Well, hello there! Let’s gab a bit about them hand held gardening tools. You know, the ones you use with your hands, not them big machines that cost a fortune and scare the chickens.
First off, you gotta have good stuff. Don’t go buyin’ them cheapo tools that break the first time you hit a rock. Spend a little extra, get somethin’ that’ll last. My old man always said, “Buy once, cry once.” He was a smart fella, even if he couldn’t tell a petunia from a pickle.
Now, what kinda tools you need? Well, that depends on what you’re growin’. If you got roses, you’ll need them snip-snip thingies, the pruning shears, they call ’em. Make sure they’re sharp, or you’ll be fightin’ with them bushes all day long, and your hands will be achin’ like you wrestled a bear. I once had a pair that were so dull, I swear I almost threw them in the well.
Then there’s them little shovels, hand trowels, I think the fancy folks call ‘em. Good for diggin’ little holes and plantin’ them flowers. Get a sturdy one, with a good handle. I like the ones with the wooden handles, feels natural in your hand, you know? And don’t get one too big, unless you wanna dig up the whole yard.
- Hand Trowels: For digging small holes and planting.
- Pruning Shears: For trimming and shaping plants.
- Gardening Forks: Good for loosening soil and weeding.
- Cultivators: Great for breaking up hard dirt and mixing in compost.
Oh, and don’t forget a good gardening fork. Not the big pitchfork you use for hay, but a little one. It’s good for loosenin’ up the dirt and gettin’ rid of them pesky weeds. Weeds, they’re like unwanted relatives, always showin’ up and causin’ trouble.
Another thing that’s real handy is a cultivator. Looks like a little claw, you use it to scratch up the dirt, mix in the good stuff, like compost, you know, the stuff that makes your plants grow big and strong. My neighbor, she uses coffee grounds, swears it makes her tomatoes sweeter than honey. I ain’t tried it yet, but she grows some mighty fine tomatoes.
Pickin’ the right tools ain’t rocket science, you know. Just think about what you’re growin’ and get the tools that fit. If you got a small garden, you don’t need a whole shed full of tools. Just the basics will do. And if you got a big garden, well, you might need a few more, but don’t go crazy. Too many tools just clutter up the place and give you somethin’ else to trip over.
And here’s a little secret: take care of your tools, and they’ll take care of you. Clean ‘em after you use ‘em, don’t just leave ‘em out in the rain. And sharpen them blades, a dull blade is more dangerous than a sharp one, that’s what my grandpappy used to say. He was missin’ a finger, so I guess he knew what he was talkin’ about.
So, there you have it. A little bit of common sense about hand held gardening tools. Nothin’ fancy, just plain talk. Now get out there and get your hands dirty!
One more thing, don’t forget to wear gloves, unless you like havin’ dirt under your fingernails for a week. And a hat, too, keeps the sun off your face. Sun’s gettin’ stronger every year, I tell ya.
And lastly, gardening ain’t just about the tools, it’s about gettin’ outside, enjoyin’ the fresh air and watchin’ things grow. It’s good for the soul, you know? Makes you feel connected to somethin’ bigger than yourself. And that’s worth more than all the fancy tools in the world.
Tags: [hand held gardening tools, pruning shears, hand trowels, gardening forks, cultivators, gardening tips, garden tools, hand tools, gardening, garden maintenance]
