Tool
Job
Right
Right
By Deborah Sirman
My next door neighbour is a hairstylist,
who would never use inferior scissors
or inexpensive trimmers to cut her
client's hair. Even if it's not your 'job',
I'm sure you know the value of a good
knife in the kitchen or a proper power
drill for home projects. Yet, when it
comes to gardening, I've seen countless
gardeners choose to struggle with an
incorrect or poor
quality tool.
When you use the
right tool for the right
job, it can save you
considerable time and
physical effort. My
neighbor, the
hairstylist, learned this
the hard way when
she bought $10
pruners to trim her evergreens and
shrubs. No matter how experienced a
hairstylist she was, her low quality
pruners made the task way more
labourious and frustrating. I am not
promoting the need to spend countless
dollars on a garden shed full of gadgets,
but instead consider investing in a basic
kit of quality garden tools.
Pruning Tools
Hand pruners are a must for any
gardener with shrubs, trees, evergreens
or perennials in their yard. My favourite
is the Felco brand from Switzerland.
These may seem pricey since they run
about $75, but their quality ensures
they will last a lifetime. Blades can be
sharpened as easily as a kitchen knife,
but most
important ...they
cut through
branches much
easier than cheap
pruners. They are
ergonomically
friendly, a great
choice if you have
wrist or hand
problems.
If your budget does not allow for
Felcos, try the Corona brand of pruners.
This is the premier brand in North
America, and at half the price of Felco,
they still offer similar features including
a lifetime warranty.
While pruners are designed to cut
thinner branches, a pruning saw is a