Garden Must Haves

elsien

My lidl tree pruner, one of those that extends right up and you pull the cord to lop the branches. I don't do heights so it's good for stopping the lilac and elder from getting out of control.
It cost under a tenner and I bought it years ago. Well worth it.

baggins11

LOL unrecordings! I do love your posts.

tori.k

I second the B&B topiary shears, I must be a cheap skate favorite tools is a Swiss made knife and a cheap pair of bypass shears/secateurs that feel great in my hand. I had a favorite spade until someone repaired the handle for me, its never been the same.

-taff

Thanks Dave, I have purchased a large Ho Mi and will see how I get on...when it arrives....watched one being used on a youtube gardening channel [it wasn't named but thanks to you I knew what I was looking at]

Davesnave

-taff wrote: »

Thanks Dave, I have purchased a large Ho Mi and will see how I get on...when it arrives....watched one being used on a youtube gardening channel [it wasn't named but thanks to you I knew what I was looking at]

I think mine is a small one, but I purchased it from Dave's stall in the local market, so it may have been the only one on offer at the time.

Davesnave

I've said this before, but I live at 500' and the need for a leaf blower is minimal. The prevailing wind just whisks the leaves away across the fields when they've dried sufficiently. They then either lodge in our rough copse on the boundary, or, even better, fly into the back yard of the unpleasant neighbour down there.:D

Apodemus

In defence of the leaf blower, it is really useful for getting the bonfire going if the material is a bit green and you are smoking out the neighbours! Also good for blowing the snow off the car - if it is the right sort of snow. Drying stuff that you’ve washed and want to get put away again quickly - including drying the car off after its (annual) wash. Blowing all the dust and cobwebs out the garage. Loosening and cleaning the debris out of the gravel. I have pondered whether there is a way to use it to apply limewash...but that is a project for another day (when the OH is out of town)!

But using it as a leaf blower? Nah!

kazwookie

Best items
An old small kitchen knife (great for annoying weeds in the paving)
Cheap secateurs
Old buckets for collecting weeds etc in
Gloves

WeAreGhosts

I bought a pair of those weird looking claw gloves, thinking they would just be a gimmick. But nope, they're amazing. I have ditched my spade a few times and dug a hole with them, much easier and less bending up and down when removing roots/weeds/stones.

StumpyPumpy

I always wear "Tornado Contour Avenger" gloves. They aren't specifically gardening gloves and aren't thorn or waterproof (I have others for those jobs) but are very tough and fit like a second skin so will not slip off however hard you try. I use them for any job not just gardening so putting them on before I start working is now a habit. I have several pairs scattered around the house, garden, garage and in the car so I buy them in boxes of 10 from Costco when they have them on special offer.

And I find a pair of Workwear trousers from Aldi that take knee pads (well one of several pairs as they were selling them off at £2.99 a couple of years ago) much more convenient than a kneeler though they don't help you to stand up again once you are down on the ground.

As far as tools go: a solid stainless steel spade given to me by my father which keeps a good edge and has been going strong for at least 40 years to my memory and will out live me.

SP