Buyers Guide For Gardening Products

Gardening can be a very rewarding hobby which gets you out of the house, encourages you to engage with nature and could even turn into a career! If you get into gardening you could grow your own fruit and vegetables to save money and avoid pesticides, you could grow beautiful flowers and you as you improve you could start creating your perfect garden. In order to garden successfully you will need a few tools. Not all of the tools listed below are essential, but they serve different functions which could make your life a whole lot easier. If you’re looking to invest in some new gardening equipment read this buyers guide first to get a good idea of what is available and which products are right for you.

Garden Spades & Forks

If you are looking to buy some gardening equipment the best place to start is with garden forks and spades. Every gardener, whether you want to create your very own botanical garden or you just want to grow some vegetables on the side, needs a garden spade or fork in order to dig successfully. Garden spades typically come with a handle attached to a long base and end with a rectangular spade which is used to shovel dirt and earth, whereas garden forks have the same handle and base but literally end with an oversized fork.

Garden Spades

Garden spades are used for digging holes and moving dirt. This is an important tool for anyone who wants to grow their own flowers, fruit and/or vegetables because you need to dig a hole in the ground before you can plant anything.

Garden Forks

Garden forks are good at breaking up the dirt, removing rocks and other objects which may get in the way, and they can also eradicate weeds without harming the other plants.

Things To Consider

Garden forks and spades are pretty straight forward and easy to buy, but you will still need to think about the following points before you settle on a particular model.

• Handle Length. When you use a spade or fork you will normally have to stoop in order to dig through the ground. This may involve bending over for long periods of time and can, therefore, lead to back pain. Before you buy your spade/fork you should look at how long the handle is and pick something that is the right size for you so that you can use it for long periods of time without causing yourself unnecessary discomfort.
• Weight. Most spades and forks won’t start out too heavy, but the longer you use it the heavier it might get. Unless you are fairly strong you should keep an eye out for models which are advertised as ‘lightweight’ and check the products weight before buying so you can make sure that it is light enough to use comfortably.
• If you don’t want your spade/fork to rust you will need to make sure you choose a blade which is made out of strong, durable and rust resistant material. Stainless steel is always a good choice because it is strong, it is a lot less likely to rust and it is less likely to discolour as time goes on.

Rakes

Rakes are used for removing things such as weeds, stones, leaves and debris. There are a few different types of rakes which you can choose from.

Garden Rakes

These rakes are good at levelling dirt and removing unwanted plants and other objects so you can use the earth to plant your choice of vegetables, flowers and/or other plants. Garden rakes should not be used in flower beds or areas which contain your own plants because they will dig up everything they come into contact with.

Leaf Rakes

These are much lighter garden tools which are primarily used to clear leaves during the autumn period. They can also be used to clear away dead grass, hedge clippings and, if the rake is waterproof, they can be used to remove leaves and other debris from ponds and swimming pools.

Hand Rakes

These are smaller rakes which are popular because they give the user greater control and can be used on different types of terrain. Traditional small hand rakes can be used to tidy flower beds without damaging the plants, whereas small leaf rakes are good for removing any leafs and bits of debris that have clustered around garden ornaments and decorations.

Shrub Rakes

This is another type of hand rake which comes with a wider head. These rakes are ideal for removing grass cutting, leaves, twigs and other bits of debris from smaller hard to reach areas.

Things To Consider

Before you buy a rake read through these points and tips to make sure you know what you are looking for.

• Clog free feature. If your rake keeps getting clogged up with leaves and other bits of debris it can get really frustrating. There are, however, clog-free rakes which are specially designed to avoid getting clogged up and can thus save you a lot of time and effort. These rakes come in a curved shape which stops bits of debris getting stuck.
• Ergonomic. If you are planning on using your rake for extended periods of time you will want to ensure it is as comfortable as possible. Try to pick rakes that come with a thick handle and comfort grips to stop your hand slipping and tiring out.
• Rakes are quite cheap and prices tend to range from around £10 to £30-40. Rakes which come with additional features are likely to be more expensive, but most decent models should be able to do the job they are designed to do.

Pruners

Pruners are a very important gardening tool because they help you remove dead flowers, leaves and other objects which can hinder your plant’s natural growth. Before you buy a set of pruners there are a few things you should think about and certain features you should be aware of.

There are two common types of pruners which can be bought for different functions.

• Hand-held pruners. This is a broad category which includes all the smaller pruners which you can hold in your hand.
• Tree pruners. These pruners can be attached to an extension pole which allows you to reach higher objects such as trees.

There are also different types of pruners which are suitable for different functions.

• Bypass pruners. These pruners are ideal for trimming smaller plants and branches. These pruners work via the use of two blades where one blade slips underneath the other blade in a scissor-like action. These pruners give clean and exact results but they may not be able to deal with tougher vegitation.
• Anvil pruners. These pruners are stronger than bypass pruners and they can effectively cut through thick branches, wood and other tough materials.
• Ratchet Pruners. These pruners are comfortable, strong and good at reducing hand fatigue.

Are You Left Or Right Handed?

Some hand pruners have handles which are designed to fit the left hand comfortably, some are designed for the right hand and other handles are designed to suit both hands. If you are buying a hand pruner make sure you check which hand it has been designed for. If you are ambidextrous or if you know the pruners will be used by multiple people then try to select something which has been designed to suit both the left and right hand.

Small Hands

Regular sized pruners will fit many different types of hands, but they may not be suitable for people with especially small hands. If you are worried that regular pruners will be difficult for you to use then there are specific pruners which are designed for those with smaller hands. These models are lightweight, durable and tend to be quite comfortable.

Blade Length

The length of the blade will determine what you can use your pruners for. Smaller blades are ideal for house plants and for use in smaller areas, whilst larger pruners can be used for larger plants and are better for outdoor use.

Weight

Heavy pruners can tire you out and lead to aches and pains, so if you are planning on using your pruner for long periods of time you should make sure the model you choose is lightweight and does not weigh more than