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Garden Club of Cape Coral | My indispensable garden tools

By CATHY DUNN - Garden Club of Cape Coral | Jul 15, 2024

I’m sure you are familiar with the wisdom of the old saying “the right tool for the job.” Over the years, I have found that this is especially true in the garden, as I have purchased, and subsequently discarded, a number of hand tools! Based on more than 60 years of active gardening, I’ve distilled my list of tools that I keep with me in the garden, and I’d like to share it with you.

Since I am apt to leave tools behind as I move between projects, I carry a white plastic bucket with me in the garden; I put my essential small tools in this bucket and check it every time I get ready to move on to another area. I have found this is the only way to keep myself organized and to eliminate lost tools! The small tools that stay in this bucket are Felco pruning shears (yes, they are expensive but they last forever), a pair of small Corona clippers that are perfect for precise jobs like snipping flowers and trimming bromeliads, a medium-sized Fiskars hand trowel and my all-time favorite tool – a Japanese Hand Hoe. This compact wonder has a 17-inch handle with a triangular, hoe-like head that has a sharp point and a razor-like cutting edge. I use this tool for every chore, from digging out weeds with the roots intact to forming and digging out a “trench” on the edge of my beds to contain mulch and create an air barrier to stop grass from extending into my garden. These small hand tools support probably 85% of my garden chores.

There are always larger jobs that require a little more horsepower, especially for someone who is “vertically challenged” like me! For trimming jobs that require more force than my small Felco pruners can provide, I rely on a pair of Fiskars loppers. These loppers will cleanly cut branches that are several inches in diameter, and the long handles give me more leverage. For trimming jobs on taller shrubs and trees, I use a 6-foot Corona Pole Pruner. This pruner not only provides a clean cut, but it will grasp the branch/foliage that you are trimming so that you can drop in the grass rather than depositing it in the middle of your bed. For cleaning up fallen leaves, grass clippings or restoring mulch after a summer rainstorm I rely on a lightweight, adjustable rake with curved, slender tines. Large shovels are hard for me to maneuver, so I have a smaller spade and matching fork that are easier to handle and carry around the yard when I undertake big jobs; another benefit of these tools is that they have red handles that make them hard to misplace!

One of my most versatile tools is a “Tubtrugs” flexible, two-handled carrier. I have three of these lightweight trugs, and I use them to collect debris, distribute mulch and transport plants and pots. Since they are plastic, they can be easily rinsed and won’t rust. For larger pruning projects I use a 30-gallon collapsible lawn waste bag with a hardshell bottom; this allows me to transport paper refuse bags more easily and after use the bag can be collapsed to store almost flat.

Any garden work in the Florida sun wouldn’t be complete without the appropriate protective gear! I wear a large straw hat with a broad brim to protect my face; my hats always have a “chin strap” to make sure I’m not chasing my hat all over the yard after a sudden breeze. If I am working with thorny plants like bougainvillea, I use leather gloves that reach to my elbows; one lesson I learned is that these gloves need to be stored inside, because if they are left in the hot garage they will dry out and become too stiff to wear. I wear gardening sleeves when I work with bromeliads; these sleeves are surprisingly cool and protect you from the sharp edges of the plants. My everyday gardening gloves are purchased at big box stores in packages of eight pairs; I like the gloves that are lightweight knit cotton with blue silicone palms and fingers. I wash them in the washing machine and hang them to dry and they last forever!

If you’re wondering where I purchase these gardening tools, I find most of them on Amazon. I also use Lee Valley Tools which has an incredible range of specialty tools and hard to find items. Over the years, I have experimented with many different tools and gadgets, and I’ve found that these are the most indispensable garden tools for me. Since gardening is my favorite hobby, I look upon these tools as a requirement for my success! As Benjamin Franklin stated, “The best investment is in the tools of one’s own trade.”

Cathy Dunn is a Lee County Master Gardener Volunteer, Garden Club of Cape Coral Member and President of the James E. Hendry Hibiscus Chapter. Visit GardenClubofCapeCoral.com. Like us on our Facebook page.