Organic Gardening Techniques. Nick Hamilton

      A chipper/shredder is a big help in preparing materials for the compost heap.

      Lawn Mower

      If you have grass paths on the vegetable plot or fruit trees growing in a grassed area, then a lawn mower is an essential piece of equipment for keeping this grass under control. I find that reel mowers work well at Barnsdale, although many different rotary mowers have rear rollers to leave lovely stripes after mowing. We do like to use a rotary mulching mower on certain areas; this chops the grass up so finely that it is not collected, but rather deposited back onto the ground to rot down. This piece of machinery is very much like the spade, in that all gardeners seem to have their own personal preference, for no other reason than they like and get along well with the mower they have.

      String Trimmer

      String trimmers (commonly known as “weed whackers”) are used for tidying up around fruit trees and those areas that mowers cannot reach. It is important always to wear sturdy boots when using one of these, as well as a pair of goggles, to protect against the inevitable flying objects. The bulkier gas string trimmers will come with a string head, used for clearing long grass, weeds, and the like, and a blade head for tougher materials such as brambles. For gardeners who cannot cope with the weight of gas string trimmers, there is a range of excellent lightweight alternatives. It is also possible to buy a string trimmer with a revolving handle that will cut the lawn edges as well.

      The rapid action of the string chops weeds and long grass.

      Seed Sowers

      Many gardeners sow seed with their fairly nimble fingers. Unfortunately, this seed-sowing method, which is taken for granted by most, is not possible for all gardeners, so having a piece of equipment to do the job easily and fairly accurately is important for some. A ball sower uses the suction from a rubber ball to suck the seeds up a needle-like tube, so that they can then be released in the appropriate place. This is an excellent device for all seed sizes, as there are different sizes of tubes for the varying seed sizes.

      For gardeners who do not have the use of their hands for sowing, there is also a mouth-operated seed sower available. It looks like a pen connected by a tube to the mouthpiece, and it is the suction created from the mouth that enables the seeds to be picked up and easily dropped on the surface of the soil. A filter is provided to prevent inhalation of any dust particles and seed.

      Easy-Grip Add-On Handle

      For gardeners with hand or wrist problems, this piece of equipment can make their work easier. It fits onto tools with handles up to 16 inches (40 cm) long. It is attached with a finger-operated wing nut and comes with an optional arm support.

      Optional Equipment

      Electric Tiller

      An electric tiller, or rototiller, is a handy piece of machinery. Whether you own, borrow, or rent one, it will cultivate land and also prepare areas down to a fine tilth suitable for direct seed sowing. They can be rear-wheel-driven or powered by the rotary blades at the front that churn the soil.

      Electric tillers can be used regularly on light soils, but beware of using too often on heavy clay soils because the blades will smear the clay soil into an almost impenetrable barrier to water (called a pan), which will drastically impair drainage. Most modern machines will cultivate to a depth of between 6 and 9 inches (15 and 23 cm), so digging is required in most years. On our clay soils, an electric mechanical cultivator is very useful, but we use it only if we haven’t had enough time to dig the area manually.

      Rototillers vary in size; this is a compact model.

      Interchangeable Garden Tool Set

      If space is limited for tool storage, or you have problems bending down, then an interchangeable garden tool set can be very helpful to you. These sets come in various sizes with varying handle lengths to suit gardeners of all heights. The vast range of tool heads available includes forks, trowels, rakes, hoes, tillers, edgers, rakes, loppers, shears, pruning saws, and more.

      DIY Tools

      Gardeners who prefer to make instead of buy garden structures (e.g., compost bins, hoophouses) will find equipment such as handsaws and screwdrivers very useful.

      Sledgehammer/Club Hammer

      Although you can dig holes and refill the soil around supporting stakes or fruit trees and soft fruit supports, I find that knocking them into the ground using a sledgehammer or smaller club hammer will give a much firmer hold in the ground. Although these hammers are ideal for specific jobs, you might consider borrowing one because their general use in the productive garden is limited and may not warrant the purchase price.

      Sprinkler

      As with the hose, before you invest in a sprinkler, it is prudent to check whether it is possible to use one or whether they are covered under any water restrictions. Always look for sprinklers that are sturdy and have an adjustable sprinkler head that can be set to water only the areas requiring it. These types are able to water in a full circle or can be adjusted to water partial circles, ensuring that water is not wasted.

      Lawn Edger

      Although a spade can be used to keep the grass edges looking neat and tidy, the blade of a spade is slightly curved, so this straight-edged piece of equipment will do the job much better. For gardeners with back problems, longer-handled versions are available.

      Edging Shears

      Edging shears are another piece of equipment designed simply to keep the grass edges looking neat, so that they do not detract from the well-kept productive areas. Also available are lightweight shears, ones with longer or telescopic handles, and shears with geared blades, for gardeners with mobility problems. A wonderful addition to fit most edging shears is the edging-shears grass collector. This does exactly what it says it does by collecting the cut grass at the time of cutting. This saves on the job of having to collect it later.