Gardening Tools:
Rake and Roll

As summer winds down you may be thinking about stowing your shovel and other tools for the season. (But don’t stow that rake—the leaves won’t be falling just yet.) Before you clean and store your other tools, look each one over to see if the handles are split or if the tines are bent or rusty. Some tools benefit from a light sanding to remove rust or splinters. Others may need replacing—and this is a good time to find them on sale.

Trowel

A trowel is a good tool for digging small holes, transplanting, removing weeds, and cultivating the soil. Some trowels have specially designed curved ergonomic handles intended to prevent or reduce wrist pain. Others have a “toothed” edge, which helps remove weeds. The handles may be wood, plastic, padded, or metal. Before you buy one, pick up the trowel in the store and try it out to see how it fits in your hand and how much it weighs.
 

Hand Pruners

There’s nothing worse than pulling a ripe pepper or tomato off the plant and having the entire stem crack. Pruners are handy for harvesting vegetables, herbs, and flowers. There are three basic types of hand pruners: bypass, anvil, and ratchet. Bypass pruners have two curved blades that act like scissors and produce a clean cut. Anvil pruners have a single straight cutting blade that presses against a flat edge. Ratchet pruners are basically anvil pruners, but the cutting action is done in stages. Ordinary scissors, used solely for gardening, may work well, too. 
 

Hoes

A long-handled hoe makes weeding around vegetables or flowers a breeze. A stirrup hoe is named for the metal stirrup at the bottom of the handle. Some have a stirrup that swivels back and forth while others are stationary. Drag the stirrup across the top of the soil and it cuts the weeds without having to pull them. Stirrup hoes are good for working between rows of plants. Besides slicing through weeds, these hoes cultivate the top layer of soil. Other hoes have rectangular blades, while some have triangular blades that are useful for weeding and for creating a shallow trench for planting seeds. 
 

Shovels and Spades

Shovels and spades are both used for digging, but shovels are a better choice for scooping and moving soil and debris. Spades are preferred for cutting, scraping, and edging. Long-handled garden shovels and spades look similar, but their blades are quite different. Both can be used for digging, but a shovel with a curved, bowl-shaped blade is a better choice for digging large holes, moving mulch, and transplanting. A garden spade tends to have a sharp, flat blade. Both types may have different lengths, so pick them up in the store to see what feels comfortable in your hand and for your height. 

Fork

A long-handled garden fork is useful for breaking up soil, moving mulch, turning the compost pile, and removing deep-rooted weeds. A garden fork typically has four pointed tines. Some long-handled tools, like forks and shovels, have rubber cushioning to prevent blisters. Choose one that is lightweight but sturdy, with a handle that feels comfortable. 

Gloves

Weeding, pruning, and digging all take a toll on a gardener’s hands and fingernails. Buy a few pairs of durable gloves that won’t shrink when thrown in the washing machine. Elbow-length gloves are good for working around raspberries and other thorny plants. A hat and sunscreen are a must when we work outdoors. And insect repellent! There’s nothing more annoying than gnats and mosquitoes buzzing around when you’re working.