New to Gardening? Here Are Some Essential Tools You Can’t Live Without

So you’ve decided to finally sort out that ridiculous lawn that’s been growing all over your yard? Good decision! But you won’t make it with a pair of scissors or an old machete. You’re going to need good gardening equipment to clean up your lawn, plant new life, and pretty up your yard so that it’s presentable.

Whether you’re new to gardening or just need a little checklist of items, here’s the perfect guide to get into your newfound hobby.

A Good-Quality Pair of Gloves

Gardening is a relaxing hobby, but it can get dangerous if you aren’t protecting yourself. Plants can get sharp, insects can get nippy, and thorns will get nasty. Avoid coming out of the gardening session with cut hands by investing in a good pair of gloves. Don’t get anything too thick or chunky because you need to be able to maneuver your fingers. And don’t get anything that’s too thin because that defeats the point of protecting your hands.

If possible, try on a pair of gloves before you buy them and take them home. They can get quite heavy and bothersome if you haven’t bought the right size. When you’re happy with a pair, make sure you store them away in a dry environment away from the sun, and keep the insects away—they love to crawl around in gloves that have lots of plant matter coating them.

Invest In a Decent Lawn Mower

How else do you plan to get rid of all that grass? A pair of tweezers? The quickest and most even cut you’ll get is with a good quality lawn mower. You can check sites like http://www.lawnmowerlane.com/ to get a good idea of what to look for.

The main thing to consider is the type of lawn mower that you need. Some lawn mowers are suited for cutting even levels of land, some are cordless, and some are better at handling uneven surfaces. Cordless ones are usually powered with batteries or even petrol, and they’re perfect for large yards with no nearby power outlet. If you have a small lawn, consider getting an electric mower that’s small, portable, and good value. For bigger lawns, move onto cordless and petrol-powered mowers for more freedom in movement.

A Flexible Water Hose

Your plants live off water, so what better way to feed them than to shower them in water? Make sure that your hose is long enough to reach all the areas of your garden and yard, and make sure that it has an adjustable nozzle so you can control the amount of pressure. Use low pressure for delicate plants and flowers, and turn it up when you need an extra boost in power to cover larger areas.

Flickr image by Peter O’Connor aka anemoneprojectors

Spade or Shovel? Know the Difference!

Most beginners don’t know this, but spades and shovels are completely different tools. Shovels are typically longer than spades, and the end is shaped like a scoop. Since it has a pointed tip, it can cut through things like soil and roots.

The spade on the other hand, has a flat tip and is typically shorter. Since the tip is flat, you can use it to cut straight edges into soil for when you need precision, such as digging up an area that you plan to place a flower bed.

While you can get by with one or the other, it’s beneficial to have both because they can serve different purposes.

Featured image by Pixabay condesign.