Do you have a favorite tool? How do you pick your tools? How do you keep them sharp? How do you get rid of rust? I am here to answer those questions, as I often get asked those questions from my clients.
I have my little collection of tools, I have one of each tools beside shears which I tend to misplace. My favorite shovel is long and narrow, that is great for digging and is called a trench or spade shovel. In Culver City soil often is clay so it is not easy to dig, a long and narrow shovel is a way to go. For moving soil or mulch, I use a wider shovel with a round or square point. There are also special shovels with teeth on the side to cut roots. I seldom use rakes since I believe in leaving leaves on the ground. For any hand tools I pick them depending how they fit in my hand. I love using the Hori Hori knife, which is a Japanese knife. It makes for a great gift too. I find large garden hoes to be hard to use and seem to gravitate towards hand held tools. There are a lot of small hoes and cultivators combos in that department.
Additionally, I like using knee pads to protect my knees or a little knee pad. I do not find little seats and knee stools useful because I move too fast. For cutting larger branches, I like using a small, battery-run saw. I also have a two-hand saw that is useful especially with succulents that tend to have a lot of fiber. I am not against leaf blowers but I do not use them. They can be useful in large driveway or porch. Those could be very helpful if you have a lot of weeds and you are trying to remove as many seeds as possible before those germinate. It also helps you to keep your patio clean from spiders. Mine is battery-operated, although most of the time you will find me with a broom in my hand.
To sharpen any of your cutters the nurseries sell little sharping tool to keep them sharpened. That tool is small so it is great even for small shears. The tool looks like a small knife. I find that one very useful, also a great gift for a gardener.
In California we are spoiled with great weather, so it does happen that I leave my tools outside especially when I garden at my house. A little bit of rain and the tools, especially shears become rusty. I have a simple solution to fix that. Soak the shears overnight in white vinegar. Wipe them off and use oil to protect them and you’ve got yourself a brand new pair of shears.
The items that I buy the most often are gloves. In a store I usually try them on so they fit me well; by now I know that I am a size medium. I think the Armstrong Nursery carries the best choice of gloves. I also have had great luck at Lowe’s and Home Depot. Unfortunately gloves are a bit expensive, so if you need a gift for a gardner they would probably be very happy with a pair. I prefer to have one good pair over 10 cheap. I also prefer cloth over rubber, since it breathes better. Leather is also good, but when they get wet it makes them less comfortable to wear. If you choose rubber gloves, do not keep them in hot shed, they will stick to each other. Cloth and rubber gloves are washable and can air dry.
I find that I prefer to have one good tool over 5 that are okay. So I tend to spend money to have something that I like. Breaking a tool can be scary and dangerous, and it has happened to me. So if my tool is worn out I retire it before metal and wood pieces are flying towards my face. Size in this case is important too. You want tools that are proportionate to your body.
To summarize, get tools that fit in your hand well. Protect your knees with pads. To sharpen cutters of any type use a sharpening tool. Use white vinegar to remove rust. Spend money on proper tools that fit your body well. And if you have gardener in your life get them a Hori Hori knife; they will love you forever.
Happy Gardening and Buying
Joanna Kotwis
