Which are the most useful garden tools? You'll be surprised....
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- Опубліковано 28 тра 2024
- In this video, Dan Cooper of Dan Cooper Garden (www.dancoopergarden.com/) explains which garden tools are essential and which are the most useful garden tools. You don't need to buy and store lots of tools - these are the best ones for the most common gardening jobs, especially if you have a smaller garden.
If you're new to gardening, this video covers the basics of the tools you need. So you can build up your garden tool collection over time, and not waste money on buying tools you rarely use.
The recommendations are not brand specific and the tips should help you shopping for tools wherever you are. Many of Dan Cooper's favourite tools are available from Dan Cooper Garden (some in links by the time stamp below). There are also Amazon (affiliate) links to tools I use myself.
00:00 Welcome
00:15 Dan Cooper Garden: www.dancoopergarden.com/
00:18 The most essential garden tool - a trowel
00:51 The pros and cons of copper tools (Copper trowel: www.dancoopergarden.com/produ...)
01:40 The second most useful tool - secateurs/pruning shears. Secateurs from Niwaki www.dancoopergarden.com/produ... and Felco:amzn.to/3JYvN09
02:32 Gardening gloves! Nitrile gloves: www.dancoopergarden.com/produ... and Leather gloves: www.dancoopergarden.com/produ...
04:38 Why a dustpan and brush is next
05:19 Get a really good bucket! Hardware stores or Amazon: amzn.to/3nwz1AG
05:53 How to group pots and other container garden tips: • How to group pots - pl...
06:04 How to grow chrysanthemums video: • Growing chrysanthemums...
06:26 A lawn-mower or a strimmer? You may not need both!
06:58 A spade
07:39 A hand fork
08:10 A weeding tool - claw cultivator or grubber
08:52 Hand hoe
09:05 Snips for dead-heading. Niwaki www.dancoopergarden.com/produ... or Darlac amzn.to/3zkgZUY
09:30 How to Make a Flower Border Look Amazing (Frances Moskovits) • How to make a flower b...
10:35 Pruning saw
11:25 Shears
12:00 Knee pads or kneeler
12:50 A hose pipe or watering can
13:55 A wheelbarrow or flexible trugs
15:33 Beginner gardener playlist: • New to gardening? Star...
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Hori Hori knife? Literally the one tool I carry on me all day with my secateurs.
I want a hori hori so bad!
@@1Kent You can buy them!
Yes, I think it’s one of the tools that experienced gardeners really make the most of and I sell a lot of them!
@@dancoopergarden they literally do it all. Weed, dig holes, prize pot bound plants form pots chop through roots clear through weeds on paving slabs. Yet we get told a trowel is a must 🙄🤦🏻♂️
@@1Kent get one from niwaki 👌🏻
I wouldn't be without my potato fork and a sturdy garden rake.
I’ve noticed since using pure copper tools the amount of slugs and snails in my garden has decreased.
That’s an interesting observation Sean. Molluscs don’t like copper, and using copper tools will add microscopic particles of metal to the soil aiding moisture retention and deterring slugs and snails. Dan
That is so interesting! Good to know, thanks!
I put copper tape around the edges of my pots to help keep the rascals out, it does seem to work
That's interesting. And they are so beautiful.
Personally I haven't noticed a lot of slugs and snails around at all this year, I think the early freeze and late spring knocked them back pretty hard. I'm a professional gardener in the south west UK for reference
I agree with the first two, but one of my top favorite tools is my Hori Hori knife. It’s amazing. I’m interested in the copper trowel. I would have to keep it out of my Mom’s hands because she is tough on them and breaks things. Her favorite tool is a huge screwdriver to dig out the weeds.
I bought a tipper truck for my garden, it's a flat bed one so you can put plants in it and wheel them down the garden. It's also great for putting in bags of compost etc. My builder loved it to much he asked if he could wheel stuff down the garden just to have a go!
That's a great idea!
Gloves are essential in the US due to poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac. Thank you for this video.
Good point!
Thank you for introducing me to Dan Cooper. I always find his insights instructive and useful. Another excellent video for me to have my Saturday morning coffee with .
So delighted you enjoyed Alexandra’s video and find my advice helpful!
@@dancoopergarden and I just bought a copper trowel from you to go with my first ever copper tool ( a nunki weeder) !
