With mushrooming multi-storeyed apartments in the cities and lack of ample backyard spaces, more and more people are opting for balcony gardens. According to a study, balcony gardens provide a lot of physical as well as mental health benefits to the dwellers who maintain it. Surprisingly, starting and maintaining a balcony garden is not at all a difficult task. If you are beginner and want to setup your own kitchen garden or beautiful patches of flowers in your apartment balcony, then all you need is a set of tools to get started. Here is a list of 5 essential tools for gardening in balconies as well as other living spaces.
Trowel
A trowel is a an extremely handy tool for gardening. Primary uses of a trowel includes digging, weeding, moving small amounts of soil or sand between pots or containers. Also, it is effective for gardening activities like loosening the soil and scooping it up for planting herbs and saplings. While selecting a trowel, always pick a sturdy one that has a firm handle and fits well into your hand.
Hand Pruner
One of the important activities of gardening is pruning. There could be various reasons for pruning the house plants like removing parts of the plants including the dead leaves, flowers, branches or trimming the plants to keep them in shape. Hand pruners are effective for cutting branches or stems upto 2 to 3 cms in diameter. It is always advisable to hold a hand pruner before purchasing to get a sense of its grip and weight. Also, ensure the hand pruner has an ergonomic design so that it is comfortable to hold for long period of time.
Hand Cultivator
Hand cultivators are small ploughs used mostly to till and loosen the soil for planting saplings or seeds. It is extremely helpful in weeding activity too. The 3 prong type of hand cultivators are the most popular among gardeners. Always invest in a good quality hand cultivator that is sturdy, durable, and able to stand up to the toughest soil.
Garden Gloves
Garden Gloves are one of the essential tools which are often overlooked. However, investing in a good quality garden gloves is worth every penny. Such gloves protect your hands and nails while handling the toxic pesticides and fertilizers. It also saves your hand from the harmful pathogens like bacteria and fungi that thrive in the soil. Both fabric and rubber gloves are good for gardening. However, the fabric gloves are more prone to stains and require frequent washing with detergents or cleaning agents. On the other hand, the rubber gloves can be cleaned with plain water after every use.
Garden Pressure Spray Bottle
Garden pressure spray bottles are a popular choice among garden lovers. These are multipurpose bottles that come with a mechanism to water the plants or spray pesticides and liquid solutions easily and conveniently. The bottles have a handle to pump and build pressure inside it.
The nozzle has the provision to adjust the outlet to spray a fine mist or a smooth jet of water. Most of the pressure spray bottles have a pressure release button on the top. Before opening the cap, you must release any remaining pressure from the bottle to avoid accidental water spill.
With these essential tools for gardening by your side, balcony gardens will thrive and bring therapeutic benefits in your living space.
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