So inspired by the garden ninja’s blog on best tools to start out with I thought I’d show six of my tools. I recently bought a holster, which I now wonder how I managed without. So for this week my super gardening rig out.
1. Hori-hori
The Japanese digging knife. I’ve discussed it before, but this little tool is massively useful. It digs, cuts, plants bulbs, weeds, etc. It feels satisfying getting the dandelions out with this. When I moved in the lawn was more dandelions than grass. While I don’t mind a few for the wildlife it was a bit much.
2. Snips
My gardening snips are used for lots of the smaller/thinner deadheading and useful for a lot of the houseplants that don’t have as thick stems. I bought a holster for them so they weren’t left open and dangerous. Now, I wonder how I got by without them attached to me for easy use.
3. Weeding knife
As well as the hori-hori I carry a small folding weeding knife. The hori-hori is good for the larger weeds and devastates dandelions. The folding knife is better for the gaps in the patio where weeds emerge weekly.
4. Secateurs
My secateurs are nothing special. Just a set of Spear and Jackson secateurs, but they’ve reliably done the job for a few years. It’d be nice to treat myself to something sturdier, but not essential.
5. Gold leaf gloves
The gold leaf gloves I got for tackling the roses are excellent. Thick yet supple. They have made working on the roses a lot easier and I know will come in use when I tackle the teasel.
My trusty gardeners jacket hangs by the back door. It’s fleecy lined and quite thick. It protects from the spikier garden plants and has deep pockets to hold string and rubber ties. Alice knows big jobs are ahead when the full kit has gone on.
Hope you’ve enjoyed an insight into my gear. I’ve got climbing roses to tie in and an outdoor aspidistra to pot up. Enjoy your weekends!
Beautiful and useful tools! I do like the aesthetics of the snips … I’m sure they are very effective!
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Ah, the joys of Gold Leaf. First pair of gardening gloves I’ve ever bought that have lasted more than a season. If ever you do decide to upgrade your secateurs, I will whisper one word in your ear – Niwaki! What you call your “snips” look like topiary shears! I guess you think big!
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Yes I read gardeners worlds reviews. I think fiskar were recommended for mid price bracket, then Niwaki for higher end. I’m sure I’d end finding them superior. A treat maybe in the future.
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Goodness, I’m impressed with the tools you use! I think I need to get a Hori-hori very soon. That tool seems to be the epitome of usefulness.
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I must get another pair of Gold Leaf gloves, Mine were great but gloves with a big hole are worse than useless. I agree with John K about secateurs too, since I bought my Tobisho’s the Felcos have been relegated to killing slugs. They’ll seem expensive when you’re thinking you won’t use them a lot, but you’ll wish you’d bought them earlier.
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Yes I’m sure if I upgrade I’d see the difference. Where I can I’ve bought the best tool I can afford and you do see a big difference in quality.
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Nothing beats well-used and well-loved tools! I like that you gave yours some recognition in your Six on Saturday. Perhaps we should all follow suit and additionally post our favorite boots, garden clogs, or wellies!
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My garden shies would bring shame as there my old walking shoes that are now falling apart
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Tackle the teasle! That has euphemism written all over it. 😁
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Not the most colourful Six-on-Saturday this week! Rather scary! Very interesting to see other people’s favourite implements. My gardening jacket is so much scruffier than yours – I will post it sometime when I run out of plants to photograph.
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I use an old bread knife that lost its hand for cutting roots, then a Fiskar weed puller for dandelion – saves the back. Think I could learn from your habit (& Jim’s seconded) of buying the best you can afford. Nothing worse than crap tools. Love your idea of the holster for your snips. One of these days, I’m going to reach into my trug & come out w/mine impales into my palm. Really enjoyed this Six.
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My wife was worried about Alice getting hold of them, so needed to cover the snips. I upgraded my pruning shears this year and made the job a lot quicker.
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