Quality Garden Tools - Sources?

Self | 06/10/13 | fwdude

[fwdude]

I'm needing some recommendations for brands, lines, suppliers of quality garden tools - spades, forks, hoes, etc. Not the flimsy cr@p that's sold at the big box garden and hardware centers (I bend/break those in no time flat), but quality stuff to last a lifetime.

I've read enough times to be believable that footing the bill up front for quality tools is more cost effective in the long run. I have heavy clay soil that turns to concrete in our Texas summers, so please be aware that I am talking about REAL QUALITY, INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH tools.

[heartwood]

I said that backwards. If the tool-user exceeds the tool’s strength, he can destroy the tool.

But it would be good if we could buy strapping young man tools, and not little middle-aged lady gardener tools. Then I could put the strapping young men to more work.

[Black Agnes]

I’ve heard good things about Johnny’s Seeds:

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/default.aspx?

I haven’t bought any myself as they’re kinda spendy but they appear to be well made.

[RS_Rider]

Fiskers makes nice sturdy hand tools that are designed to fit your hands. I have a bunch of them and they hold up well.

[showme_the_Glory]

Julio’s Landscaping. They already have the tools. /sarc

[knarf]

A whole HERD of lawn mowers ...

[IMR 4350]

Around the oilfields when a strapping young man breaks a handle on a shovel they weld a pipe to the shovel for a handle then give it back to him to use.

Ever had to use a shovel with a pipe for a handle after it was left laying in the Texas summer sun?

A few times doing that and they learn to appreciate a wooden handle.

[noprogs]

Truper makes an excellent line of agricultural tools. Made in Mexico, NOT China!

Astounding quality for the money.

I did break one rake.......when I hit it with the Bush-hog.

I’m a poor dirt farmer, and I approve this message.

[Girlene]

Japanese digging tool

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I think it may also be called a hori-hori tool. I use it all the time instead of a trowel. You're not going to break it.

[rockinqsranch]

Get Fiskars. I actually broke one of the blades on my ratcheting lopper, and they replaced the blade free of charge no questions asked. All their hand tools are the same quality. High quality. That’s for nippers, loppers, and the like.

[Marmolade]

One of my favorite ever tools is a Soil Scoop. We also have clay soil and this works pretty well. It also has serrated edges and a point on the end of the scoop, so it’s pretty versatile in uses.
http://www.amazon.com/Burpee-Garden-Tool-Soil-Scoop/dp/B008WYK6VE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1370898840&sr=8-3&keywords=soil+scoop

[fwdude]

LOL! Yes, I’ve considered those, but then you need a mega-sturdy fence.

Goats can fly, you know.

[Free Vulcan]

Garden ping list worthy?

[WHATNEXT?]

We have hard red clay in Oregon too. There is a local guy/company that makes hand forged tools...advertises as “Garden Tools and Blacksmith.” http://www.redpigtools.com/servlet/the-Hoeing/Categories

[Yosemitest]

A good garden requires work and many tools.
Depending on the size garden you want to work and where you are I recommend a Massey Ferguson 35 or 135 tractor,
preferably an older tractor that's easy to maintain and get parts for, and one with a right foot pedal that will lock the rear axle into positive traction when you need it. Also one with a working PTO and a three point hitch.
The MF 35 and 135 tractors are shorter than the MF 50 or 165 tractors, and can work in tighter spots.
Next for the tractor you'll need a sub soiler, a 3-Point Disc Harrow, and a cultivator to lay out the rows.
Use the sub-soiler first to break up the ground 18 to 24 inches deep, about every 3 foot and crisscross at three different angles.
Then disk up the soil three or four times over several weeks to kill the grass and weeds and aerate the soil.
When you think you've got the ground ready to plant, use the cultivator to lay put your planting rows, normally 36 inches apart.

Planting, I like the "EarthWay ® Precision Garden Seeder, Model 1001B" and get all the attachments, the seed wheels in the box of six and the fertilizer attachment.
Next, I recommend a good post-hole diggers, which is great for planting tomato and pepper plants.
Buy the good pair, and not the cheap pair, and check your hand fit, because depending on the size of your hands, the size of the handles matters.

Now you need two different hoes, and always buy wooden handles.
Get a Hula Hoe because there are many different ways to use it.
Then get a regular hoe.

Now you need a tiller and I like the Husqvarna DRT900H because it's strong and fairly easy to use. (you can rent this, but it's better and cheaper to buy one).

Next you need a bean pole hole puncher *normally a heavy tool steel bar about 6 foot long and about 1 and 1/2 inches in diameter, with a sharp point on one end).
This is to make holes to ut bean sticks in if you plant climbing vine beans,
Some people use fence posts and 5 ft hog wire to let the vines crawl on, and there are many different sways to support climbing vines.
Finally, you need a machete to cut the bean poles with, and any 18" machete will do.
Then get some good quality garden hoses to water the garden with, or maybe a 25' 3-tube Sprinkler Hose.
And for watering corn get a Tripod Sprinkler.
From time to time I also use a round tipped shovel for laying the corn by when I put more dirt at the roots of the stalks to strengthen the plants.
I guess maybe a duster for dry bug poison and a 2 gallon sprayer for wet bug poison would be nice.

[alfa6]

You can try here

http://www.leevalley.com/US/garden/WhatsNew.aspx

All sorts of tools, hardware and garden supplies

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Yosemitest]

You also need two hard rakes, and a large plastic bucket.
Get a regular width rake and a narrow 4-Tine Long-Handle Cultivator rake.
The best bucket I found is a cat little Tidy Cat 35 lb bucket.
The rakes are for removing weeds and grass out of the garden, and pick them up and put them in the bucket.
Then carry them well away from the garden and throw them away or bag them and throw them away, or burn them.
Those square buckets are great for hauling water to your plants in the garden if you mix liquid fertilizer into the water.

[fwdude]

LOL! I have PLENTY of those large plastic cat litter buckets, and yes, they come in handy.

I like to compost, and usually put the weeds in the compost bin. If the pile gets hot enough (> 165º F) it should “pasteurize” everything in the pile and kill the weed seeds. I’ve gotten mine to over 180º F before! But it takes hot manure.

[fwdude]

I like the power rotary tillers for quick work, but my area isn't that large, and I don't believe in ongoing tilling with them, only an initial tilling. Doing so repeatedly over time builds up "hardpan" and that restricts drainage and root penetration. I prefer to hand dig (great exercise) and double dig the bed. Afterward, with additions of lots of compost and mulch, it becomes a lot easier.

I'm looking at a tractor down the road, but haven't had the need so far.

Have a post hole digger and some spades/hoes, but need more durable ones. I really don't see the need in the specialty equipment you listed, at least not at the level of gardening I do. I just have a "kitchen" garden, not a farm.

[fwdude]

Yes, I’ve seen those before. Thanks.

Won’t order from Amazon, though. Off my list permanently.

[fwdude]

Thanks!