We previously shared some tips for giving your garden some winter charm, and today our focus is spring! Spring is the perfect season to begin work on the garden of your dreams — whether you’re looking to grow colourful flowers outside your home or delicious fruit and vegetables that you and your family can enjoy. It is also during this season that it is neither too cold nor too hot to spend time outside.
However, do note that the success of your garden doesn’t just rely on the weather. It also depends on the seeds you plant, how healthy your soil is, and how much care you put into your garden. It also helps to know what sorts of tools and equipment are at your disposal to do all of that. So if you’re new to gardening, here are some of the basic ones you will need:
A pair of pruning shears
Chances are you will do a lot of pruning in your garden, so you need to have a reliable pair that is easy on your hands. They come in especially handy when you’re harvesting herbs, fruit, and vegetables.
Your pruners will also help you make sure you control the size and shape of your trees and shrubs. The useful pruning tips on Fine Gardening include making sure that you thoughtfully cut back tips, branches, limbs, and stems, so you can encourage youthful growth and prevent pests and diseases from spreading. When it comes to choosing your pruning shears, go for ones that make clean, easy cuts and are ergonomically designed.
A trowel
This small, handheld shovel or spade is used for digging holes for planting bulbs and annuals. It’s also used to work the soil in hard-to-reach areas, as well as dig up weeds. If you’re going to use it mostly to plant perennials or scoop up soil for re-potting, it’s best to choose wider trowel blades or ones that have a scoop-shaped blade.
But other than that, choosing the type of trowel is a matter of preference. Most kinds usually have wooden, plastic, or rubber-coated metal handles. Meanwhile, the shovel part can be made of various types of metal or plastic, which can either be coated or painted.
A lawnmower
Lawnmowers are very important if you want to make landscaping and lawn maintenance faster and easier. These are relatively straightforward machines that come in various styles and sizes.
The variety of lawn mowers featured on Screwfix include riding, push, and self-propelled mowers, and your choice depends entirely on the size of your garden and how often you need to mow your lawn. When choosing your mower, you also need to consider the size of the collection box – the bigger it is, the less time you spend stopping and emptying it.
The cutting heights matter, too, so make sure you choose one that offers a few options for you to choose from.
A garden hose
Using a watering can for your entire garden could take you hours, especially if you have a big space, so it’s best to opt for a garden hose instead. Traditional hoses are still very common, but it’s best to go for lightweight and expandable ones that are easy to manoeuvre.
Real Homes’ rundown of the best garden hoses include Hozelock, which is currently one of the most popular brands on the market. Its wall-mounted design helps reduce clutter in your garden, while the auto-rewind function makes putting it away very easy.
If you’re looking for something affordable, you can go for the Karcher HR4.525 Hose Reel and Prinoflex Hose. Not only will they help you save on space, but they’re also cost-efficient, too.
Miscellaneous tools
Depending on your needs, you will also likely need a rake for when you’re levelling soil or clearing up dead leaves, and a wheelbarrow to help you carry around plants or dirt. You might also need a garden knife, which can help you cut through soil and roots.
If you’re planning to create a compost pile, you will need a shovel. Other experts might tell you that there are some more gardening tools you might need, but you can get those later on as your garden gets bigger. For now, getting the hang of using the basics should be your first goal.
Got Something To Add?
What is your gardening tool of choice or is there something you feel we should add to the list? Let us know in the comments section below.
Until next time, thanks for reading.
Helen, Nial and Lewis
Main image via Pixabay
Welcome to Pikalily, an award-winning food, travel and lifestyle blog. We are Nial and Helen, a happily married couple from Northern Ireland, who share a passion for food and travel among many things. We became parents to our beautiful boy Lewis in 2017. Follow our adventures through the blog.
