By Val Whitmyre, U. C. Master Gardener
Remember when Junior would give you a handmade card with a promise to help you wash the car or mow the lawn? That's what I would like for Christmas.
Because my favorite gardening tools are my hands, I often wish that I had another pair of hands to help me lift or move heavy objects in the garden. So if someone out there would like to give me a promissory note in that regard, I would be most appreciative.
Maybe you think that your gardening friends must have every tool imaginable, but I know from experience that tools have a way of disappearing, so it's always nice to receive backups.
Garden tools change with time just as kitchen tools do. Now we have easy-grip handles and lighter weight materials such as fiberglass to ease our chores. Some tools are timeless and don't require any change, like the bamboo leaf rake.
Keep in mind the size and age of your recipient. I prefer lightweight tools with smaller grips. A strong man with large hands would prefer a tool with a larger grip. Also remember that the simplest tool is usually the one a gardener reaches for, while gimmicks gather dust in the tool shed.
I use a long-handled shovel more than any other tool as a digger, lifter and clod breaker. The shovel has a dish shape with a pointed end and is connected at an angle to the handle. A spading fork is also good for double digging (a method of digging and amending soil in trenches) and preparing a vegetable garden or turning the compost pile. The tines should be far enough apart so that compost doesn't stick between them.
I use bypass shears daily for shaping and cutting back almost every plant in my garden. Look for high-quality shears made of a strong metal that holds a sharp edge; they are worth the price. A leather tool-holder belt would be a thoughtful addition.
If you buy cheap tools for yourself, you may end up paying twice when they frustrate you or don't perform. Poorly designed tools can also be dangerous.
It's hard to improve on the bamboo leaf rake. A narrow version is perfect for cleaning between plants. A metal rake for moving soil and rocks is also useful, particularly when designing a new flower or vegetable bed. As the garden ages, a leaf blower might be easier to use than a rake, but I prefer the quiet hand tools.
Three indispensable hand tools are the trowel, dandelion digger and cultivator. Any gardener would welcome a new set with sure-grip handles. Friends with mature fruit trees can use a good pair of long-handled lopping shears for cutting back limbs up to two inches thick. The lighter the weight, the longer the gardener can work. A small curved Japanese fixed-blade saw is helpful for lighter cutting work.
To reach the highest branches without climbing an unstable ladder, a lightweight pole-pruner comes in handy. Some come with a saw attachment that telescopes for easy use. For safety, give a pair of clear plastic protective glasses.
Manual hedge shears are nice to have for occasional shaping, and electric power hedge shears are fast, but I've noticed that power can induce an extreme yard makeover, transforming plants into poodles, gumdrops, mushrooms or Hershey's kisses. If the recipient is your neighbor, take this possibility into account.
I would love to receive solid tires to replace the ones that go flat on my wheelbarrow. In fact, I'd love a new wheelbarrow. A hose attachment with several kinds of spray (jet, shower and the like) would please any gardener, as these are constantly breaking.
This year, delight a gardening friend with a Christmas stocking filled with gardener's soap, gloves, plant labels, a rain gauge, ground thermometer, seed packets, an all-purpose slow-release fertilizer and wire twists to tie up vines. Or fill a wide-brimmed straw hat with a few of these items for a stylish and practical gift.