Working in the garden is one of the most enjoyable pastimes, as long as the weather is nice, which has made gardening one of the most popular hobbies in the UK.
However, whilst working in the garden can be a pleasure, without the right garden equipment it can soon become a chore, but how can you ensure you have the right tools to enjoy your gardening? By their very nature garden tools are used for manual purposes and as such there are some key considerations you should make before buying any.
First and foremost any garden equipment will sit within the hand as such has to be comfortable to hold, this should be a major consideration and hence you should pay special attention to the grip of any tools you may buy.
In addition, you may want to ensure any equipment you buy is light enough to carry and use for long periods of time.
Heavy objects will make gardening more difficult and can be cumbersome to carry and operate.
The quality of your equipment should be another important element in your decision making process.
Often it is possible to pick up cheaper items made from poorer quality materials, however as these tools are likely to be used in demanding applications, higher quality materials and workmanship should mean they will last longer, making the cheaper items a false economy in the long term.
On the subject of materials the majority of manual tools are manufactured using stainless steel.
This is easy to clean and strong but can be heavy, for those that require lighter equipment garden it may be worth considering materials such as plastic, aluminium or even carbon fibre.
Increasingly in the garden the role of manual tools is being replaced by automatic counterparts.
Powered equipment also requires careful consideration, for instance, whilst you will want to ensure it is high quality, comfortable and not too heavy; you will also have to consider whether the item is powered by batteries, by a mains socket or even by petrol.
With any of the items available for your garden, it is important to make sure you can use them with correct posture.
Poorly designed tools are no good for your back and will result in you feeling the pain when the day is at an end; this is particularly true with long handled tools.
Ultimately the purpose of garden equipment is to make your life in the garden easier.
By getting these considerations right from the outset you stand the best chance of enjoying your hobby without undue pain or expense.