Understanding Essential Lawn Care Tools

Lawn care is one of those tasks in gardening that is both important and complex. Unless you hire a lawn service to handle the weekly chores of lawn care, every homeowner needs a few basic lawn care tools to finish the task.
There are power tools and some hand tools needed for lawn care. These tools each meet different purposes and have their own different characteristics. This article will provide you with a detailed introduction to them.

Lawn Mower
Almost every homeowner who tends to their lawn will want to own a lawn mower. Mowers are usually of two types: reel mowers, which shear bed knives with a set of laterally mounted blades as the wheels turn, or rotary mowers, which cut with high-speed rotating blades hidden under a metal deck.
In the days before power mowers, reel mowers used to be the standard. There has been a resurgence in reel mowers as people seek non-polluting alternatives. While there are some gasoline-powered reel mowers for commercial applications, reel mowers for home use are usually powered only by the force of the gardener pushing them. Reel mowers are completely pollution-free and provide more exercise for the user.
Rotary mowers include most of the push-powered mowers used in homes across the country. They come in many, many different forms, from small push mowers to large riding mowers that resemble small tractors
Among these push mowers, increasingly common are those operated by plug-in cords and those operated by rechargeable batteries. The various electric models have many advantages, not the least of which is the absence of polluting fumes from burning oil and gasoline. And electric mowers are usually much quieter than gasoline-powered mowers.

Spreaders and Sprayers
To feed and weed your lawn, a spreader for spreading granules is an basic lawn care tool. It spreads fertilizer evenly over a wide, curved area. For spot treatment of weeds, the average size garden a small volume (from one to three gallons) pressure sprayer for spraying herbicides. For lots over half an acre, gardeners may need a backpack sprayer capable of holding four or more gallons.

Rakes
The rake is a basic garden long-handled tool for digging, spreading and collecting in lawn care. And there's a surprising variety to choose from. Hard, metal-tined landscape rakes or garden rakes are ideal for weeding, spreading, separating rocks from the soil and laying mulch. If you want to remove dead leaves, grass clippings and other debris from your lawn, the more flexible and lightweight plastic leaf rakes are better.

Shears
In addition to lawns, some owners like to have some landscaping with grass in their gardens. Grass shears or large hedge shears are the best tools for trimming these landscapes. Small hand pruners are suitable for decorative plants and can cut branches, shrubs and vines.
Grass shears can help you keep the grass high so the landscape doesn't look cluttered. When there are a few scattered weeds popping up and you don't want to bother starting the mower, that's when grass shears come into play as a lawn care tool.

Hand Trowel
This little gem of a lawn tool has multiple uses. Use it as a miniature shovel for digging small holes for planting seedlings and bulbs, or use it for weed eradication tasks. Some models are actually multi-purpose tools with serrated blades and markers that allow you to measure the exact depth of your garden digging.

Wheelbarrow
Moving things from one place to another can be a chore, even in a modestly sized yard. Wheelbarrows are great tools for transporting soil, plants, mulch, hay and other lawn equipment, no matter the distance.

Using these basic lawn care tools to maintain the health of your lawn is sure to keep your entire outdoor living space beautiful this spring and summer. Boost your curb appeal, enjoy your beautiful lawn, and revel in the compliments you receive from your neighbors!

Essential Watering Tools For Beginning Gardeners

Watering is a very important task in garden care. Like many other gardening tasks, watering requires the right tools to do it.
Not all plant watering tools are created equal. You may be confused by the wide variety of watering tools on the market. Some are cheap, but completely unreliable and break after one season. Others are expensive and of good quality, but you may be concerned about whether you really need them for your garden. There are even watering tools that you've never seen before, making the choice even more difficult.
Don't worry, we have prepared this guide for you on a few of the most important watering tools for your garden.

