Essential Gardening Tools and Their Uses

Everyone has their own idea as to what constitutes an essential gardening tool. Lawnmowers and rotavators are essential to some people, completing their job competently and lasting for years; for others, it could be something as simple as a humble fork bought at a sale decades ago.

A fork works through the seasons and rarely breaks, bends or comes apart. A good fork will turn and fluff up loose soil, spread compost, and turn plant roots gently to the side; however, preparing the ground for spring may take tools with more power.

Trimming and Pruning

Today, truly essential gardening tools have to be adept at handling more complicated and heavier work; for example, the telescopic pruner is an often-overlooked asset. This tool can thin out branches or prune roses. The pruner extends to a length of 3.8 metres, making it easy to trim branches without using dangerously-placed steps or ladders. It can be pushed through branches to reach the far side, making it easy to tidy up hard to reach parts of the garden.

When trimming established hedges close to ground, use the Efco petrol-powered hedge cutter. This tool will reach all difficult points – the blade is double sided and the handle is capable of swivelling around 180 degrees.

Tidying up the Ground

The Camon C8 rotavator is a tough machine that can take on both small-scale and larger jobs in an allotment or garden. The powerful eight-horsepower engine is easy to operate and requires little effort. This machine is capable of tidying up around existing delicate plants and efficiently digging uncultivated ground.

Use the hand roller to firm the surface of what will be your new lawn. This tool is essential when firming a top dressing or when rolling after seeding a new lawn; however, remember that rollers do not even out bumps on a surface.

Reviving the Lawn

Scarifiers are essential gardening tools for keeping a lawn fresh and healthy. This tool removes a thatch build-up by slicing through a neglected or tired old lawn and rejuvenating it by aerating the top soil. This makes the regular spring and autumn tasks of lawn maintenance considerably easier.

There is no better tool for cutting tough vegetation or long grass than a flail mower. The petrol-powered, hand-driven flail mower is ideal for cutting back older grass, weeds and other vegetation on rough or uneven ground in a small paddock area that would not accommodate a tractor-driven machine. It even keeps a safe, consistent speed when working downhill.

The self-propelled Camon Taurus 46TH lawnmower weighs just 31kg, has a 65-litre bag and has ample power and capacity to cut a sizeable lawn in one go. For heavier work, petrol-powered brush cutters come in four sizes – 5.8kg, 6.3kg, 7.5kg and 7.8kg – and the cutting tool can be Polycord or metal blades. This mower is great when a standard lawn mower has reached the limit of its ability and will also work on steep ground, thick or thin bushes, or even round lawn edges.