11:06 - 17 January 2011
Garden tools are often handed down through the family, so if you are lucky enough to have parents or grandparents who garden or gardened you may have some pretty amazing garden tools. Those hand crafted tools of yesteryear were made to last a lifetime and often cost a week’s wages or more. Can you imagine spending that amount of money on a garden spade or a fork?? But they stood the test of time and many are still in use today.
Hand forged and quality tools rarely need replacing and if you are in the market for new garden tools you would be well advised to buy the very best you can afford. Unless your tools are at risk of being stolen (maybe you store them in an allotment shed or an unsecured place) it is always a good idea to buy quality that will last.
A quick visit to the garden centre can leave you in a spin. There are hundreds of different gardening tools available and it can be completely confusing deciding what to buy without some expert help. Garden centre staff should be trained in the art of gardening and are very often gardeners too, so they are well placed to advise you on what tools are good for what purpose. You don’t need dozens of tools to get you started; in fact you can manage with a handful of well-chosen quality garden tools. Check out the quality range of garden tools on offer at the Growhouse website here:
http://www.growhouse-greenhouses.co.uk/gardening-accessories. Most gardeners are generous enough to lend out their tools to new gardeners. But if you do borrow something, return it quickly and in the same condition, or better, than it was when you first borrowed it. Otherwise, next time you may not be met with such generosity.
Ultimately it is better to build up your own set of tools; buy the basics first and then build on this until you have everything that you need
Hand tools
In the garden the gardener needs a hand fork for weeding and a hand trowel for planting. These are among the most important gardening tools and make a great gift for a new gardener or a new home. There are many other tools essential for particular jobs such as a dibber for planting seedlings, large seeds or small bulbs and a bulb planter for planting garden bulbs.
Click here: http://www.growhouse-greenhouses.co.uk/garden-hand-tools
Watering cans
Every gardener, no matter how large or small his plot needs a watering can. It’s ideal for transporting water from the tap to the plants and is particularly essential for pots containers and greenhouse gardening. When it comes to watering cans there is one name that stands out from the rest. A Haws Watering Can is considered by many to be the ultimate choice. It makes the perfect gift for a gardening aficionado and will last a lifetime.
http://www.growhouse-greenhouses.co.uk/watering-cans
Gloves
Gardening gloves used to be a cumbersome affair, offering protection but little dexterity. These days with modern fabrics and technology there is no excuse for not protecting your hands while gardening. You can tailor the type of gloves that you wear with the task in hand and can choose from thin gloves for delicate tasks such as seed sowing and thicker, more protective gloves for those thorny jobs that hold more risk. There are even gloves for children so that their little green fingers are kept safe and sound while they play and plant in the garden. What’s more gardening gloves don’t need to be boring, choose bright vibrant colours and you’ll rarely lose them again.
http://www.growhouse-greenhouses.co.uk/gardening-gloves
Secateurs
Every good gardener knows the value of quality secateurs. Unless you have a habit of losing them, buy the very best you can afford and look after them well they will serve you for years and years. The secret to successful pruning is to choose the right tool for the job and the right secateurs to fit your hands, if they are too big you will overstretch your fingers and quickly stress you hands, if they are too small your hands will weary quickly and you will be tempted to cut stems larger than your tools will cope with. Ideally a gardener needs a pruning knife, some secateurs, a pruning saw and some loppers, but if you are starting out, or on a budget you can usually manage with secateurs and a pruning saw. Look for secateurs where spare parts such as springs, blades and buffers are available, so that your pruning tools can be serviced, sharpened and kept in good fettle for years on end.
http://www.growhouse-greenhouses.co.uk/cutting-and-pruning-tools
