{"id":18991,"date":"2023-02-07T16:27:32","date_gmt":"2023-02-07T15:27:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/?p=99650"},"modified":"2023-02-07T16:35:07","modified_gmt":"2023-02-07T15:35:07","slug":"the-garden-tools-the-experts-use","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/the-garden-tools-the-experts-use\/","title":{"rendered":"The garden tools the experts use"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you find yourselves reaching time and again for the same tool as you head into the garden? We asked six experts to reveal which tool they couldn\u2019t garden without <\/p>

By Gardens Illustrated Team\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 07 February 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

There is a sense that the tools<\/a> you use in the garden say something about who you are as a gardener<\/a> and your approach to the task in hand: practical and spontaneous (it takes a strong will not to get distracted by a stray weed<\/a> spotted out of the corner of your eye) or more methodical and carefully planned? The more you garden, the more familiar you become with your tools and learn to love their feel and their function. What should never be forgotten though is that tools do need a little care and attention<\/a>. After each session in the garden, clean and dry your tools and where necessary keep blades sharp<\/a> and mechanisms oiled. This way a quality tool will last years \u2013 if not generations.<\/p>\n

Garden experts\u2019 key tools for the garden<\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Matthew Pottage\u2019s Folding pruning saw, Derry Watkins\u2019 Carbon blade scissors, Fergus Garrett\u2019s Board<\/span><\/figcaption> @ Andrew Montgomery<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Matthew Pottage<\/h3>\n

Folding pruning saw<\/h4>\n

The tool I couldn\u2019t be without is my folding pruning saw<\/a> by Silky. I was introduced to them when I was training at RHS Garden Wisley<\/a> as a student some 14 years ago and immediately bought one, and now could never be working in the garden without it. There is nothing more satisfying than making an accurate, clean, good-quality pruning cut<\/a>, and I find this is the answer. The blade tends to last me around a year and then it can easily be replaced. I use them for all manner of pruning, such as shrub pruning<\/a>, dead-wooding and lifting the lower branches of trees<\/a>. Their shape and style means you can get into the smallest of places, while still doing a great job, and the blade can lock into a second position that almost bends back on itself for the most awkward of spaces. To date, I\u2019ve never bent or snapped the blade which can happen with some pruning saws \u2013 a sure sign of a quality pruning saw.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s our pick of the best pruning saws<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Derry Watkins<\/h3>\n

Carbon blade scissors<\/h4>\n

I have a gardening bumbag with labels, pens, string and most importantly my florist\u2019s scissors<\/a>. I don\u2019t go out for even five minutes in the garden without it. I can\u2019t bear to waste time looking for a tool, so I do almost all my gardening with these carbon steel florist\u2019s scissors. They are strong and sharp (carbon steel takes a better edge than stainless steel, and can be sharpened up again). With the points together my scissors root out dandelions<\/a>, tease out seedlings to be replanted, or extricate weeds from between gnarled roots. Holding them flat to the ground and scuffling them back and forth, you can use them as a mini-hoe<\/a>. They will cut almost anything a pair of secateurs<\/a> would, up to about 5mm. For anything bigger I have to get the loppers<\/a>, so it often doesn\u2019t get done. Before I organised the bumbag, I used to have them in my hip pocket (your leg won\u2019t bend far enough back for them to poke you). The important thing is having them to hand.<\/p>\n

Looking for loppers?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

I first saw it in use many years ago on my first visit to Japan, being used to cut rice crops in the paddy fields