Looking to exercise your green thumb this spring? Well your thumb can’t do it all! Proper gardeners will need the proper tools to cultivate, prune, and raise their garden to perfection. While some tools help break apart the earth and soil, others will allow for proper air and water flow throughout the cultivated land. But how do you know which are the proper tools to use, and when exactly to use them? Consider this post your virtual tool shed to get you started on your expert gardening experience.

Shovel, Spade, Trowel

Your shovel/spade will probably be the most basic and essential tool in your gardening shed. If you’re planting, you will need your shovel/spade to dig holes, remove large rocks, turn your soil, and to simply carry soil from one place to another. If you have a small garden, then a simple hand trowel will be sufficient for your gardening needs.

Fork, Rake, Hoes, Hand picks, Hand cultivators

Much like shovels and spades, forks, rakes, and hoes help move and shape the soil you are working on. Hoes and rakes are great for moving and shaping the land. However, these tools are also great at controlling pesky weeds and removing unwanted debris. Hoes can be used to shape the ground by hilling and drilling the soil, while rakes and forks are better used for tilling, and aerating the land. The gardening website Yard Care indicates that forks are also great for mixing soil with nutrients, seeds, and fertilizers, ensuring proper long term growth. Hand picks and cultivators of course perform the same function but on a smaller garden bed.

Pruner, Shears

Pruners and Shears are there to cut away unwanted branches, twigs, and leaves. Dead branches and diseased leaves may sometimes spread to your entire plant if not addressed early. In order to prevent this, prune and cut diseased or dead branches and twigs to prevent your entire plant from getting sick. According to Home Guides, pruning also lets more sunlight into your plant, further invigorating it to bud better and more frequently. Shears are especially necessary to cut around prized plants that require careful accuracy and precision.

Manual Aerator

The manual aerator is a hand tool that requires little effort and strain. Just slip your foot into the manual aerator and walk. That’s it ! The spikes on the bottom of the aerator will perforate holes into the ground, allowing for oxygen, water, and nutrients to enter more freely.

Garden Hose

Water is life. You need a proper garden hose to shower and water your lawn and plants. Make sure not to overwhelm your lawn or your plants though, as too much water will undo all the hard work you’ve accomplished. Make sure to have a hose that provides different watering functions for more specific results.

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