Alright, the first things that I need to get will be items to keep me from injuring myself, so I definitely need a sturdy
, as well as some
for getting down in the dirt.
Apparently, I need to be able to cut and trim stuff while gardening, so a few cutting tools are necessary. My friend suggested basic
to start, that look kind of like curved scissors, and that it would also be good to have
to get into tighter, more delicate spaces. She also mentioned a hori hori as an optional buy, which is a kind of multipurpose
.
For bigger cuts, long-handled
are needed, and if you want to give your shrubs some shape, you can use
to cut multiple twigs and leaves at a time - ideal for straight edges or geometric shapes (I am told).
Plants like soil, as I understand it, so there are a number of tools designed directly for getting 'down and dirty,' you might say. For digging larger holes, lifting sod, and edging, a good
is essential. For smaller holes, transplanting bedding plants and herbs, and taking out weeds, then a
is best. And if you are needing to move soil (and other heavy things) around, keeping a
close by will save a lot of backbreaking effort.
Speaking of weeds, another good tool that can help deal with them by sweeping and slicing is a
. It is also good for making seed drills by turning soil and then covering (tamping) it back down. And if you have a lot of weedy debris to clean up afterwards, or maybe trimmed leaves from earlier work, then a nice, wide
can help keep your garden tidy.
My friend told me that mixing nutrients, fertilizer, or mulch into your soil is a good idea. Some tools that can help pulverize and mix the soil are called
. Examples of these include a
for larger areas, or a
, which looks kind of like a pitchfork, or the smaller
, which looks like claws.
Of course, it won't matter how much work you do in your garden if you forget to water it! Running from your house, a
will have various useful attachments, such as an adjustable
or a
for those hard-to-reach spots. My friend tells me she likes to get a little more personal with her delicate flowers by using a handheld
.
I think that was everything on my list. Wish me luck!
