Specialty garden tools are made with a padded near perfect grip for design and comfort of the hand. However we all sometimes find ourselves wishing that if only our arms were a little longer or our hands could reach just a little bit farther things would be so much easier. If this is your case as it is often times mine also, try these ergonomically designed tools just for that little extra.

Extend – a – hand a set of 4 ergonomic garden tools that fit in an ergonomic holder, allowing you to use your arm and shoulder to dig. The tool set includes an ergonomic trowel, 3 prong rakes, hoe and a saw with each one fitting into a holder much like the long handle tools but with the ergonomic design and cushioned grips.

Wedgie - A planting tool with a ergonomic designed knob handle that reduces wrist strain, simply push the wedgie into the soil, rock it back and forth and side to side to loosen the soil then plant, an excellent tool for container gardening.
Ergonomically designed

Garden Scoop – with a cushioned grip on the handle and made for right or left hand use, this tool is 12 inches long with a pointed tip and a stainless steel blade with serrated edges and a deep bowl shape. This ergonomic design reduces stress on wrists and the extra length acts as an extension of your hand, one of the most versatile tools you can own and a great tool for weeding.

Ergonomic Trowel - A much easier tool for gardeners who have trouble gripping and holding, it is also designed and engineered for a longer reach and to transfer the workload from the wrist to the forearm.

Garden Scissors - , this tool has a locking switch a non slip grip and a stainless steel blade making it easy to use by a left or right hand user.

By-Pass Hand Shears - also designed for right or left hand user with its locking switch and non-slip grips

Hoematic Hoe and Pick Digger – Ergonomically designed hoe with padded grips that can be used for digging holes or for use as a hoe

Hound Dog Garden Cultivator – Has a detachable an adjustable handle, detachable tines and ergonomic grip on handle.

Ergonomic Cultivator - Advanced ergonomic design minimizes hand and wrist stress with its unique curved design and the contour of the grip that provides a neutral position for your wrist.

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Since most things are geared for the right hand, this can sometimes make some things more difficult for a lefty and they will not be so good at performing a simply garden task because of the tool.
Many manufacturers have been for some time, making garden tools geared for a left or right handed person and some strictly for a left-handed person. To help make gardening a breeze, some left hand tools also come ergonomically designed with the cushion grips. Listed below are some of the basic left-hand garden tools.

Left hand Pruners
Left hand Angle Weeder
Left hand Cape Cod Weeder ( picture to follow )
Left hand Dutch Hoe
Other left hand garden tools that will be of great use are the:

Twisted Trowel – designed for a left or right hand and works well for container gardening

- Good tool for scraping the soil while getting rid of shallow weeds, also available with a longer handle

Left Handed Japanese Hori Hori Knife

Left Handed Short Neriji Hoe

The left – hand garden tools listed above are only a few of the many that are available for more information and check out:
Clean Air
Yard Care
Anything Left- Handed
Bizrate
Pictures are courtesy of Clean Air

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Yes I said a Circle Hoe or what about a DIGGIT. NO, Ms Eudora has not been out in the sun to long, there really are tools out there with these names and I can assure that they are of great use at times in the garden, as well as a few others I will mention to you. This article will contain a number of the innovative specialty garden tools used by myself and many other garden fanatics to get the job done. Let’s start with the:

Long Handled Garden Tools: This is a set of garden tools that is a must have for any person (s) who has trouble bending or stooping. The set includes a combination Aerator/Soil Crumbler, Leaf Rake, Trowel, Soil Rake, 3 Tine Cultivator and a Push/Pull Weeder Hoe all of which fit into a telescoping handle that adjust from 48 to 79 inches and each tool interchanges with the handle with the push of a button.

Circle Hoe: This round odd shaped garden hoe allows you to easily work between plants that are planted close together. It has dull sides with curved blades that cut away from the plants. The thick blade and heavy handle make light of tough weeding jobs that require you to sit or kneel. With its short handle (about 15 inches) and the circular hoe only about 2 ½ inches in diameter it cuts weeds and lifts and breaks up soil with almost no damage to the plants roots.

Cape Cod Weeder : This tool is about 12 ½ inches in length with a metal shaft and cutting edge. It will allow you to skim the blades under the surface and cut weeds at their roots.

Japanese Hori Hori Weeder Knife: This is one all – in -one garden tool that can be used for just about anything in your garden. It scoops, digs weeds and cultivates. Be very careful this is one tool that is also extremely sharp.