Thank you!
Dan's tools are gorgeous! The older I get, the more important good gloves are. I found some that are fine knit bamboo with rubberized palms and fingers (important when yanking out nettles) for weeding, and suede-reinforced nylon canvas with padded palms for heavy work. The padding allows me to prune trees and shrubs, rake, or push the wheelbarrow for hours without pain. I bought my first snips a few years ago, and they're great. With a lot of trees and large shrubs, one of my best purchases was a pair of heavy duty titanium blade ratcheting loppers. The ratchet has 4 positions as the blade cuts, and you get more torque to get through thick branches. When that won't do, I to pull out the tree saw. My weirdest tool was free; years ago, after trash day, I found the heavy aluminum liner from a small wok on the pavement in front of my house. I was about to toss it, then realized, "I could use this as a scoop!" It's great for getting perlite/compost/mulch/soil out of those plastic bags, and for mixing my own potting soil in one of those old-style galvanized wash tubs. :)
Excellent tips!
#1). The older I get, the more I use the wheelbarrow. (And a hand truck for the "extra, without wheels" rubbish cans.
#2). Not a tool but a necessity is the apron. My dresses have large pockets but they're costly and I used to cringe putting sharp or dirty objects in them. So I love my sturdy aprons!
#3). I just got my first ever pair of snips for deadheading and can't wait for Summer!! The household scissors just aren't that great and GOD FORBID I use my Singer scissors after a childhood of my mother saying "THESE" ARE NOT to be used on anything but fabric! 😆. Funny how those things stay with you.
Absolutely! Very good points.
As a professional gardener I'd like to share a few insights on tools I've picked up over the years -
Gloves: Always wear gloves. They'll save you from 90% of the blisters, cuts, scratches and ragged nails you might otherwise pick up in the garden. Nitrile gloves work fine for everything except spiky stuff in which case you'll want leather. 50/50 on whether nitrile will stop nettles, the rubber bits are safe but it'll still get you through the cloth. Never noticed an appreciable difference between pricey ones and cheap ones, more abrasive jobs can tear up a pair in a day but normal duty can see a pair in daily service for a good few weeks.
Secateurs: Avoid models with the lock on the tail of the handle, you'll be forever accidentally engaging the lock which can get really frustrating particularly as it's a two handed operation to release it. The ones with the lock on the hinge are better but I much prefer a top slide lock as they're easy to lock when you want but almost impossible to do accidentally. My personal recommendation is the Wilkinson Sword 1111129WF bypass pruners, cheap as chips, reliable performance and seemingly bombproof. I use these all day, every day during the winters when I work on a vineyard pruning the vines, ten of thousands of cuts and I've yet to break a pair.
Digging Implements: A good spade can last a lifetime but you can bend an expensive fork just as easily as a cheap one and once they're bent they're forever weak. My favourite digging tool is called a Newcastle Drainer spade, it's long, narrow and tapered so you can get under deep rooted weeds and plants with ease, it's also great for hacking through roots if you're trying to remove a shrub or tree stump. On that line my final tip would be to take a file to the edge of your spade and put an edge on it if you're digging through roots, it'll save a lot of effort.
Tools missing from the list: A dutch/push hoe, great for uprooting and slicing through shallow weeds without getting down on your hands and knees, also great for scraping ivy off a wall or fence panel, longer is better in my experience as you can stand up straighter. Loppers, essential for pruning woody shrubs/trees up to about an inch and a half thick and give a much cleaner cut than a pruning saw which I'd only use for branches too big for the loppers. I use bypass loppers 90% of the time, the anvil loppers only come out if I'm probably biting off more than I can chew. A bit of an oddball suggestion but I'm never without an old half inch wood chisel, they're great for getting weeds out from between paving slabs and under other plants where access is restricted. I also find a small bricklaying trowel makes for a really good weeding tool, you can use it like a hoe and flick the weeds out in one quick motion making light work of areas where a full size hoe is impractical. Final recommendation would be something like the Sharpal 103N all-in-one knife and garden tool sharpener, a very easy way to keep your gear up to muster.
