Article
Landscape Tool Selection and/or Care
By Joey Reynolds
Choosing landscape tools is an important part of caring for your landscape. When choosing tools, it is better to invest in a quality tool; rather than trying to save money by purchasing a tool of lesser quality. Higher quality tools will do a better job and will last longer. Another important thing is to choose the right tool for the job. Using a tool that is not designed for the job you are doing will not only damage the tool, but probably the plants your are working with.
When choosing tools there are some considerations to keep in mind. The type of soil you will eb working in, the size of the user - as in height and strength, the size of the landscape job, the length of the handle, the right tool for the job, the degree of cant, and how often the tool will be used.
Two good tools for working in light soil are a general garden hoe and a round-nose shovel. A hand trowel will work fine for smaller jobs. For heavier soils, such as clay, a grading or triangle hoe and a square-nose shovel are good tools. I have found that a transplanting spade is a useful tool for a variety of jobs. It has a "D" handle grip, a lesser degree of cant, is sturdy, and works well for people of smaller stature.
When looking for quality tools, you should look for certain features. The head should be made of stainless or forged steel. The handles should be a hard steel or a smooth hardwood. Ideally wood handles should be polyurethaned to prevent getting splinters over time. Saw teeth should be beveled so you have a good cutting edge. Wide tires on wheelbarrows or garden carts are easier on lawns. Moving parts should open and close smoothly. Tools with a scissor-type blade should have a mechanism to lock them shut when not in use.
Caring for your tools is important. When not in use they should be hung or on a shelf. Tools should not be left outside exposed to the weather, or left laying around on the floor of the garage or tool shed. Each tool should have its proper place when not in use. Tools should be checked regularly for dull blades or parts that need oiled. They should be cleaned after each use. Tools should not be used on wet foliage or grass, as this makes them work harder and promotes rust. A five-gallon bucket filled with sand and motor oil is handy to store tools in that need oiled regularly. Wooden handles should be coated with linseed oil to help keep them smooth and in good condition.
It is important to do some research before purchasing and when caring for your landscape tools. Buying quality tools and taking proper care of them will help your tools last for many years.