Long - Handed Tools

click on the names to see the picture

Garden forks are sold under a variety of names, depending on their size digging or border, for instance-but these names do not correspond to standard specifications. Forks are used primarily for breaking up and preparing the soil prior to planting or sowing, but are also useful for moving debris or compost, and for general cultivation and lawn aeration. Border forks are smaller than digging forks and are used for more shallow cultivation of planted areas. Most digging forks have square tines, tapering to a point. Don't buy forks with flat tines-they bend easily.

Spades may also be called digging or border, depending on their size. They are used for deep soil preparation and for making large planting holes.

Shovels are similar to spades, but have the sides of the blade curved upward to form a scoop. They are used for shifting sand, soil, or other materials.

Hoes are used to cut down small weeds growing among other plants and for breaking up crusted soil surfaces. The Dutch, or "scuffle," hoe has an open triangular steel blade attached to a long shaft and is used with a push-pull action - it furnishes the quickest means of clearing weeds. The general gardening hoe has a backward-angled blade secured by a swan-necked stem to a long shaft. It is used for loosing heavy weed growth and, when tipped at an angle, for making seed drills. Shafts are generally made of lightweight wood.

Rakes consist of a row of metal, wooden, or plastic tines - prongs - mounted on a horizontal head attached to a long handle. They are used for general seedbed preparation and soil leveling. Lightweight alloy shafts make easier work of raking, but cost more than ordinary ash handles. Lawn rakes are designed for removing moss and dead grass. Their heads are fan shaped, with springy wire, bamboo, rubber, or plastic tines. Lawn rakes can also be used for collecting fallen leaves.

Half-moon edging tools have a rounded blade and are used for cutting a new, straight edge in turf at the perimeter of a lawn.

Edging shears are convenient for trimming grass blades along the lawn edges. The blades are angled in such a way that you can cut the grass from a standing position without the need to bend over.

Grass whips are used for scything down tall grass and weeds. Though the cut they give is rough, they can prepare the way for the smoother finish of a lawn mower.