Gardeners: Rejoice — May is finally here. It's time to prepare your green thumb and also rethink your approach to gardening to make it more comfortable for you.
The right equipment — tools with ergonomic and contemporary designs — can minimize pain and turn a chore into a pleasure. It will also benefit your garden: After all, you're more likely to work in the yard if your tools make the job easier.
Old-fashioned gardening tools were heavy, man-sized and far from user-friendly. It was one size fits all, no matter your gender or age. Thick wooden handles on shovels and rakes caused calluses and blisters that stung for days. Metal blades rusted over time and eventually needed to be replaced. Inexpensive tools were even worse: They rarely lasted longer than a season or two, and forget trying to fix them if they fell apart.
Fortunately, manufacturers have learned that gardeners want tools that last longer, feel better in their hands and are kinder to their bodies. Cushioned grips firmly attached to stainless steel blades are now the norm; they allow you to plant your favorite flowers or weed your garden beds without injuring your hands. The latest tools are also lighter in weight, yet super-strong: Some are made with new plastic resins that wear like iron. A simple rinse with a garden hose will keep them clean, and they resist bending and breaking, so you can count on them to perform well for many years.
Although there's a seemingly endless array of options, for most jobs you need just a few basic tools. This includes a versatile shovel to plant trees and shrubs, a long-handled rake to tidy up leaves and debris, sharp pruning shears to trim bushes and cut out dead wood, and smaller hand tools, like a trowel and a cultivator, to dig holes and plant flowers or loosen soil so you can pull up weeds.
When planting or weeding, you have to get close to the glory of the earth. These lighter weight, easier-to-maneuver tools make all this crouching as comfortable as possible. A thickly cushioned kneeling pad will help prevent aches and pains, especially when it comes to the knees.
Here are some basic tools you need to plant and maintain a gorgeous garden — all of them redesigned with your comfort in mind:
By Peter WalshPeter Walsh is a New York City-based freelance writer whose topics include travel, mens' fashion, home remodeling, gardening and outdoor living.
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