Having an arsenal of garden tools is essential to making sure your garden looks its very best when spring comes around, be it from a personal point of view or indeed if you open your plot up to paying visitors. I’m not sure I would have chosen the same items 2 years ago but heh, as you get older your needs and abilities change, not always for the better. Here are a few of the tools and gadgets that I swear by to help look after my garden
So, not in any order of importance, just listed as they came to mind, here are eight of the trusty tools I can’t live without, gardening in my 70’s.
Gloves
Let’s start with the gardening basics. I don’t really mind touching soil and dirt with my bare hands but a good pair of gardening gloves can make planting, weeding and digging so much easier. It certainly stops the need to get the debris out of your nails once you have finished. More importantly, they’ll also prevent nasty scratches from thorns and nettles, and can stop any allergies you might have, from flaring up. Gloves made of breathable materials are the best bet so you don’t get too sweaty, and they’ll protect your hands from getting dirty too. If you’re lifting anything heavy while gardening, a pair of gloves with rubber across the palms and fingers can also make life a little easier. Needless to say, I have several types to meet different requirements.
Secateurs
Secateurs are the ideal tool for keeping your flowers and shrubs looking neat and tidy. The perfect pair needs to be lightweight, so you can hold them for potentially long periods as you cut through branches and bushes. But they should also be sturdy, as pruning and deadheading can be a year-round task. You’ll also want something particularly sharp and robust too, so you can tackle thicker branches and stems with ease. I have a small selection for varying needs, some suitable for the more difficult jobs, smaller ones for trimming bonsai trees and mini-shears for helping cut areas edges in the tortoise pen and softer stemmed shrubs.
Cordless Nano Blade Saw
One gadget I bought a few years ago has become pretty invaluable as I have got older and found that my hands don’t work as well as they used to. Back in 2021, I purchased a mini handheld chainsaw, which is perfect. This tool is made for freehand, straight, and short cuts at home or outdoors in wood and plastics. It is precise, makes straight cuts and is a compact and handy cordless all-purpose saw for easy, vibration-free sawing. I find it perfect for pruning smaller branches from trees and shrubs.
Hedge Trimmer
With the large number of hedges, made up of a variety of shrubs and much ivy, having a hedge trimmer in my arsenal is invaluable. They can save valuable time in the garden while keeping everything looking at its very best. In recent years I’ve kept my activity to the bits I can cut from standing on the ground, then I employ a local landscaper to do anything that needs ladders. With a hedge trimmer, you can cut back branches and keep shrubs looking smart without spending hours chopping away with shears. There are different types with the blade teeth spaced out differently depending on what they’re used for. I have a corded hedge trimmer which is handy if you need to use it often, as you won’t need to buy fuel or charge the battery. However, they’re better used in small gardens as the cable could hinder you otherwise. A lot of my kit is mains powered as I’m very lucky to have 8 sockets set up around the garden to call upon.
Plant Food
For the last 11 years or so, I have been using a plant food throughout the summer season to ensure my garden looks the best it possibly can for visitors. Initially I used a well-known brand, until I was introduced to Richard Jackson’s Flower Power a good few years ago and now, I certainly would not use anything else.
Garden Fork
Garden forks are great multi-purpose gardening tools, so they’re a must-have for any gardener. They can help prepare and maintain your plot of land, making sure the soil is in top condition. They’re great for tasks such as breaking up tough soil, digging up weeds and aerating the soil. Forks can be more effective than spades on stony ground because you can use the prongs to hinge under rocks and lift them out.
Trowel
If you’re shopping around, you’ll find many trowels made of different materials and at different price points on the market. But for the best results for your garden, you’re going to want a sturdy trowel that has a wooden handle firmly connected to the metal trowel. That way, you’ll enjoy years of weeding, planting, potting and digging without having to replace your trusty trowel. As with most gardening tools, stainless steel trowels will also keep rust at bay and save you money in the long run. Great for filling pots with compost too.
Dustpan & Brush
I find that a dustpan and brush is invaluable in my garden. I always feel the need to clean up debris blown around the plot, especially on days the garden is open to paying visitors. I use a metal shovel and twin brushes, one lightweight and the other, heavy which are the perfect set to help me along.
Happy gardening, maybe add some of your favourite tools and accessories to your Christmas list this year!