Essential Watering Tools in Your Garden
1. A Lightweight, Long Gardening Hose
One of the most important plant watering tools in your collection is a high quality hose. With a lightweight hose, even plants in the farthest corners of your garden can be watered with ease. What's more, you don't have to worry about accidentally damaging any fragile flower beds while you're hauling it around. Watering hoses have become one of the most recommended gardening tools for most gardeners.
Remember to check the length of the hose before you buy it, to make sure you can easily reach every corner of your yard. There's nothing more irritating than buying a new hose and finding yourself unable to reach your backyard herb garden! If you live in a seasonal climate, purchasing a weather-resistant hose is crucial to getting through the winter.
2. A Self-Propelling Sprinkler
Now that we have robotic vacuum cleaners for use in our homes, it was only a matter of time before they reinvented the sprinkler with the same concept. Self-propelled sprinklers may just change the way you think about your plant watering tools. You don't have to adjust the sprinklers multiple times throughout your yard. Sprinklers no longer have to babysit as they do their job. You simply lay the hose used by the sprinkler as its track across the yard and let it go!
3. A Rain Barrel
You can save a lot of money simply by collecting and using rainwater to water your lawn and garden. To do this, you first need to purchase a rain barrel. These are usually fairly inexpensive, and it's not even necessary to buy a brand new one. Being frugal and eco-friendly is also something every gardener wants. Buy a rain barrel and save your money and water!
4. A Multipurpose Hose Nozzle
While it is necessary to have a hose nozzle for watering your garden and plants, it is important to consider other uses when purchasing.
The hose nozzle should be durable enough to last a long time, and it must also be easy to use. Think of all the chores a hose nozzle can do, such as watering gardens and potted plants, washing vehicles, spraying the exterior of a house, or even giving the dog a bath. The best plant watering tools may also help you in other aspects of your daily life.
5. The Water Blossom
The Water Blossom is both a beautiful garden decoration and a root watering device that directs water to the roots of plants, making them stronger and healthier.
The problem with most traditional plant watering tools is that they cannot get under the hard surface layer of the soil. Especially in the hot summer months, water may not penetrate into the ground, causing most of the water to evaporate or run off. the Water Blossom root watering tool allows you to water your plants and garden more effectively than traditional watering systems. Whether indoors or outdoors, you'll be able to water deeply and less frequently. This watering method encourages deeper and wider root growth.

While you can't make it rain, you can equip yourself with some affordable tools that will help make watering your lawn and garden less of a hassle. The goal is to water smarter, not harder.
If you'd like to learn more about gardening tools, feel free to browse GarDepot. we offer a gardening guide guide, as well as a variety of useful gardening tools to help keep your garden in tip-top shape all year round.

The Tools You Need to Start a Garden

If you're planning to start a garden, you probably know that it takes more than a few gadgets to get the job done. However, you don't need an entire shed full of tools for every type of plant you plan to grow.
And you certainly don't need to give up growing your own vegetables and fruits because you lack gardening tools or expertise. We've prepared a detailed guide to the basic gardening tools you need to get started, plus helpful hints and optional add-ons that can make gardening easier.
Save yourself (and your wallet) a trip to the garden center by sticking with these essential gardening tools, which will get you off to a strong start.

5 Must-Have Gardening Tools
1. Trowel
A small hand trowel is an essential tool for many everyday gardening tasks, including breaking up clods of soil, digging small holes, transplanting young plants, and even digging out weeds. Container-only gardeners and large gardeners alike will find themselves using a small trowel on a regular basis. If you're spending money on a piece of entry-level gardening equipment, this is the one to go for - choose one with a sturdy metal blade and a sturdy wooden handle.
2. Pruning Shears
Whether you're harvesting fresh produce or cutting back berry bushes, you'll want to equip yourself with a sturdy set of pruning shears.
For a clean cut, cut at the nodes of the plant (where the branch meets the stem in a Y-shape). Once your garden matures, you can invest in a set of shears designed for branches that are 2 inches or wider.
3. Hose and Watering Can
If you put your plants directly in the ground, then buy a hose and make sure it's long enough to reach from your faucet to your garden. Consider adding a sprayer attachment that lets you control water flow and pressure. If you're purely a container gardener, a watering can will suffice - look for one that's lightweight and still portable when filled.
For best results, water in the early morning when temperatures are cooler. Avoid midday watering, which evaporates too quickly, and evening watering, which can leave the soil waterlogged and create a breeding ground for harmful fungi and bacteria.
4. Garden Rake
Garden rakes usually have a long wooden handle with uniform metal tines and are stronger than the leaf rakes you use to clean up grass clippings and other loose material. They make it easy for you to create smooth, level soil while removing unwanted weeds. If you're tilling tough, weedy ground, consider swapping the rake for a garden hoe, a more weighty landscape tool that can help you chop and clear irregular spaces and remove weeds.
5. Angled Shovel
A shovel seems simple enough, but you'd be surprised at how many options are available in the store. Choose a shovel with an angle (with a triangular head) that will give you the ability to dig holes, move soil and relocate plants. If you're starting a large landscape bed, a square garden trowel will help you make cleaner cuts, but for most novices, an angled trowel is the tool for the job.

