Gardening Tools

So much of gardening is the use of tools. Imagine trying to dig a hole without a shovel. Tools are what separate us from the rest of the animal kingdom. Except for a few exceptions. Chimpanzees have been studied for their use of very basic tools, much like humans must have done eons ago. Just picking up a stick to fend off a lion is using a tool. A few other animals use tools, but nothing like humans.

The list of tools are endless, and we even make special tools when needed never thought of before. With tools, you do get what you pay for. I bought the weed eater in the photo about 12 years ago and after hundreds of hours of work it still works perfectly, though it looks beat up. It was expensive. Before that I would go through cheaper ones in one year. I did yard work as a living so I quickly found out that I had to buy quality tools. However,  if you are only edging a small lawn once a week, a cheaper one might be OK.

How you care for your tools is very important. Checking the oil. If it is two stroke, mix  your gas properly. Clean  the air filter regularly. Never leave tools out in the rain and so on. If you buy a quality tool, they often come with a lifetime warranty as well. The pruners I buy for example at Bill's Ace Hardware have a lifetime warranty. If a handle breaks they replace it. They are an awesome hardware store. I still have pruners I bought 15 years ago. If you buy cheap ones, there is usually no lifetime warranty and they never work very well. Also you end up spending more in the long run. 

There is so much to learn in any profession or hobby. You can't possibly know it all.  Garden hoses for example have to be rolled up right after each use or are never the same. They can kink and it can become a frustrating thing trying to  water all summer. Taking a little  time to do these things will make your life easier and gardening more fun.

You can build or buy a small shed to store your tools. Make sure it is ventilated but does not leak. Water  and even moisture damage tools. Also maintain your tools.

Oil them. Sharpen them. Some things you cannot sharpen yourself, other things you can. I have a little cordless hand grinder I sharpen my hand sheers with. It is never the same as out of the factory, but it is better than a dull blade. Having tools sharpened can be expensive. You have to decide sometimes to have something sharpened or just buy a new one. An electric hedger for example might be just as expensive to have sharpened than it is to buy a brand new one. And speaking of hedgers, be careful.  

Always wear eye protection no matter what. And gloves. Watch your fingers. Chainsaws and hedge trimmers are among the tools that I have seen cause major damage to people. Losing a finger is no fun, and the nickname I gave my hedge trimmer is fingertaker.  A sharp tool is actually safer as it cuts better and you don't have to force it. If you've ever had a screwdriver slip off a screw and get you, you understand. A good tool pays for itself in many ways.

Power tools are a whole  other category than ordinary tools. More expensive and complex. Plus, if not electric, they can be noisy and also not allowed to be used on spare the air days. We had  a lot of those days recently. Almost everything you do in the yard can be done without a power tool. I like to use non power tools as much as possible. Use brooms and rakes more and leaf blowers less if possible. Sometimes you can't avoid them, but there are so many ways to get the job done without power tools. they never had them in the past and they somehow managed to survive. They did have horses, but talk about maintenance! 

If you  are using a power tool, they require more maintenance to work properly. If your mower fails to start, you can save a lot of money by trying a few things first. First of course make sure it has gas, and trouble shoot from there. Check the spark plug for a clean connection or replace it. Check the air and gas filters,they clog and can stop your mower. Other things are simple, some not. I do have to go to Furber Saw sometimes, who I have been going to for years.  In fact that is where I buy most of my tools. Nothing like a local store to back up the product they sell you.

And finally, there is some skill involved in tool use. Practice makes perfect and you usually don't start out making perfectly square hedges. But you can learn from others mistakes and not lose a finger or eye. Nothing is worth that. Tools can be helpful and our friend but also very dangerous. When I am driving and see someone weed eating  without safety glasses I almost want to stop and tell them. Just by putting on safety glasses you can prevent a lifetime of regrets and what if's. I will never forget our first day in metal shop and the film we all had to watch. I wear safety glasses religiously to this day.