10 Essential Gardening Tools for Autumn

10 Essential Gardening Tools For Autumn

Keeping a well-maintained home exterior requires the proper tools. Here’s Shop-O-Rama’s list of 10 essential gardening tools to help you tackle fall cleanup and yard maintenance.

#1 - Pruners

A standard pair of pruners is essential for trimming back bushes and broken branches. Pruners can also be used to deadhead flowers, cut back ornamental grasses, or harvest vegetables. When shopping, look for well-made pruners with sharp blades. Try different models to find a pair that is comfortable in your hand.

A tool that produces a clean cut will cause the least damage to the plant. Keep the blades in top condition by getting them sharpened every year. You don’t need to buy the most expensive pruners but don’t buy weak or cheaply made tools. They likely won’t hold up to your expectations or usage.

Remember to clean your pruners after each use to avoid spreading diseases between plants. Store them in the garage or shed so they can be kept dry.

#2 - Rakes

Different rakes have different purposes. Leaf rakes are good for raking up leaves in the yard without damaging the lawn. Generally, the head of a leaf rake is shaped like a fan or triangle. Their flexible tines make them popular for raking leaves and dead grass cuttings. A smaller rake can be handy for raking around plants and bushes in the garden. Adding soil or compost to your garden should be done with stronger tines such as a flat rake, or a bow rake.

#3 - Trowel

Garden trowels come in various sizes and colors, in different widths and lengths. The trowel you purchase is up to your personal preference. Trowels do the work of a shovel on a smaller scale: transferring soil to pots, digging holes for annuals and perennials, or planting bulbs in the fall.

Correct cleaning and storage of your garden trowel will increase its longevity. Clean the trowel blade after use and keep it dry for storage. Like pruners, diseased garden trowels can transfer diseases from plant to plant. Most trowels are made with a hole in the handle and easily hung up. Do not leave your tools outdoors – keep them in a garage or shed.

Choose a standard, stainless steel towel with a comfortable handle to complete your tasks. A trowel with a painted shovel is likely to peel quickly.

#4 - Weeding Tool

If you are weeding a large garden, a garden hoe might be your best bet. This tool allows you to chop around plants and shrubs without disturbing the root system of the plants.

If you want to rid yourself of the yellow sea of dandelions or other annoying weeds that plague the lawn, there are several options on the market. To get those weeds out with minimum effort, use a stand-up tool that plunges into the sod, grabs underneath the weed, and pulls it out at the root.

#5 - Gardening Gloves

There are so many choices for picking the perfect garden gloves. They come in various colors and patterns and many different materials (cloth, leather, or both, or neoprene). The choice is yours.

Gloves assist in minimizing the number of blisters on your hands and keep your hands cleaner. An open-weaved glove is more likely to allow soil into the glove, while a neoprene glove is less likely to allow that to happen. Leather gloves are sturdy and will last a long time, but depending on the seam lines in the gloves may cause rubbing and blisters. Whatever your choice of glove, washing your hands after gardening is always encouraged.

#6 - Gardening Fork

The garden fork is exactly like it sounds: a large fork with stiff tines. When choosing a fork, ensure it is well made. A poorly made garden fork may bend with use. A strong tined garden fork with few moving pieces will hold up the best. The garden fork is useful for turning compost. It's also useful for digging over the vegetable garden in the fall or spring and helps remove unwanted plants.

#7 - Shovel

A garden shovel comes in various shapes and sizes. Two shovels that will be most useful to a gardener are a flat shovel (a shovel with a straight edge at the bottom) and a pointed digging shovel (a shovel with a pointed edge at the bottom). Both are very useful and both come with long or short handles. There are steel and wooden handles. Choose the one that feels best to you.

Flat-edge shovels are great for transplanting and edging gardens. The pointed digging shovel is useful for digging into heavier soil because the point gives you a helpful advantage. Both are useful for turning over the soil, digging holes for larger plants, and adding soil to gardens.

There are many types of shovels, but these two basic tools will assist you with most of your gardening tasks. Clean your shovels after each use and keep them indoors. Metal shovels will rust if left out in the elements.

#8 - Fertilizer Spreader

The fertilizer spreader assists the gardener by helping to apply fertilizer in an even pattern. There are handheld spreaders and wheeled models. Depending on the area you're covering, you may prefer using one over the other. Both work effectively to provide even coverage.

#9 - Cart or Wagon

There are many things to haul back and forth when gardening: mulch, large bags of soil, planting pots, and leaves. It's necessary to have something to help you transport these items properly. This will save wear and tear on your back and legs.

There are several models of carts or wagons intended for garden work. The single-wheel wheelbarrow requires more strength and balance to move. Make sure you choose a cart or wagon that fits your needs. Some gardening carts and wagons have sections to hold tools, which may be helpful.

Check the handle length and whether the handle needs to be padded (padding can always be added). Make sure you take the cart for a spin before purchasing to decide if the wagon is right for you.

#10 Kneeling Cushion or Knee Pads

A kneeling pad or knee pads are helpful when planting bulbs, digging out weeds, and planting annuals or perennials. Protecting yourself is important when gardening.

Shop-O-Rama believes that having the correct yard tools is important, not just to get your outdoor work done, but to get it done safely and efficiently!