Many tools are used to keep the Gardens looking the way we want them to look for our members and guests. So many in fact, this blog will only be focusing on the hand tools. Different types of work need to be done in each part of the garden and with each type of plant, and this warrants the use of many specialized (and some generalist) tools. These tools are often more expensive, but if maintained, can last most people their entire lives. High quality tools and proper maintenance of them tend to pay for themselves with their longevity. Some of the more commonly used tools at Wellfield are:
Bypass Pruners
I carry three tools around the garden daily, and bypass pruners are one of them. These are easily one of the most used tools in the garden. They can be used for cleaning up a perennial, shaping up a tree, or removing water sprouts. It is worth getting a good pair of bypass pruners even if you have a tiny garden. Even with everyday use, it will be a long time before replacing them is even considered. Higher quality pruners are made with harder steel to maintain their edge throughout daily use. The main benefit of bypass pruners over anvil pruners is their ability to make a clean cut. This removes some of the power possible with anvil pruners, but the payoff is less (ideally, none) tearing on the cut. With so many potential uses of a tool, surely the upkeep is quite demanding? Thankfully, no. Most days, the only attention they need is cleaning sap from the blade. It is also best to add oil whenever they are cleaned to reduce friction between the metal. Other than cleaning, they only need a bit of sharpening when they get dull.
Soil Knife (Hori-Hori)
This is the second tool I carry around the garden on a daily basis. The soil knife is perfect for cutting through small roots and making holes in sandier soils. It is a fantastic tool for planting plugs and smaller bulbs. A lot of garden tools that are meant for cutting cannot be used in the soil without dulling them. This is not an issue with a soil knife, since it relies on a serrated edge for cutting instead of a straight blade. They are also useful for removing weeds that normally detach from the roots when they are pulled. Many of them also have a notch for cutting string and rope. No upkeep is required for a soil knife, although it is good practice to clean and sanitize it when changing locations to decrease the spread of soilborne diseases.
Rice Knife (Serrated Sickle)
Finally, the third tool that I always keep nearby when I’m out in the Gardens. The rice knife has a serrated blade that is perfect for cutting most perennials. It can have a tough time on more fibrous or woody stems, but it goes right through anything else. Similar to the serrated edge of the soil knife, there is not a concern of it being dulled by using it in the soil as much as a straight blade. Generally at Wellfield, a hedge trimmer will be used to cut down mass quantities of perennial groundcover to save time. All of the individual herbaceous plants are cut by a rice knife. This is a very low maintenance tool. They are beaten up over the course of their life and generally just replaced. Since they are cheaply made, they are often just replaced as performance lessens.
Hedge Shears
There are two types of hedge shears Wellfield uses through the season. One type is a higher quality Japanese steel that is actually used for shearing hedges. The buxus (boxwood) and taxus (yew) hedges in the gardens are maintained with them. The other kind of shears are the cheapest possible and are often a very abused tool. They are used to cut down brush and large perennial groundcover when hedge trimmers are not right for the job. The maintenance of hedge shears is very similar to bypass pruners. They have straight edges that are sharpened when they begin to dull. The frequency of sharpening heavily depends on how much use they get and what types of plant material is being cut. The nicer pair of shears at Wellfield are cleaned and sharpened thoroughly to maintain high quality, clean cuts. The pair used for cut back are generally just cleaned and oiled as needed.
Pruning Saw
Like the hedge shears, there are two kinds of pruning saws often used at Wellfield. A straight pruning saw and a curved pruning saw. The straight pruning saw is better at making a nice clean cut. A clean cut has a lower chance of introducing infection than a jagged one. The cleaner cuts also look nicer, which is an important goal at Wellfield when pruning. Curved pruning saws are very effective at making a quick cut. If it is a large cut or high up in a tree, these are preferred. It makes the job quicker than a straight blade, at the cost of a potentially worse cut. Straight bladed pruning saws are used for most of the pruning due to the aesthetic focus of the gardens. As far as maintenance, both saws are the same. It is best practice to clean and sanitize them between uses or between switching trees. Over the course of time, the blade will become less effective and need to be replaced. There is no significant amount of maintenance needed for a pruning saw since the blade is easily replaced when it dulls.
Soil Scoop/Trowel
Trowels are an iconic tool of gardening. Wellfield has largely switched to soil scoops for small plantings due to being able to make a hole for a small plant with one quick motion. Either way, these tools are the best options for installing many small plants in a space. Wellfield staff and volunteers make use of these tools for the Annual Garden installation every year. For those who do not have a soil knife, they are also great for pulling weeds when their roots just refuse to come out. Like all of the tools listed above, keeping them clean and sanitized is very important for reducing the spread of soilborne pathogens. Aside from being cleaned up, there is not much maintenance needed.
One issue most of our tools have in common is they are made out of metal. Over time, they begin to rust if they ever get wet or have consistent moisture on them. At Wellfield, we use a slightly abrasive rust remover and then keep the surface clean and dry while not in use. If all of the practices discussed here are followed, the tools should last for a long time. Wellfield has had many of the same tools for years because they receive annual care at minimum. More heavily used tools are cared for throughout their use. It can not be overstated how important it is to buy high quality tools and to take care of them. It is far more affordable in the long run than purchasing low end tools each year.\
Cody Hoff
Horticulture Operations Manager