Diggit: A non- corrosive stainless steel garden tool that is perfect for up rooting long weeds and continuous rooting weeds.

Dutch Disc Weeder: Perfect if you are into container gardening, because this small hand held patio knife is designed and crafted to just about every small job in your containers, it a weeder, edger and digger.
Trake: Two sturdy durable tools in one, it has a pointed trowel at one end and a rake on the other end for cultivating between plants.
These are only a few of the many innovative specialty garden tools available, for more go to

CleanAir.com

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To be able to get a full understanding of ergonomic garden tools, its best to know what the word ergonomic means. The word itself is Greek, Ergo means Work, Nomos means Natural Laws, therefore: Ergo+Nomos = The Natural Laws of a Working Design, also known as the re-designing of a product optimizing its use by humans or human factored engineering with the body proportions, weight and height in mind. Any type of work activity should permit a worker to have several different safe, healthy postures for different tasks.

For instance, when muscle force is needed the largest muscle group should be utilized. Work tasks requiring the head, trunk and upper limbs should use joints at the mid joint of their movement. With these facts in mind choosing proper gardening tools will guarantee you a successful garden.

Always make sure that your tools have the right size grip, larger grip tools are easier to hold on to. Depressions in the handles for your thumb or ridge grips will also help keep your hands in proper alignment. Whenever possible use tools with extra long handles so there is less of a need to bend over, ands always keep your tools sharp and in good working condition and please avoid slippery surfaces. Gardening is too soothing and relaxing to be troubled with joint stiffness and pain, so try changing your tools and making an extremely worth while investment in a pair of Bionic Gardening Gloves.

These gloves were designed by a hand surgeon with the palm, finger, thumb and the high points of their bones in mind. When friction from prolonged use of tools presses them, these bones can cause hand fatigue along with blisters and calluses. Pads placed in the exact anatomic locations and at specific points reduces pressure and friction caused by gripping tools and giving your hands extra improved comfort without interfering with the natural design of your hand.
These ergonomic gloves come in variety of sizes and colors for both men and women and they are hand washable or machine washable (I prefer hand washing). Washing will only enhance the durability and help maintain the softness of the leather. Please Air Dry.

Women’s sizes are 61/4 to 81/4 (S to XL) and Men’s 7 3/4 to 9 1/2 plus (S to XXXL)
Bionic Gloves have also received the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation, for more information or to shop for Bionic Gloves, and Ergonomic Garden Tools go to:

Radius Garden Tool
OxO garden Tools
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Clean Air
Hand Helpers

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Red Pig: producer of hand forged garden implements for over fifteen years. Located in the state of Oregon in the United States it’s the only blacksmith shop that specializes in hand forged garden tools for the home gardener, nurserymen, landscaper and farmer. All tools are made by hand on a forged fire and with a hammered anvil using the finest steel available. This company will also custom make tools in their blacksmith shop. Services also include repair, re – handling and sharpening of tools that are built stronger to last longer for a lifetime of service.
Corona: regarded by some as the cream of the crop, with its re – sharpen able forged steel alloy blades that are heat treated for strength giving them scissor cutting action with non- slip grips.
Radius: Ultra light and super strong, made with professional quality stainless steel the blades are heat tempered for strength and with an advanced ergonomic design they maximize power and minimize stress and strain on the wrist and hands.
Sneeboer Tools: Hand forged and crafted in Holland, they are the makers of a standard range of forged garden tools a will customized if needed. Blades are well made from the finest stainless steel and handles from the finest wood.
Rollins Bulldog: English makers of fine high quality garden tools for over 200 years that are hand forged fro strength.
Snow& Nealley: Makers of high quality garden tools since 1864. European designed and made of high quality carbon steel with Ash wood handles, the hand forging ensures durability.
Sheaths Gardening Tools: Made from hot rolled British Steel, each tool is lightweight and each blade has a unique cutting action, handles are made from German Beechwood and fitted to the blades with rivets and washers, providing excellent balance.
Rittenhouse: Over 85 years of providing high quality professional stainless steel tools and equipment.
Hortus Ornemeld: makers of fine hand made high quality garden tools and accessories, their antique designs give remembrance of by – gone eras.
Ryobi: exceptional tools and performance for the money

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So what is Soil Aeration?

