Essential Landscaping Tools and Supplies for the Landscaper

There are some fundamental and basic equipment that can help anyone get started on this hobby. While it isn't necessarily an expensive hobby, anyone who is interested in landscaping and gardening, they should invest in some hardy tools to help them.

Save yourself a lot of hassle, right from the beginning, and invest in a good shovel. It is important to have one that will not fracture especially when you are using it to shift compacted dirt. The edge should also be durable and easily handle rocks and clay. It is best to have at hand a combination of different types of shovels when undertaking gardening projects.

A square ended shovel, while harder to drive into the dirt, can handle heavier loads. Such shovels are designed specially for heaps of soft earth and loose soil. Compost and manure-based fertilizer are easily distributed with this type of shovel as well.

A triangular spade is the best choice for digging large holes for planting and transplanting. Should you be limited to purchasing only one shovel, this would be the best bet for nearly all the chores. A telescope handle shovel has a long handle and a narrow blade, similar to a trowel. This type of shovel is useful for many weeding jobs and any jobs that require digging smaller holes.

You will definitely need a good set of gardening shears. With the many varieties that are available, you should have no problem finding a set that fits your hand. Most gardening shears have blades that are shaped like a moon. One side will be concave, while the other is convex. They do a wonderful job of pruning away withered flowers and dead branches. A few would have an added safety component to lock in the closed position. It also makes them easier to store.

Another must have for your gardening arsenal is an ordinary rake. There is more to them than meets the eye as they can be used for a greater variety of tasks. Many people prefer to use a power leaf blower, but many times the job ends up being more neatly done by using a rake. These tools are perfect for cleaning up twigs and stones from your lawn in the Spring or Fall.

Rakes are great for working seeds into the soil in a small area. Removing any unwanted items, such as weeds, stones and sticks, from your garden is best done using a rake as well. It is getting increasingly difficult to find metallic rakes but they are far more lasting than plastic rakes.

A wheelbarrow is another essential piece of equipment for landscaping jobs. You'll be glad you have one when you start transporting your many small pots of flowers around.

You'll find that whether it's manure-based fertilizer or topsoil or whatever the case may be, the job will be much easier if you dump it out of the wheelbarrow and spread it with the rake. If you have to lug a 40 lb bag around with you, it would be tedious to dispense the material from the bag.

There are many other tools that can make your landscaping jobs much easier. It is actually quite simple to prune trees with a pole saw or folding saw. A mattock is a good basic equipment to break up soil when you are weeding or transplanting. A hoe will be very useful, especially for planting. Gloves are a very good idea, not only for picking up prickly weeds, but also for preventing blisters. There are many others as well, including trimmers, watering cans and weeding tools just to name a few.

Better get started today!


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Moses Wright is the webmaster of HomelyFamily. He provides more resources on landscaping tips and guide, gardening topics like Rose, Bonsai and Herbs Gardening on his site for free.