Best Tool Belt

These can be plastic gardening pots or something even simpler, like a large cardboard box. With the right tools, transplanting trees can be a fun and productive project that will have an impact for decades to come.

Great for turning your compost pile or moving loose materials. What kind of work are you asking your garden fork to do? (the strapped handle connection is considered the strongest handle connection available.) Great for breaking up the toughest of soils,...

Mill files only go in the forward direct, so do not pull the file across the edge on your backstroke. The Tool-Sharpening Process Kevin Fogle Before sharpening your tools, remove any caked-on dirt, so so you don't clog the file.

To grow cucumbers, I covered the frame with nylon garden netting to give the cuke's tendrils plenty of places to grab hold. Then, I hammered metal T-bar stakes into the ground and secured the closet organizer to the stakes with zip ties to keep it from...

What's your favorite must-have gardening item? Other hori hori models have thinner, sharper stainless-steel blades that won't ever rust. The rope handles make it easy to carry (as long as I don't overfill it!) and the rigid plastic construction means...

It's best to use this ground cover where plastic or metal edging is in place. Plant it in spring, and it will be ready to divide and spread around by the time fall rolls around. Include these ground covers in areas of the farm where weeds are a problem...

My saws do get dull regularly, because I use them a lot. I was very impressed and happy how cheap it was. Unfortunately, the trowel, hatchet and hand mattock have all gone on to greener pastures now.

If you know someone who loves to grow melons, squash and pumpkins, they'll find these little guys to be very useful. Although Leatherman has several models, the Wave is my favorite.

I have always grown my own transplants in either plastic nursery six-packs or in peat pots, but this year I think I might try something new. The downside, of course, is the expense—and expensive they are.

(most people will find the longer 32-inch handle more comfortable)The Irish garden spade is built with the same strength as the garden spade, but has a narrower, tapered blade. (Perfect for those 1 gallon-size plants)As always, buy the best quality tools...

There are many, many head shapes available and most gardeners have a favorite, but a few of the favorites are: pull hoes, hoes like the diamond shaped hoe that works on the push and pull strokes, Dutch hoe, scuffle hoe, oscillating hoe (also called a...

I first used this tool when helping to clear invasive plants from a riverbank on a community clean-up day, and it was so much easier than using a shovel. They are both easy to handle and super sharp.

Use a 2-inch screw to attach the ends of the pipe to the top of the A-frame on each side, pre-drilling the holes to prevent the plastic from splitting. Once completed, attach the other A-frame to the other end of the 1×6 base using 1-inch wood screws.

I've already explained my fondness for electric drills and pruning loppers (both critical, in my opinion), and I've made the case why every farmer should own a ratchet and socket set.

I secured 24-inch-long, 3/4- by 1-inch pieces of trim from a recent oak-flooring installation as bumpers to the ends of the four panels. Instead of permanent hinges, I opted for hanging a pipe that would retain the panels, yet allow them to tip down to...

Remember, an anvil likely is a once-in-a-lifetime purchase. If you are looking to create farm tools, they may even be able to meet your needs themselves. For those who are intrigued by the idea of having their own working anvil , there are multiple other...

Make sure replacement parts, especially seals and gaskets, are available, and follow directions when storing extras to maintain their flexibility. “Match the equipment to the need and the situation,” says Vaughn Hammond, extension technologist at...

Well, we certainly wouldn't be able to get as much hard work done! A well-built tractor equipped with useful attachments, like a forklift or front-end loader, can allow you to quickly tackle heavy-duty projects that would take days to handle by hand.

Pruning Shears These smaller pruning tools fit in the palm of your hand and are perfect for trimming tiny tree branches, bushes, root suckers or even seedling trees growing in unsuitable locations.

A reader recently responded to a July blog post that talked about buying tools locally where you could get service. Brent pointed out that tool-buying decisions should include buying the best-quality tools you can afford.

Snow is surprisingly heavy, particularly when it's wet from melting on a warm day. Believe it or not, I'm using it for snow removal. I've been known to use an old hand saw for scraping away leaf debris when working in the forest.

It doesn't look like much at first glance (to be honest, it looks like a rusty piece of junk) but as it turns out, this item is an old-fashioned measuring wheel—and a big one at that.

The difference? For this project, wire cutters were perfect—they handled the relatively thin wire that comprised the fence, and their one-handed design meant that I could cut while holding the fence firmly in place with my free hand.

I am a rough-cut tool guy, not a fine-cabinet maker or post-and-beam builder! I nail and screw and glue things together . I may keep it … or not. Either way, it has served a purpose.

Knowing calves would quickly discover the gap, I decided to cut a 40- to 50-foot cedar, strip the branches and place a section of trunk as a barrier. I then made a high cut from the other side, angling down to a point just above the wedge.

Bogs, MS, PhD, farm consultant and author of Beyond Organic: Growing for Maximum Nutrition (Dr. Jana Bogs, 2013). The results from the refractometer are compared to Brix charts to find out the crop's rating (poor, average, good, excellent).

Here's your main consideration: There are two types of aerators—spike aerators and plug aerators—and they are suitable for different types of lawns. If you already own a lawn aerator, let us know what you think of it.