WHO TO CALL:

Community Editor
Andrew McCredie

Home and Garden Editor
Layne Christensen

985-2131 (147) 985-2131 (118)

NEWS photon Terry Patera :

DOING: ANY. job. inthe. garden : is
asierand more successtul’ it you *

HOME GARDENING, unlike
many hobbies or leisure uctivi-
ties, does not require a huge
financial outlay for equipment.
However, there are two rules
to keep in mind when buy-
ing: bigger is’ not always
better and you usually get

what you pay for.

By Roy Jonsson
Contributing Writer

-Doing any job‘in the
garden is always. easier
and more. successful: if

you have the. right
tools. If I were start-
ing: to garden. and

wanted to buy some. -;
basic tools, this is

- what | would buy. :

" @ Secateurs (clippers:

or hand pruners): There
are. two basic types —
anvil and scissor. The
anvil type tends to crush

the wood before cutting

nd often leaves 2 ragged

: Professionals | use a 'scis.

sor type, such as the Felco 2; ~

They have’ a. high- -quality
adjustable stainless-stee) blade

and red plasticized handles for

a comfortable grip. Felco also
vmakes’ a. model for left-handed
“people. With regular sharpening and

“ lubrication a. pair should last a lifetime. -

; Hand trowel: ‘Look for a medium-

sized trowel with a comfortable handle and -

good balance. Anything too large will be
-hard on your wrist. A smooth, durable,
rust-free material (aluminum or stain-
less steel). is‘ best for digging ‘and
cleans easily before it goes back in

your pocket.

® Garden shovel: Long-han-
dled shovels are always easier .

ay: r
have the right tools.’ Above: look for.a medium- Pers
sized trowel with comfortable handle. Right: with reguiar sharp-
ening and lubrication, a pair of secateurs should last a lifetime.

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on your back and have better leverage’ ‘than
spades. A small, lightweight shovel may
move less soil but will be easier to lift.
Check the handle to make sure the wood
grain is straight and strong. A fibreglass han-
dic may be more expensive but is stronger
and requires less maintenance.
The blade should
be smooth to pre- |
vent soil from
sticking to it. Sharpen
the blade to make digging
easier.
@ Garden cultivator: Most fong-

_ handled garden-cultivators have five
“tines and this makes them far too’
“hard to pull through hard-packed

“soil.

Buy one with three tines if .
possible ‘or buy a cultivator with five: tines ‘
and remove three of them. Using only one or
two. tines, makes it easier to pull and allows
you to get between the plants or dig out 'spe-
cific weeds without bending over.

© Garden rake: Rakes are their weakest at mo

- the junction of the tee. Check to see the weld
is very strong,

- Sometimes the handle is connected to the
: metal. by friction and ‘the two sections will
separate when the handie dries oui, Look for
a riveted ‘socket. ;

. @ Lawn clippers (long-blade shears): A pair. ;
- of sharp’ shears or clippers can be, ‘used for:
“trimming” lawns, removing multiple flower *:
dency to mix more spray than is necessary... ‘AL
_ Tule of thumb is to mix half of what you think
“you need, as once it is mixed there is no envi-,:.

heads and shearing hedges. Choose a pair

_ that have quality steel, a teflon coating, are’

not too heavy and have a nice scissor action.

If they:are too stiff to operate or too heavy,’

your arms will tire out before you finish the
Job, wot
‘Keeping them sharp and ‘well-oiled makes

: a big difference. They. should cut: cleanly -.:

through a sheet of paper.

@ Lawn rake: Invest in a good, solid-metal
_tined lawn rake that will last you.10 to.15°
years. The initial cost will be higher but their
long life’ will far outweigh buying a cheap,
bamboo rake every other year.) |:

@ Fifty-foot garden hose: Look for'a hose
that will remain flexible in coid weather, is

resistant to crimps and UV rays and will not. -

“Perfect.”

* surplus...
. Spraying as they: are. rarely accurate and”

Friday, February 10, 1995 — North Shore News — 15

a come ‘apart at

the “couplings. These charac-

teristics will generally command |,

_ a higher Price but the hose will last a

: lot longer. .°;

" There are many : sprinkler attachments on
the- market: but. they “all. have. one. potential |

‘weakness: uneven water. distribution. Place a.
» half-dozen Straight-walled containers around :

the lawn ‘and run the’ sprinkler for.an hour.”,

_“If the volume of water in each container is
not. equal, . take the: sprinkler - back : for a. ;
refund.

@ Garden sprayer: For gardeners who want

to be organic or use as little spray as possible, *
‘a small 32-ounce hand'sprayer. will often do |
“the job. A one- or two-gallon’ plastic pressure.

sprayer will save time. and effort but cost

The larger the spriyer, the greater the ten-

ronmentally acceptable way to dispose of the”:
Don’t ‘use .hose® attachments, for.

encourage excessive use.
® Wheelbarrow: Most: gitden’ jobs do not’

‘require a large or particularly strong wheel-’*
- barrow. Buy a simple light-weight plastic or.
~ steel one and rent a heavy duty one when it is.

needed. If your budget is used up at this point’

-you can always'use a large ground sheet: for
“the grass clippings and large plastic pails’ for, ;

soil and compost,

See VanDu en page 16.55. , .

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