When the garden calls: digging, loosening, cutting

Generally, garden tools are categorized into those for soil cultivation, sowing and planting, mowing the lawn, cutting, and watering. Within these various categories, you'll find tools with and without motors.

Basic equipment for any garden for soil and earth work includes a spade and/or shovel, a digging fork, and a rake. For incorporating soil additives and removing weeds, a cultivator and ripper (or grubber) work particularly well. Depending on your needs, i.e., the size of the garden, cutting tools might require not only garden shears but possibly also hedge and tree shears, a pruning saw, and an axe.

As aids for transport, a light wheelbarrow, a bucket, and various sizes of baskets are recommended, for example, for harvesting your fruits and vegetables. A watering can or garden hose are used for irrigation. Also consider whether you might even want to acquire a rain barrel.

Since the lawn is usually what requires the most maintenance in a garden, a lawnmower is often indispensable. Depending on the weather and the desired result, the lawn must be mowed at least every two weeks during the growing season. For planting, small tools such as a hand trowel, dibber, support stakes, tying material, and plant labels are suitable.

When purchasing new garden tools with handles, ensure they are ergonomically shaped. Tools with a shaft should have an appropriate length to prevent any back discomfort later on. Additionally, wooden shafts should be replaceable. Every tool eventually reaches its end, but with replaceable shafts, you don't have to replace the entire piece. Always test the grip of each tool and seek assistance from experts in specialized stores.

For motorized tools, check the functionality of starting the engine as well as shutting it off and potentially switching between different work programs. Also, have the operational safety explained to you and consider noise and exhaust emissions. Generally, it's recommended to purchase tools of solid quality, and ideally, with warranties.