11 Must Have Gardening Tools

Everyone loves gardening. The idea of having your own special place that you can escape off to – be it to just get some fresh air or to grow different kinds of herbs, spices and a lot of sweet smelling flowers as an enthusiast – it sure is something every individual has at least once in their life looked forward to. Gardening that’s done in the comfort of your own house is called home gardening.

Gardening can have various purposes, and it can always vary from person to person – some prefer having sweet smelling flowers that can help reduce their stress when they return home from a hectic day at work, while some may just want to improve the aesthetic of their home. Regardless of what you might be into gardening for, it is obvious that it requires a lot of effort and time on your part to produce magnificent results.

There are a lot of articles on Elitech Drip’s blog that can help you with creating your perfect garden, and in this one we’re going to take a look at how you can get more work done using essential gardening tools that are almost a must-have in order to raise a great garden. Let’s get started.

Shovel

A shovel is a tool majorly used for digging, lifting and also moving bulk hindrances. It is mainly used on soil, coal, gravel and sand. It consists of a broad blade attached to a handle, which is usually available at any length. The material of the blade can be either sheet steel or hard plastic considering the type of work. The handle is almost always made of wood.

The purpose of making the blade with sheet steel is mainly to increase the rigidity of the shovel. A T-piece is fixed at the holding end to provide extra grip and make it easy for tilling the soil^[1] and heavy materials. Depending on the purpose, the sizes of the shovel may also differ. Mostly, for home gardens we would benefit using a smaller shovel.

Trowel

A trowel plays a major role in gardening. It is very useful in smoothening the soil, applying fertilizers and compost and also for moving objects. They are different types of trowels as well depending on the purpose. Trowels are also used in the construction industry in masonry for laying of bricks.

The tool consists of a scoop-shaped blade at the front. The handle is available in variations of wood, steel and even plastic. A trowel might seem similar to a shovel or even a spade but it mainly differs in size, and is operated in one hand for breaking up the earth, digging on small levels and for weeding and planting.

Pruning Shears

Pruning Shears are also called hand pruners; They are used as scissors for cutting off plant stems and helping growth. They are also strong enough to prune out the hard branches from trees. Depending upon the material their strength will also differ. But the basic one is strong enough to cut up to two centimetres thick branches. This tool can also be used to weed out parts of the plants which are rotten.

Pruning Shears play a vital role in governing the growth of the plants and also to take care of them. The type of blade determines the level of durability of the material. In some cases, stainless steel material is used as it has high resistance towards corrosion while having a chromium oxide layer on the outside to protect it from rusting. Carbon steel or even titanium coated blades provide a high level of agility to the blades.

Rake

A rake is a broom used in the field of horticulture which constitutes as a toothed bar attached to a long bar and a handle. They are used to collect the fallen leaves or hay. They also serve to loosen the coarseness of the soil and for leveling. A heavy rake is used as a purpose of detaching the soil by moving the debris. They are used in places where the roots are weaker than the grass so by detaching the soil and adding the fertilizer, you can make the soil more hospitable for the plant.

Soil aeration is not good for the plants in your garden, but doing it without causing too much exposure should pose no problem. Plastic rakes are rather cheaply priced when compared to the other ones. But they can only be used on recently accumulated dry leaves. Metal rakes on the other hand are, although expensive, used to dispose of rotten and wet leaves. They are a big hit during spring time.

Pruning Secateurs

Pruning Secateurs are sharp, super strong scissors that are mostly used to cut the branches of small trees. They are mainly used as a harvest collector since they can cut through thick branches of grapes or vegetables. The only issue with these is that they need regular maintenance. They absolutely have to be cleaned after every use. Make sure to keep them dry after storing and also to keep the blades sharp.

Most people consider pruners and secateurs to be the same but they are not. They differ mainly in terms of blade configuration as secateurs have a concave-shaped blade, constructed in a way that narrow stems may be cut easily. They also have a vital role in the nurturing of the plants. Most secateurs are used for harvesting but some also use them for pruning as well. They are also used for arranging flowers and a lot more.

Dibber

Dibbers are pointed wooden sticks which are mainly used for sowing of seeds or smaller plants. They can make little holes on the surface of the ground. They are an important tool for gardening. They also come in a lot of designs – like the straight dibber, trowel dibber and also the L – shaped dibber.

The T – handled dibber is one of the most basic and widely used types as it provides the best grip on the palms and it is also easy to add torque and exert pressure. For people new to gardening, a dibber is an essential tool to have in your inventory.

Hoe

A hoe is one of those tools that has been present in households for centuries. They are mostly used to shape the soil, remove weeds and also for the harvesting of crops. If you’re new to gardening, you may want to know that shaping the soil doesn’t just consist of piling up rocks and other materials but also includes setting up narrow furrows and shallow trenches.

Agitating the surface can also be done using hoes, for digging and moving soil. They are also used in harvesting root crops like potatoes. There are also various types of hoes used depending on the labour and work. The draw hoe is a type that comes with different shapes to harvest many different kinds of crops. Scuffle hoes are the types which are designed to cut out the roots of the weeds just from under the surface of where it exists.

Spray bottle

Everyone’s heard of spray bottles – they are popular in almost every field, but more so in gardening. Spray bottles are like the best companions for a gardener. Using spray bottles ensures the amount of water is just right and doesn’t allow water wastage. The use of liquid fertilizers in a spray bottle is also a good idea, if you don’t like getting the smell of fertilizers on your hands.

One of the most important things to keep in mind while growing your garden, as mentioned above, is to keep water consumption in check. Now if you have a big garden, then it’s acceptable to use watering kits, hoses and other bigger equipment. However, in smaller gardens you would benefit a lot by using spray bottles.

Khurpi

Khurpi is a tool that is most often used for loosening top soil. It comes with a flat blade and a shorter handle. The word Khurpi is taken from the Punjabi language. Khurpis are also used for chewing up the weeds, cutting them, or even planting saplings. They have their roots firmly placed in the Indian soil. The Khurpi has been a traditional tool for farmers in India. They have existed from ancient times and have been a good tool for serving the plants.

The tool is used for leveling of soil and for the mixing of the soil manure in a relatively easy way. Khurpis are also implied in mixing up the soils, placing fertilizers and also for spreading the composts.

Watering Can

Watering cans are the most basic of tools to have in your inventory. While we can easily conjure up anything to act as a watering can, a standard one consists of a container with a handle,and also a funnel to boost the level of water. The capacity of these containers varies from about 0.5 to 10 liters. The cans are mostly made up of metal, ceramic or plastic, and sometimes even combined with all three.

At the opening of the watering can, a rose is placed. A rose is actually a device that has small holes on the cap. They exist to break up the water into droplets and reduce the pressure level when the water is poured, so as to not affect the delicate nature of the plants in your garden.

The watering can is also one of the tools that has withstood the tet of time, and existed from the early times in the 1000s. They were even called by other names like watering pots etc. The role of a watering can is simple yet crucial. As for gardeners who have or are planning on having delicate plants in their garden, it becomes almost mandatory to possess a watering can with a rose cap.

Drip Irrigation Kit

Home drip irrigation kit comes in very handy if you want to make your garden independent or atmanirbhar. Watering the plants is one of the most tedious work that comes with having a garden. Drip irrigation system allows you to enjoy gardening and plants at home without adding extra work for you.

Drip Irrigation is also helpful if you go out on vacation for few days, or months. No need to ask your neighbours or friends to water your plant. Just set the watering schedule in your Drip irrigation system and go to vacation worry free. When you get back, be relieved to find your garden as healthy as your left it.