Essential tools and equipment for gardening

Although it is winter and the work in the garden may seem to come to a rest, now is the time to plan our patches for the next year. We are intending to transform this blog in an easy encyclopaedia. We want to introduce you into the main terms and further on we will insert articles on botany of the plants, plants themselves, seeding calendar, tricks and tips. This initial part may be boring but we consider it important.

The table below will show you some of the equipment and tools that you will need in the garden and the use of them.

Name	Photo	Description and purpose
Spade		Used to dig or loosen the soil or to break the clumps in the soil. The handle of the spade should reach the same height as your hip
Fork		A digging fork should have the same dimensions as the spade. Instead of a spit, it should have four sharp spikes. They are used to loosen the soil, remove the roots of perennial weeds, lift the root crops, flowering bulbs and tubers etc.
Swan necked English hoe		This is used for deeper hoeing and cultivation, by breaking the soil clods and weeding with a chopping action. It used to make narrow seed trenches with the corner of the blade, or with the entire blade to make wider trenches.
Dutch hoe		This cuts the weeds above the surface, being very useful between the rows of young veggies.
Rake		It is used for light weeding, loosening and levelling bare patches for cultivation. May be use also as a comb to remove stones, pieces of wood etc.
Secateurs/ Pruners		This scissor-like tool has a thick blade which is hard enough to cut off smaller branches or to take wood cuttings for rooting. It can have to sharp blades, or it can have one sharp blade, while the other is used as anvil.
Knife		It is useful in everyday task in the garden, opening boxes, sacks etc.
Hand fork		It is used for weeding, planting adding fertilizers etc.
Dibber		It is a pointed wooden stick used for making holes in the ground for seeding, transplanting leek plants, planting bulbs etc.
String line	See above	This is used to determine a straight line for row planting. This is easy to do it yourself.
Seed / Planting rule		It is a ruler used to determine the distance between seeds or plants.
Watering can		A long nozzled watering can allows water to flow gently and it is good for reaching across the rows or pots. It is important to have one with a detachable fine sprinkler for watering the young seedling. Also you may use two cans. A smaller one for seedling and a bigger one for other crops.
Soil riddle		A riddle is usually a cylindrical or rectangular with a mesh wire used for collecting debris, clumps, stones from the soil.
Wheelbarrow		Are designed for single person use. The one wheel models are the most easy to work with in small spaces.
Gloves		Provide protection against infections, bacteria, sharp stones. Choose a pair that is a good fit to ensure a better grip. You may have a second pair for handling roses and other dangerous, spiky garden material or plants.
Twine		It is a strong thread composed of several thing strands or yarns. Because usually is made out of hemp fibre, it may be composted after use.
Pump spray		Sprayers can be used in watering fragile seeds, distributing foliar feeds and spraying pesticides and insecticides and misting plants that require a higher air humidity level. Keep in mind that a separate sprayer it is required for each type of use.

It is important to keep your tools clean after use. For the metallic tools such as spades, forks it is required to wash and dry them after use and apply them a seasonal treatment to impede rust. Keep all your equipment away from sun and rain in order to ensure them a longer life. The wheelbarrow should be turned upside down to avoid water collecting and spade should not be kept fast in the ground because it will rust more easily.