If properly cared for, garden hoses may last for years. Buy the best you can afford, selecting a hose that has brass fittings and is at least three to four ply in thickness. Don't leave a hose lying on the ground, where dampness may encourage rot. Keep your hose coiled and hung up or stored on a shelf, and remove kinks promptly. You'll need clippers to carry with you as you make garden rounds every day. They range from cheap to very expensive, and a good-quality pair will last much longer. Gloves are useful, especially when you're working in soil or among thorny shrubs. When a shovel is too big for the task at hand, you'll want a trowel (figure A). Buy a good one: you'll use it again and again for many different jobs. A round-point shovel (figure B) is used for planting trees and shrubs. Look for a good-quality tool with wooden handles and a forged blade. Keep it sharp for easier digging by using a metal file on the concave side of the blade. A bow rake (figure C) is used for leveling soil and removing small rocks and stones. Turn the prongs over to smooth freshly tilled soil before planting. Hoes are used primarily for weeding, although you can also use one to loosen the soil between vegetable rows and to cultivate around new annual plantings. Keep the blade sharp by applying a metal file to the beveled edge. Pruning tools must be kept sharp. Make sure the screws are tight and lubricated as well. Keep all tools clean and oiled. Linseed oil works well on wooden handles, and a light coating of vegetable-oil spray applied to the metal parts will help prevent them from rusting. You may also want to have a pocketknife, a plastic bucket, labels, sprinklers, string, a watering can and a wheelbarrow.
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