Overall I'm generally of the opinion that while it's nice to have nice things, a tool is for using so don't overspend. A £70 spade will look nice hung up in the shed but it won't dig a better hole than a £30 one and from experience I can't say there is a consistent trend between cost and longevity. I've had cheap tools that just never die no matter how much abuse you give them and I've had expensive ones that gave up after the first big ask. It's important to bear in mind that we figured out how to produce adequate quality tools at the lowest price in the industrial revolution. As my father used to say - "A hammer is just a heavy thing on the end of a stick, how fancy does it need to be?"
Instead of a wheelbarrow (that tips) we use a sturdy (heavy duty!) dumper-wagon with four wide wheels. (Not a cart.) Our brand comes in two sizes; we are so glad we bought the larger although it cost almost $200 US. We found ours at a nursery, not at the typical hardware or bigbox store. I think of it as utilitarian statuary, as it sits in view even when not in use. 15:40
I like the sound of that!
I bought a mattock yesterday, my soil is like concrete!
Love my mattock! It's turned my forested (literally) swampy (water table 1 cm down over winter) allotment into a decent growing space. Nothing beats it for clearing tree stumps.
Lol. I had to look it up. A pick ax. Dry rocky mediteranean in my here. Seems there are different kinds of the 2nd side. I agree, added that a sorta big heavy hoe thingy that has different local name, and a common old bed sheet!!
Thank you Alexandra and Dan. Leather gloves are a bit too expensive for me, so I wear a pair of old knitted gloves with a large size pair of cheap rubber gloves over the top to keep my hands dry. An old fruit knife works well for slicing through weed roots just below the surface. In fact a lot of my old household items end up in the garden, an old washing up bowl makes a great tool container, and I am never without an old plastic dustpan and a brush either!
I hear you. I still weed with a steak knife. 😆
Absolutely, I've found old washing up bowls useful too.
This is a very cool topic, Alexandra. Just personally I agree with numbers one and two in that order, but number three is something I haven't had. Half the fun of pruning rose bushes (in former gardens) and bougainvilleas (the current one) is to do it without getting cuts, knicks or torn flesh.
Ha, ha, yes! I sometimes emerge looking as if I'd been in a knife fight.
Very informative! I was surprised to see the brush and pan, but realize now how important that is. Dan's potted garden has been a great inspiration (epiphany really!) for me. I have a large garden, but some smaller "problem spots" that are now going over to all pots, with good success. My favorite hand tool here is a putty knife; I can use it as a scraper to remove tiny weeds, cut off weed roots, etc. So right about gloves! I have a bucket full of cheap useless gloves and two pairs of excellent leather ones.
I rarely go anywhere in the garden without a dustpan and brush. I’m either very messy or very neat, whichever way you want to look at it!
Great tip about the putty knife. I reckon it would be good for easing plants out of their pots too!
Putty knife a great idea
This is so helpful. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
I use a metal afro comb to dig up weeds doesn't rust, well 2 year's on, not yeti. Als, it is good for teasing compost in pots with car, not damge roots and bulbs.
Such helpful information! I have lots of garden tools and have my "go to's" but will try some of these as replacements!
Thank you!
What a great presentation - especially for new gardeners to learn about!
I’m a long time gardener, so I was happy to see that I’m well stocked for gardening, having just learned it all on my own. Great channel!!👍🏻👏🏻🤗
Excellent!
Good afternoon Alexandra and Dan, As always we get to learn some new ideas instead of just chugging along on the old system. To buy better quality garden tools is good advice. The cheaper ones even though we take care of them, they just do not last. But I must admit, it all depends on the gardener :) how tools are used. It was most interesting to read that copper tools keep snails and slugs away, well to remember that. I do love beautiful garden tools and I have to admit the British garden tools are just gorgeous and a pleasure to use. Thank you for discussing just the basic tools, we can always add on! Do enjoy the gardening and I love Dan's beautiful apron. Do take care until next time. Kind regards, Elize.
Thank you Elize! You are right that longevity often relates to how well a tool is looked after. Happy gardening 👨🌾
Thank you - and I agree, Dan's apron is marvellous.
Just the advice I needed. 👍. Good to be out in the garden again.
It really is - although it’s very wet here in Broadstairs today!
Good subject video.
I myself use stainless steel tools. Never had rust and yes are harder and more durable. I always clean them for hanging up on the wall. Sometimes give them a wipe with a light oil.
