With the holiday season upon us, here are a few suggestions for the gardeners, nature lovers, first-time homeowners and others who love working in their landscape. In general, the more expensive a tool is the better it is. There’s no real value in buying inexpensive tools if you like to DIY in your landscape. Here are some tools gardeners and landscapers like.
Landscape cutting tools
Many landscape professionals rely on Felco hand pruners. These are made by a Swiss company and they come in different sizes and types, including for left-handed gardeners. Fiskars is a Finnish company that also makes excellent tools. A favorite for the home gardener is Fiskars pole pruner, a terrific tool for pruning shrubs and lower tree branches. Corona makes a left-handed pruner, plus a ratchet type that works for left- or right-handed gardeners.
Loppers’ sizes are based on the diameter of the branch. They come in different lengths and some have adjustable-length handles. Some loppers’ models have ratchets. Several companies offer lifetime guarantees for their tools.
Felco pruners and a soil knife are handy tools for working in the landscape. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Landscape digging tools
If the gardener does a lot of digging and planting, opt for a construction-grade shovel or spade. What’s the difference? A spade has an almost flat blade with a straight edge. A shovel’s blade is pointed and somewhat shaped like a bowl, making it good for scooping. A lot of times, it’s a matter of preference for which tool to dig with. With any digging tool, for the most efficient and easiest job, keep the blade sharp.
Many pros use a soil knife, frequently called Hori Hori knife, for planting and digging. The knife-like blade is about 1 inch wide and about 7 to 8 inches long. Some will have inches marked on the blade to guide planting depth. One side of the blade is serrated, making it good for sawing through tough roots.
Landscape fun stuff
Consider gift memberships related to someone’s interests. The Indiana Native Plant Society, Newfields, Friends of Eagle Creek Park, Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Indiana State Parks are some examples. Gift certificates for garden centers, a delivery of mulch or compost from a landscape supplies company, or an hour of help weeding or planting.
For hikers and gardeners, Smart Wool socks are always a winner, especially for those who work outside in cold temperatures. Comfortable, not scratchy and warm. For those who don’t care about matchy-matchy things, look at Solmate socks, which acknowledge life is too short for matching socks.
A landscape makeover
If your landscape is tired with over gown shrubs, weeds or trees that are too big or in bad shape, set up an appointment with a Mark M. Holeman Landscape professional to see what magic can be worked in your setting. You can start small with an area you see when you pull into the driveway or look out your kitchen window. Holeman provides design, construction and maintenance services.
