Garden Hand Tools

Hand weeding is one of the most demanding chores in gardening, but it doesn't have to be that way. "Some people enjoy cottage or natural gardens that have tons of weeds but you don't notice them because the flowering plants are so big and bodacious," Pierson said. Those that spread quickly and look terrible, and those that don't look so bad but if you leave them in your garden, it will appear messy. Weeds generally are considered the thugs of the garden because they steal sun, water, and nutrients that you're trying to direct toward edibles and ornamentals. "Yet if you have a simple garden, those weeds will stand out. Despite all that, it may be necessary to do some hand weeding around the yard. "Weed control is personal," said Barb Pierson, nursery manager for White Flower Farm, a mail-order nursery in Litchfield, Conn. Mulching, spraying, plant crowding, and inexpensive stand-up tools can ease much of the back-straining work.

If you’ve been watching Patti Moreno, the Garden Girl videos, you’ll know she is a fan of these ergonomic hand tools. I’ve also tried these tools myself and can see why they have a 98% approval rating from the National Home Gardening Club. They’re lightweight and designed to make it easier on your hand and wrist.

Three basic garden tools go a long way

Carolyn Phillips of Lowe's in Monroe offers similar advice for people looking to pick up a gardening hobby. “You're going to need a rake to rake out any grass,” she said. “You could use a small hoe —like small hand tools — and a small shovel.

Garden Time

If possible, hang shovels, spades, hoes, rakes and hand tools from hooks on the wall, making tools easier to find when needed. Some attention at the start of the season really pays off in the end, and extends the life of your favorite garden and lawn

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Most gardening failures result from simple things, he said, “like people who don't fertilize, or if they do, put on too much. The same goes for people who don't understand watering, or add too much. Many tend to do their pruning with power tools and

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AHBA HOME AND GARDEN EXPO: April 16-17 at the WNC Ag Center. More than 100 exhibitors display their products, services and new trends. New this year is an outdoor gardening section with landscaping products, tools and vehicles for outdoor use and

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