I’m surprised that a Japanese hori hori trowel knife was not mentioned in this video. Just as another option 😊
To be honest though I still prefer using my regular trowel over the hori hori knife.
Hello Michael. It was a tough choice narrowing the selection down, but I agree, many gardeners consider a Hori Hori to be one of their most indispensable tools and I sell a lot of them! Dan
Thank you and interesting points.
I actually prefer my hori hori.
Yesterday, after your video, I decided to get another pair of pruners/secateurs and was looking at the reviews. Someone asked "Are these made in China? If so, not interested". I agreed with the sentiment so went online to find some made in the USA. I found a US manufacturer (CutCo) but their price was, and I kid you not, $171!! Unfortunately, not even a possibility in MY budget. Actually, I almost swooned when I saw the price.
That is extraordinary. $171! I tried to find out where Felco are manufactured, and the company seems to suggest that it's Switzerland. There's no mention of a China manufacturing department in the About Us part, but you could always email the company to ask. That would probably be the most reliable way to find out, as a company would be unlikely to lie in an email.
Great advice thank you
What a great idea for a video! I would add to that list a garden apron or belt to hold your most used, hand-held tools.
Excellent idea
Very informative, M'Lady. Although I do find that sometimes I find I also need non-sequiturs. 🙄😉In all seriousness, your vids are the highlight of my Saturday mornings! Sincere thanks from across the pond. ❤🇬🇧❤
😆
Thank you so much!
Great video!
Thank you!
What's missing from garden tools are the snips and the folding saw. It's easy enough to carry around the garden. My knees are shot, so I use my steel chair to sit on to do my garden work including weeding. I like plastic trugs. I'm thinking of getting a gorilla cart than a wheelbarrow. You just pull it instead of lifting and moving.
Gorilla cart sounds a great idea. We did have the snips and the folding saw in here, though (maybe I've misunderstood your comment though?)
@@TheMiddlesizedGarden Oh no, you're fine, I'm talking about my garden tools. I would like to buy a Snip and folding saw next.
Very good video, informative! Copper who knew …
Thank you!
My absolute must have hand tools - including a good pair of secateurs - are a good quality hand rake (particularly for fall and spring cleanup), a hori hori knife, and a cape cod weeder. I do use a trowel once in awhile, but I am more likely to use a hori hori - particularly for planting plugs…
Lovely selection. I think Dan was considering including the hori-hori, but it's not as widely available as the trowel.
I never leave the shed without my secateurs AND loppers - learned from struggling with secateurs on thicker stems . Would love to know what brand of shears they are (?)
They're Niwaki
I've found that weeding without gloves can really hurt my fingers depending on the weed as some sting you quite badly, so always wear gloves now. Also a handheld patio weeder tool with a 90 degree hooked end is useful
Absolutely agree with both points.
Hori Hori Garden Knife, Double-edge Stainless Steel Blade
Hori-horis are wonderful - not quite as easy to buy as the other tools as they're not available everywhere, but otherwise excellent.
Choose loppers over a pruning saw.
I love using loppers but I think there’s a place for both! My pruning saw gets used for all sorts of things it shouldn’t be used for 😉
Interesting!
@@dancoopergarden I absolutely agree! I am more likely to use loppers - but a pruning saw is an absolute must if you need to prune mature trees
Thanks for the video! Would you advise on how to clean your tools, in particular the pruning shears? I keep seing conflicting advice on the web. Using alcohol, soaking, not soaking, using wipes, I'm confused!
As it happens, yes, we do - another interview with Dan ua-cam.com/video/I7HHSl6vDP8/v-deo.html
Hm. I used a pick ax alot. Least thats what i think its called. 2 sided one a bit wider than the other. Also um a big heavy hoe. Its not really a hoe its like for wacking holes sorta like using the pick ax, just as heavy and solid. Mediteranean rocky where i live. No rain more than half a year. AND an old bed sheet instead of a wheelbarrow.
An old bed sheet, holds more than a wheelbarrow.
I have a huge stack of those. Brilliant when trimming hedges for all those little clippings.
@@dancoopergarden yup. Tuck under edge of hedge and clip, the drop onto sheet. I tie the bundle and carry it like santa clause to where im putting it.
And a tarp or sheet is good for putting the dirt on when digging large transplant holes.
A use for several old duvet covers that are now too old to use!