Posts: 62 Location: Perth, Western Australia Joined: 21.09.07
Posted on 10-05-2009 15:21
I'm wondering what everyone's favourite gardening tool is. Mine is a Ho Mi, which is an asian hand cultivator, today I used it to weed between my vegies, dig out weeds in the paths between the beds (big ones), it helped me transplant some snow peas and made the furrows for some beetroot and radish seeds. I love it. I've got a couple of shovels and a rake (with a broken handle) that I'll admit to and some awful pruning saws and things that have seen better days. I'm wanting to update my tools, slowly so I can get reasonable quality that will last and would love to know the tools that you get the most use out of. Brands would be good too if you want to recommend them.
Posts: 426 Location: Wandering, WA Joined: 06.08.07
Posted on 10-05-2009 16:02
The tool I seem to use most is a long handled spade. When I was a paid gardener I found I could do most things with a long handled spade and a heavy hoe (the ones with the solid, tapered handle).
My DH collects power tools ... don't know why as he is never up to doing/fixing much anymore.
I might have to find something like "Dial a Hubby" to get the screen door fixed been off the hinge for over 18 months now
Humans are good at breeding, annoying and destroying
my spade and fork. the spade has had the end 'shaved' into a point and the bit where your foot goes has been pushed over to form a bigger bit to put your foot onto. sorry, can't explain it too well.
i use my fork more often atm, and last night learnt the hard way you sure do need shoes when you dig result, one bruised foot
Posts: 426 Location: Wandering, WA Joined: 06.08.07
Posted on 11-05-2009 09:17
Herbman reminded me - I also love my $350 electric jackhammer I bought from Bunnings. Anyone living on gravel, clay, or granite will appreciate why. It is so nice to be able to dig a hole when and where I want!
Posts: 62 Location: Perth, Western Australia Joined: 21.09.07
Posted on 13-05-2009 00:16
Thanks for all your input. I went to Bunnings and they had so many different hoes it was confusing. I was wanting something to use standing up whilst in my patches and I really don't know what type is best. Think I need to hit the net to investigate how they all work but maybe I won't be in a hurry to trade in my old favourites.....except the rusted pruning saw...the trees don't deserve that one. We used to be on a block with clay but not so much that it needed a jackhammer what a gardening tool!!
Posts: 487 Location: Fleurieu, SA Joined: 06.02.06
Posted on 16-05-2009 21:46
I've recently got a Ho Mi too, and its great !
no jackhammers here - we're on sand so our biggest problem when digging holes is that the sides keep collapsing!
It sounds silly but I've got a chop stick that I've been using to plant seeds in the vegi patch for the last few months, I stick it in the corner of the when I'm done with it and I havent lost it yet, which is a wonder considering my track record with lost tools.
Mine are the Ho Mi, as the others state the best hand tool, my favourite hoe is one of the "Grandpas Tools" (available in Bunnings) sort of a flat bladed hoe with a 2 pronged rake thingo on the other side. My other mate is a small petrol rotary Hoe, oh and my Felco Secatuars (wouldn't waste money on any other brand) and pruning saw. A cyclone pole pruner is handy as well if you have good sized fruit trees.
Posts: 569 Location: Stawell, Victoria Joined: 21.05.08
Posted on 17-05-2009 11:51
I love my garden fork for the front yard and the mattock for the back yard. The mattock isn't ours, however.. We borrow it from my Mum and family. It sees quite a bit of work between us - my contribution to it is to linseed oil the handle.
We would like to get a scythe for the backyard grass/weeds too.. but we're still looking for where to buy them. That would be the coolest tool ever.
Long-handled post-hole shovel (a narrow digging end, that sharpens up nicely) and the mattock. I use the mattock for its intended purpose but also for hoeing over soil, and other such activites. Otherwise, my hands, no gloves as they reduce sensitivity and make you scrunch things you didn't mean to ...
I have owned a number of hoes over the years but they never seem to do the job quite as well as the mattock ...
"... Science without conscience is but the ruin of the soul."
Francois Rabelais.
Posts: 2093 Location: Myall River Valley Joined: 14.10.07
Posted on 24-05-2009 12:33
If your after something to weed between rows while standing up, the stirrup hoe is the one to go for. It cuts through the roots either pushing or pulling and is light and easy to use. Ours came from the Gundaroo tiller people.
We have two Ho-Mis, different sizes and I use mine a lot. Also use a three pronged cultivator and a sharp spade and long handled shovel.
P
"Call some place Paradise, kiss it goodbye."
The Eagles, Last Resort
I've got a couple of shovels and a rake (with a broken handle) that I'll admit to and some awful pruning saws and things that have seen better days. I'm wanting to update my tools, slowly so I can get reasonable quality that will last and would love to know the tools that you get the most use out of. Brands would be good too if you want to recommend them.
don't know why as he is never up to doing/fixing much anymore.
We used to be on a block with clay but not so much that it needed a jackhammer 
what a gardening tool!!
The mattock isn't ours, however.. We borrow it from my Mum and family. It sees quite a bit of work between us - my contribution to it is to linseed oil the handle. 
