"DogDiesel" wrote:
Hi, and Happy New Year.
I want to start a post about hand tools. Because I don't have ANY.. I'm
feeling pretty good about last years endeavor. I'm really want to get
going. There's so many hoes and , Well, tools, I don't know what to get.
But I have weed issues. I thought the best thing to do was to pull them and
as much of the root as possible. And I see in a couple catalogs there's
Swiss hoes and weed removers that cut weeds.
So what do you consider indispensable tools. That just make things much
easier. And what works really well on weeds.

Diesel.

My favorite weeding tool is the D-Hoe or some call it the Stirrup hoe. It
cuts the weed and can be done standing up. This tool does require soft soil
to begin with. If you cut a weed many times before it gets large it will
die. Some times I rake them up after cutting them with the D-Hoe, sometimes
I don't. The D-Hoe slices weeds in two directions, back and forth.

The standard hoe is also good for getting rid of tougher weeds because I
can use it in a chopping manner as well as slicing the weed. The standard
hoe can only slice in one direction, but it can be used to chop. Get a good
hoe, cheap ones will break quickly if used in a chopping manner.

Invest in a file for sharpening the tools. A luxury item is to use a rotary
dremel drill to sharpen the edges in the garage.

There are four MUST have tools for gardening: Pointed Shovel, Hoe, Rake and
a Wheel Barrel. Other tools just make life easier.

Not a tool but a MUST have in gardening is a pair of good gardening gloves,
with mesh back with leather like finger tips. Dirt under one finger nails
is a common fungal problem that is ugly and can cause permanent discoloring
of your finger nails. Do not use those crummy cheap brown gloves. If
working with roses you will need thorn proof gloves. Those thorns can also
cause health infection problems.

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Enjoy Life... Nad R (Garden in zone 5a Michigan)