Stephen Albert
You will only need a few tools for your vegetable garden chores, so choose good ones:
- Spade and spading fork: used to turn the ground and break up large clods.
- Steel rake: used for smoothing the soil after spading as you prepare the seedbed. Later used for clean up at the end of the season.
- Hoe: used for removing weeds and for covering seed after planting. Turned to its side it can dig a V-shaped furrow for planting.
- Trowel: used for transplanting and loosening soil around plants.
- Dibble: used to make holes for transplanting seedlings.
- Measuring tape, twine, and stakes: used to evening space row and lay out the garden.
- Putty knife: used for blocking out seedlings when transplanting and for cleaning tools.
- Hand sprayer or duster: used to control insects and disease.
- Wheelbarrow: used to move compost and soil from planting bed to planting bed.
Care of tools.
- Clean tools after each use.
- Scrape them clean of dirt.
- Store tools in a dry place to counter rust. You can use a wire brush, fine sand and kerosene or cleaning oil to scrub off rust.
- Keep cutting edges sharp.
- Store tools out of the way so that they won’t be damaged.
- At the end of the season, clean tools thoroughly; spread light oil on metal blades and rub linseed oil into wooden handles.
Related articles of interest:
Tilling, Digging and Forking The Vegetable Garden
No Dig, Light Dig Vegetable Garden Preparation
Making Compost for Your Vegetable Garden
Improving Garden Soil with Organic Amendments
Key Ingredients of Garden Soil
Vegetable Plant Nutrients: Sources and Deficiencies
