You don’t need a ton of tools to perform most routine gardening tasks, but the right ones will make your life a lot easier. Read on for a list of my favorite tools for planting, pruning, and everything else.
The first time I went shovel shopping, I bought what I thought was a huge shovel. It was four feet high, and Jonathan called it a trowel on a stick! After working in clients’ gardens and my own I realized he was right. If you are going to do a lot of planting you need a shovel long enough to be comfortable when digging a deep hole, and strong enough to give you leverage when digging in heavy soils. The shovel I use now is almost as tall as me! My other favorite tool for planting is a solid steel spade. I prefer the rounded tip variety – it is great for cutting through roots when planting under trees.
For pruning I rely on two tools from Felco. I use their classic pruners for cutting through small caliper branches, cutting back perennials and other basic pruning. A folding saw works great for pruning thicker branches. Be careful – both are sharp!
The other two tools that I couldn’t get by without are my big garden tubs and a flat tipped maddock. The maddock is a great tool for chopping through roots, and can also be used to dig holes for bulbs. I use the tubs for everything – hauling bulbs or fertilizer, holding transplants temporarily, carrying soil, gravel or sand, and as a bucket to pour leaves into the yard waste bin. Plus, they are available in a bunch of fun colors!
Need help with a gardening project at your house? Contact Bright Leaf Landscaping at 919-475-1015 or fill out our online contact form . Design and installation are our expertise, and we are always happy to meet with new clients to discuss potential projects!