Basic Gardening Tool Tips For Beginners
If one of your New Year's Resolution is to take up gardening this springtime, one of the first gardening maxims to live by is to never purchase cheap gardening tools. Low-cost equipment tends to be poorly designed and constructed, and made from materials that end up breaking quickly. It might be an initial annoyance to begin your gardening life by devoting muchos money to costly tools, but, in the long run, you will discover why this is a no-brainer.
When starting out, it is wise to acquire a small collection of tools that increases over time, as opposed to purchasing dozens of tools that become neglected through lack of use. Deciding what you need can take up a lot of time, and the perfect set of tools will depend on the scope of your gardening desires. The key element to bear in mind is that, if you purposely design your garden to be low maintenance, it will hopefully lessen the number of tools you require, as well as reducing the amount of money you spend.
When starting out, it is wise to acquire a small collection of tools that increases over time, as opposed to purchasing dozens of tools that become neglected through lack of use. Deciding what you need can take up a lot of time, and the perfect set of tools will depend on the scope of your gardening desires. The key element to bear in mind is that, if you purposely design your garden to be low maintenance, it will hopefully lessen the number of tools you require, as well as reducing the amount of money you spend.
It is typically best to remember that tools with painted handles will peel away, and are best avoided since the paint often hides the use of cheap wood too. Talking of wood, the best choice for a handle is North American white ash, which is both lightweight and hardwearing. The metal section of the tool attached to the handle affects durability, so never underestimate the importance of solid-socket construction; forged from a single bar of steel that covers the handle entirely, this adds strength to the tool's overall structure.
After investing a good portion of money in quality tools, always spend time keeping them in good shape. After extended use, get yourself into the routine of thoroughly cleaning your tools before putting them away. Do not be tempted to use a trowel or other small metallic tool to knock stubborn dirt particles off of the blades, as this could damage or break both tools. Instead, a wire brush will eradicate any patches of dirt and even rust that may eventually form. Varnish wooden handles on a regular basis so that their basic strength is maintained, and repair or replace broken handles as soon as you can.
Keeping your tools sharp means that they will keep working efficiently for you. If you are not confident about resharpening certain tools, you can take them to a professional. However, if you know what you are doing, sharpen each one when needed, and maintain the appropriate bevel. A sharp tool, such as a pair of pruning shears, can ironically become hazardous to the user if the blades become blunt. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance for you to preserve their sharpness.
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2 comments
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Great tips.
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Thanks for sharing - love your pictures, btw.
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