Hey all, if you are beginner and planning to start a garden afresh, there are many essential gardening tools that can make your gardening easier. They are:

• Shovel
• Secateur
• Raker
• Weeder
• Watercan
• Gloves

1. SHOVEL:

1. A shovel a must-have for  everyday gardening tasks, including breaking up clumps of soil, digging small holes, transplanting seedlings and even digging up weeds.
2.  Shovel with a triangular-shaped head which will give the ability to dig holes, move soil and relocate plants
3. Shovel with square shaped spade would help in making cleaner cuts, but for most newbies an angled shovel is the best tool for the job.

2. SECATEURS :

• Secateurs are also called as hand pruners and are a type of plant scissors. They are strong enough to prune hard branches of trees and shrubs up to two centimeter thickness.
• Being handy and easy to operate, it is considered to be an essential tool of the gardener in plant propagation.
• Secateurs are used for removing or cutting the unwanted branches or twigs, thinning out the dried and disease infested leaves, harvesting and pruning of the fruit plants.

3. RAKER:

• Garden rakes typically have a long handle made of wood with uniform metal tines that are sturdier in nature.
• They allow you to easily create smooth, level soil while removing unwanted weeds.
• Raker helps in digging the soil media and to make shallow holes.
• Helps in digging the small furrows for planting seeds and saplings

4. WEEDER:

1. If the garden becomes overrun with weeds, weeder facilitates easy removal of weeds.
2. These hand tools make it easier to pull out the entire weed by the root, without disturbing the main crop and
3. Place a layer of mulch around the plants to help smoother emerging weeds and aids in removing deep rooted crops.

5. GLOVES:

• While some people won’t touch soil without gardening gloves they’re technically not necessary, especially when it comes to lighter-duty tasks like container gardening.
• They’ll help prevent blisters and scratches, not to mention keep your hands clean.
• Gloves with reinforced fingertips and padding helps in protection, tightened gloves helps to keep the soil from getting inside.

6. WATER CAN:

1. A portable container with a handle and a spout attached to a rose. A rose is a cap like structure with small holes, used to water the plants by hand.
2.  The capacity of the container is 5 litres. It is made of plastic. In container gardening, a water can of lightweight is used that can be carried easily when full.
3. By adding sprayer attachment or the nozzle, it will control water flow and pressure.
4. For best results, water in the early morning when temperatures are cooler. Avoid midday watering, which will evaporate too quickly.

Key words: Weeding, container gardening, yield, pruning, tools, transplanting, seedlings , propagation, branching, seeds, furrows

Write up by:

Kavita b m (Bsc agriculture)