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Home > Home & Garden > Articles > We ve got a garden for the first time. What are the basic tools we ll need to get started

We ve got a garden for the first time. What are the basic tools we ll need to get started

01:00 Sat 01st Sep 2001 | Home & Garden

A.� You will need at the very minimum a spade, a fork, a rake and hand tools like a trowel and spade. If you've got a reasonably large garden you may well find you need a wheelbarrow, especially if you have a lot of clearing to do or want to move large plants or heavy objects like large paving slabs around.

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Whether or not you need a lawnmower and what size it is depends on whether or not you have a lawn (refer to previous article on mowers in theanswerbank.co.uk archive).

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Q.� Are there any hard and fast rules when it comes to buying

A.� No, not really. There are plenty of tips below on picking tools that should last and suit specific situations but the most important thing is that you feel comfortable with them. For instance, some gardeners insist that the tips of their fork prongs are as sharp as needles while others prefer them to be rather blunter if only because they pose less threat to children or the inexperienced gardeners feet.

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Q.� Is there any way of taking the pain out of digging

A.� When choosing the digging tools, the spade and the fork, it will help take a lot of the strain if you chose the right shaft length. The standard handle is between 70-72 cms, but if you are over 5ft 7in you may well find you need something longer to avoid being perpetually bent over and ultimately bent double. You should not have to bend your back at all when you push the blade into the soil. That way your arms and thighs take the strain, not your back.

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If you have a heavy soil look at spades with a smaller blade which lift less weight. They are still often referred to as 'ladies spades' or 'youth's spades'.

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The next thing to consider is the handle. The standard British handle is an enclosed 'D' shape which is fine for most but can be a bit of a tight fit and cause blisters if you have big hands and wear gloves. Try them out and if it doesn't feel right opt for the continental 'T'-shaped handle.

The same rules also apply when choosing a rake or hoe. You should be able to bring move the tool back and forth without having to bend into it. A shaft of 1.5m or so is usually about right.

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Q.� What about the materials they are made of

A.� Stainless steel is the best for spades and forks as they are easy to clean, stay sharp and shouldn't rust. If your budget doesn't stretch to stainless steel get a coated carbon steel one that will need the minimum. They will need sharpening occasionally. Also test the 'tread', the top part of the blade where you put your foot to push down to make sure it's wide enough.

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A good wooden shaft (ash is excellent) should last and can be changed, but if you can't be bothered with that there are plastic or metal shafts available. However, if you go for metal make sure it is one continuous piece forged piece rather than a shaft welded to a separate head. Welded shafts have a tendency to snap. The same rule applies when choosing a rake or hoe.

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Q. And hand tools

A.� Again, comfort it the key. The standard fork and trowel has a 10-15cm handle but if you think you want more leverage there are longer handles available.

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For general purpose small scale digging and lifting the common wide blade trowel and four pronged fork should do fine. Look for a wooden or plastic handle as they are more comfortable than cold metal. Some are ridged for easier grip. If you're planning to plant a lot of bulbs you can get narrow, longer blades which makes digging holes for them easier.

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If you've got a question about your home or garden, click here.

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By Tom Gard

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