Over the years I have purchased gazillions of gardening tools. Some have served their purpose beautifully, including a forked dandelion weeder from the hardware store. Others were less successful. A large, expensive, step-on bulb planter from a prestigious Connecticut garden center that promised to make quick work of autumn bulb planting, for example, was a big disappointment. It was utterly useless in my garden, except in places where I had already done the hard work of digging and loosening the soil to the desired depth.
Next to giving away divisions of choice perennials, the nicest way to share the treasures of gardening is to give fellow gardeners special tried and true tools.
Every gardener has a favorite trowel, pair of pruning shears or hoe, tools that make our hearts sing every spring when we open our toolboxes or sheds. (Our hearts will sing even more joyfully if we have cleaned, oiled and sharpened them the preceding fall.)
Here are some of my favorite tools, as well as a few that caught my eye as I perused the local garden supply stores.
Hands down, my most invaluable tool is something called a Dutch hoe, an angled steel blade four or so inches wide at the end of a 10-inch stem attached to a smooth wooden handle. The label says the blade is “self-sharpening.” I’m not sure what that means, but I’ve had mine for at least seven years and have never needed to sharpen it. It’s perfect for digging out weeds in densely planted areas, but I also use it to dig holes, aerate soil and pretty much everything else.
It’s strong yet light, and comes in both right- and left-handed styles.
Dianne Klenotic, a horticulturalist who has worked at Hadley Garden Center for more than 20 years, agrees that it’s a must-have tool. She says she also has a long-handled version of it.
The Dutch hoe is made by a Dutch company called DeWit that also makes other envy-inspiring garden tools using high-quality Boron steel and ash handles. A relative of the Dutch hoe is the Cape Cod hoe. It has a smaller head, which makes it well suited to dig in rocky soil.
Others include a handy claw-shaped aerator and a sharp-edged trowel with a pointed end for tough digging jobs.
Another maker of high-quality garden tools is Ashfield Tools. The company was founded back in the 1970s by blacksmith Ned James. Not only are the tools beautifully crafted, but they’re locally made, a huge plus in my book. See http://ashfieldtools.nedjames.com/
Another of my favorite garden tools is the hard-working trug, a flexible plastic tub with handles that comes in many sizes and colors. The trug is lightweight but strong; you can pack large ones with all sorts of garden debris including weeds and leaves. Smaller ones are great for holding tools, bulbs, garden markers, string and other easy-to-lose items. They stack like nesting dolls for compact storage.
For that special gardener on your list, there’s no more coveted tool than a pair of Felco pruners. I confess I’ve never dared buy such an expensive garden tool. Given my propensity to misplace tools in the garden, I’m afraid of losing them. For years I have relied on a relatively inexpensive pair of pruners made by Corona. They are eminently serviceable and fit my small hand comfortably. But Felco owners swear by the elite Swiss-made brand. They come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes in right- and left-handed models; prices start around $60.
For the gardener on your list who seems to have everything, another pair of gardening gloves is always welcome. There are dozens of options, from inexpensive “Mud” gloves and “Wonder Grip” gloves to fancy long-cuffed “Foxgloves.”
And don’t forget to treat yourself to something special this season. If not a pair of Felco pruners, perhaps a cheerful red watering can?
There’s no need to stop enjoying fresh, local produce and other locally produced foods just because it’s winter. The Northampton and Amherst winter farmers markets are open and ready to provide local veggies, fruit, cheese, meat, maple products, breads and more.
The Amherst market is open every Sat. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Amherst Regional Middle School at 170 Chestnut St. Listen to live music and let your kids have some fun at the kids’ activities table. The market is open through April 1 except Dec. 24 and Jan. 14.
The Northampton market is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through April 22 at Smith Vocational School, 80 Locust St., Northampton.
Mickey Rathbun can be reached at foxglover8@gmail.com.