5 Nice-to-Have Tools to Make Gardening Easier
If your budget allows, consider these five items that will help make your entry into food gardening a bit smoother.
1. Gardening Gloves
While some people won't touch the soil without wearing gardening gloves, they're not technically necessary, especially when it comes to lighter workloads like container gardening. However, they will help prevent blisters and scratches, not to mention keep your hands clean. Look for gloves with reinforced fingertips and padding for added protection, plus a tightenable wrist strap to keep soil out.
2. Kneeling Pad
If you're concerned about soreness from kneeling for long periods of time, consider this comfort item. Most garden centers offer rectangular foam pads that you can place under your knees while you work.
2. Sprinkler
You can water your vegetable garden with a hose and sprayer attachment (plus a few minutes of your time), but sprinklers have proven to be useful for larger spaces. If you need to cover a lot of ground, look for a swinging or rotating sprinkler that will maximize the use of water.
3. Wheelbarrow
If you're working on a heavy project, consider using a wheelbarrow to help you move lots of soil, mulch, compost and plants (and, hopefully, a bumper crop in a few months!) . Plastic wheelbarrows are less expensive (not to mention heavier), while metal wheelbarrows may prove to be more durable. For smaller projects, an old 5-gallon bucket will do the trick.

Power Tools You Need For Your Garden

Who doesn't love a beautiful garden full of lush flowers and vegetables, or a perfectly uniformly trimmed lawn? These outdoor landscapes involve hard work, planting, cultivating, weeding, mowing and harvesting. Fortunately, we live in an age where garden power tools can alleviate some of the hard work that is necessary to achieve a beautiful garden and lawn.

Leaf Blower
Come fall, all the lush leaves fade to brown and cover your once lovely lawn. Using a leaf blower will save you time with your rake. The newer models that can both blow and suck are also useful for cleaning up debris in your yard.
Leaf blowers are also available in gas-powered, corded electric and battery models. Leaf blowers use a fair amount of energy for their tasks, so battery-operated leaf blowers have a fairly limited life between charges and are best used if the task at hand is fairly small.
An electric, corded blower is a good choice for home use because it is a compromise between power and weight. These blowers have no emissions when in use, start reliably and easily, and have enough power to move most leaf litter.
When choosing a leaf blower, look for an adjustable air deflector, a convenient on/off switch, a good hand balance to reduce fatigue, a speed control, and a gas operated model with a detonator bulb. For example, a model that can also be used as a vacuum cleaner can come in handy when cleaning garage floors.

Hedge Trimmer
If you have a lot of shrubs and hedges, you'll soon get tired of trimming them one by one by hand. Instead, this is the job of a pair of hedge trimmers, which use two toothed blades that move sideways to quickly clip off branches.

Again, you can choose between gas, corded electric and battery electric models. And, the battery model is best for light use and the gas model for very heavy use. Most homeowners will choose a corded model as a compromise between power and price: both gas and battery models are more expensive. Corded models are also lighter and quieter.
The blade length of a hedge trimmer determines its cutting speed and has an impact on the overall weight of the unit. Home landscape models are usually in the 16-inch to 24-inch range. The distance between the teeth determines the maximum size of branch you can cut; home models are usually 1/2" to 3/4".
On some hedge trimmers, one blade moves while the other remains stationary, while on better models, both blades move, resulting in a faster cut. A wrap-around handle will provide a firm grip, and you'll want a front handle guard and tine extensions to minimize any chance of injury. Choose a hedge trimmer that is well balanced and light enough that it won't tire you out.

Chain Saw
Chain saws are perfect for cutting large branches into smaller, more manageable pieces. These types of saws are also suitable for pruning branches that are too wide for other equipment.
Features to look for on a chain saw include a kickback lever (one danger of the saw is the tendency to kick away from the cut when the going gets tough), a brake to stop the chain when it kicks back, to prevent the chain from being thrown back at the operator if it breaks, and a wrap-around handle for maximum grip.

A good garden and lawn can give great satisfaction, but is very time consuming. Having the right power tools on hand can save you enough time to really enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor.