DIY Network

Five Must-Have Garden Tools You don't have to spend a lot of money to have five essential tools for gardening. From "Home Made Easy" episode DHME-105

Guest Fran Sorin joins host Stephanie Lydecker and digs deep in her gardening shed for the top five gardening tools worth owning. Whether you're a novice or an expert, these tools will make planting, plotting, digging and weeding a breeze.

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	Stephanie (right) and Fran reveal the elite five when it comes to vital gardening tools.
	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Materials:

kneeling pad
trowel
weeder
pruner
spade

Five Essential Garden Tools

• You don't have to spend a lot of money but at the same time a lot of these tools will last you forever, so you should buy quality products. A good rule to remember is "think less is more." Look for quality names such as Smith and Hawken, Fiskars or ARS. Then look for words like "professional" or "heavy duty."

  1. Kneeling Pads

  Kneeling pads are a must have (figure A). Gardening is a lot of work and not so good on your back. You can get all kinds of kneeling pads in a range of different prices. They are made with flat foam that helps protect your knees. You can purchase them at any local hardware store. Each gardening season buy five or six--you will probably go through them quickly depending on how much gardening you do.

  2. Trowel

  A trowel is a scoop-shaped small tool used for digging up dirt or setting in small plants (figure B). Make sure it feels comfortable in your hand and is made of quality materials. Choose one with a sturdy wooden handle and a hardened steel blade. Steel blades will last the longest. These can last decades and cost anywhere from $10-25. Go for the more expensive ones--it's worth the investment. Don't buy the ones you see in the pharmacy.

  3. Weeder

  You need a good weeder which basically does exactly what you think--gets rid of weeds easily and quickly. Try to find one that has a wooden handle with a thin steel neck attached to a triangular steel head and comes in both a right and left-handed version. A good weeder will save you money down the road because it will save you time. A good weeder costs approximately $20.

  4. Pruner

  There are lots of types of pruners--long ones, and heavy-duty tough ones. A smaller pruning knife is so useful and needful for cutting everything from small branches to deadheading flowers to shaping plants and is a good tool to have (figure C). You can find pruners that range in price from $10-75. Somewhere in the middle is the best bet. Find a pruner that makes clean, easy cuts and feels comfortable in your hand. They make pruners for left-handed people and people with arthritis.

  5. Spade

  A spade is meant for working the soil and prying and loosening the dirt, not moving it. You can use it for edging a garden bed or dividing perennials or firming down soil. This is not like a shovel that has a scoop. It lies flat on the ground. It is more of a precision digger than a shovel is. Go for quality and spend a little money on this--it will be worth it. Try to find ones with a foot rest on it--a narrow strip on top of the blade where you can place your boot while digging (figure D). Spades come in different heights and you need to find the right one for you.

  Helpful Tips:

  • Keep wood handles from drying out by rubbing them with linseed oil.

  • Paint tool handles a bright color to find them easily.

  • Run fingernails over a bar of soap to keep them dirt-free.

  • Garden tools make good housewarming gifts.
  
  
  
  

  RESOURCES :
  

  Pruners
  Smith and Hawken
  Website: www.smithandhawken.com

  Weeder and Spade
  Fiskars
  Website: www.fiskars.com

  Flowers
  Proven Winners
  Website: www.provenwinners.com

  Extra Gardening Supplies
  Lowes
  Website:www.lowes.com

  
  

  GUESTS :
  

  Fran Sorin
  Author, Digging Deep: Unearthing Your Creative Roots Through Gardening
  0446531669
  April, 2004
  Warner Books
  Website: www.fransorin.com
  

  ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  	Spice Rack Basics
  	Five Must-Have Garden Tools
  	Using Natural Cleaners
  	How to Make a Bouquet Garni