure that the height of the handle is comfortable for you.

Rake: When you go shopping for a rake for your garden it is important to bypass the rakes that you are used to using to rake leaves off your lawn every fall. In the garden, you use a bow rake which is much different than the fan rakes that sweep up debris. A bow rake has short tines on one side attached to a metal frame, traditionally called a bow, and where the name bow rake originates from. A bow rake is used for removing large clots or rocks from the soil. The sturdy tines are great for sinking down beneath the surface of your soil and pulling out the things you don't want in your garden. A bow rake is also a great tool for leveling your garden after you have hoed and dug it up, to prepare it for planting. The flat side of a hoe rake can be run along the soil (tines up) to flatten and pack your dirt into a smooth pattern. The tines can also be traced lightly against the flattened soil to prepare planting trenches for seeds such as radishes, carrots or onions.

Shears: Having a good pair of garden shears or clippers is essential for the care of your plants. Make sure that you get a sturdy pair that feels comfortable in your hand. This tool is used for pruning, shaping, and clipping away old foliage so new growth can flourish. Shears come in all price ranges and the cost usually reflects the quality. If you invest in a good pair of shears, they will pay for themselves many times over with years of solid, dependable use. If you skimp when it comes to buying this tool, chances are you will be frustrated by the low quality of the work they do, and it is very possible that you will have to replace them before the season is even over.

If you arm yourself with the tools on this simple garden tool checklist, you should find yourself ready to meet the spring. There are a lot more garden tools available, and many of them are innovative and useful, but if you have all of the tools mentioned above, you will find you have everything you need to do some spring gardening!

Article Source : Lawn and Garden Tools

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Both Richard Murray & Daniel Smith are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Richard Murray has sinced written about articles on various topics from Vegetable Garden, Home Management and Vegetable Garden. Dick Murray is a retired urbanite who keeps his passion for gardening alive with pots of herbs on the window sills and the creation of dedicated to. Richard Murray's top article generates over 2400 views. to your Favourites.

Daniel Smith has sinced written about articles on various topics from Computers and The Internet, Vitamin B12 Folic Acid and Family Concerns. Daniel Smith writes about and . Daniel Smith's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.