In plain English, soil aeration is literally poking holes in the ground allowing water, air and nutrients to be absorbed by the roots of your plants. Since roots have trouble penetrating soil, aeration should ideally be done twice a year, in the spring and fall, although anytime is good for your lawn and garden.

What Is Cultivation?

Cultivation breaks up and loosens the soil while uprooting unwanted weeds in – between rows at the same time.

• Rotary Cultivator allows you to cultivate with ease with a cultivator that has specially designed blades on rotating wheels that break up soil and uproot weeds while automatically cleaning themselves. Newer models have detachable blades that can be removed for tilling in between narrow or wide spaces and in around plants. Make sure that the handles are adjustable to help reduce the stress and strain on back muscles.

What Is Tilling?

Tilling prepares the soil for planting, making gardening much easier when the soil has been prepared, softened and fertilized.

Twist Aerator

This type of aerator uses deep angled claws to break up very hard packed soil. This tool has a center step plate that you simply step on and use your body’s weight to make the holes then pull up allowing air into the ground. Purchase one with extra long handles to reduce the twisting effect. An aerator can also be used to blend fertilizers and mulches, mixing compost and makes for a good hole digger too.

Core Aerator

This type of aerator reduces compaction of thatch to allow air, water and fertilizers down into the roots, it also stimulates root growth by pruning them and bringing natural micro – organism to the surfaces. Core aeration reduces water run – off to strengthen roots making them more tolerant to drought and heat. If your soil has particular high clay content a Spike Aerator will probably work best. Be sure to water the ground thoroughly to soften the soil before beginning aeration.

Spike Aerator

There are two types of Spike Aerators. The first is a walk behind and the other is a 4 pronged with 3inch spikes that you just step on, step down then pull up. Whereas the walk behind uses a series of rotating star shaped tines that slice into the soil allowing seeds, air, water, light, nutrients and fertilizers into the ground.
Terra Tiller

This small hand tiller is a must for a small garden; it has three sturdy prongs made for effectively deep tilling and cultivation. Sharp blade is good for cutting, it has a comfortable grip that is sturdy and durable and made of all steel construction.

I’ll give more info on tillers in a later article when we prepare to plant. In the meantime, for more information on aeration garden tools and information check out:

Yard Butler Store

With a design in mind to fit both male and female hands, finger, wrist and grip these tools are excellent for any gardener whether they be novice or pro. The handles with a soft no slip grip are filled with a gel material for extra cushioning to absorb the pressure and reduce the stress on hands when flexing while using.

Gel filled non – slip handles promote cushioning when digging and the stainless steel blades are rust resistant and more durable. Large holes in the handles foe hanging makes for easy storage. The long handled lightweight tools with thick gripping handles help save the knees and hips which makes it appealing to gardeners of all ages.

Most of these ergonomic garden tools have measurement markings for planting and some have serrated edges which are good for cutting roots. And, because they are designed to be larger than the average size garden tool, using these will minimize garden injuries.

Tools that require pushing or pulling, the handles were designed specifically for those tasks, providing the user with more than one grip position, and a handle long enough for use with both hands if needed.

Ergonomic garden tools usually have thick gripped handles which reduce pressure on hands, wrists and shoulders. Ergonomically designed pruning tools are designed for squeezing motions and have non – slip handles for absorbing pressure. While hand shears and garden scissors are made to spring open for less strain on the hands.

When shopping for ergonomic garden tools, look for those with telescopic and pistol grip handles. They require less energy and keep your body in proper alignment. Also, those garden tools with fat, soft handles are much better for gripping, and be sure to look for a depression in the handle for your thumb, as this will keep your hand in proper alignment.

If you have the need to use long handled garden tools, opt for the ones with interchangeable attachments, as they will help you stay in an upright position. If you want to modify the grip on your favorite tool, determine the size of your grip by making a circle of your thumb and index finger, then use foam, baseball or electrical tape or a bicycle handle grip to bind the handles.

Remember to always use gloves when gardening, they protect your hands against scrapes, cuts and also provide additional padding. Use a stool or knee pads when working close to the ground, or plant in raised flower beds, containers or trellises if necessary. Transport heavy objects and tools in a wheel barrow and never rest your weight on one arm or leg while gardening.

Remember, that if you choose the right ergonomically designed garden tool for the job you are doing and always keep your tools sharp, clean and oiled before putting them away, you’ll be sure to reap the rewards of these new wave of tools for gardeners.

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