Quality Garden Tools Blog

It's a Small World

Posted on 25/08/10 | Posted by The Fat Gardener

I often get enquiries from smaller adult gardeners who have real problems finding garden tools that suit their proportions. This type of problem is one which I really enjoy helping to solve and there is much more on the market than many people realise.

Using garden tools which are too big and/or heavy can cause damage to both back and limbs and may put many off gardening completely. Selecting the right tool therefore becomes very important, especially if you are smaller than average. In this posting I have tried to choose a broad range of hand tools which are designed with smaller dimensions or are lighter without losing product quality.

A couple of years ago I was sent Bulldog Tools new shrubbery spade and fork, they are shorter, slightly smaller and lighter than a standard border spade or fork. Fred Foot, Bulldog's marketing manger explained to me at the time that these tools not only fill a gap in the market for smaller gardeners, but are also useful garden tools for taller gardeners too. Like much of the Bulldog Tools range, the shrubbery spade and fork are solid forged in England, which means that although they have reduced dimensions, the strength of the tools are undiminished.

I have also been impressed with Fiskars (previously Wilkinson Sword) range of long handled cultivating tools with very lightweight handles. The tools are still strong, but because of the reduced weight are much more manoeuvrable for smaller users. The range includes a Swoe, Dutch hoe, draw hoe, long handled fork and trowel, 3 prong cultivator and lawn rake. With all tools featuring stainless steel heads they should also last for years - I have had my Swoe for about 6 years and it still works brilliantly.

Felco offer the model 6 secateur which is specifically designed for small hands, but still offers the great quality and replaceable parts that have made Felco famous all around the world. They, along with many other manufacturers offer secateurs in smaller sizes which will be more comfortable for smaller hands. Snip style shears often offer a lightweight alternative to secateurs, utilising the increased strength of modern plastics to reduce the weight of tools. A very good example of this is the Felco Model 310 pruner which whilst not able to undertake heavy pruning is perfect for taking cut flowers, deadheading and light pruning work.

Heavy pruning creates problems with reach for the shorter gardener, but more and more often manufacturers are offering shears and loppers with extending or telescopic handles for extra height on the job. Bahco have recently added great quality loppers and hedge shears to their ranges, both equipped with telescopic handles for better reach and they are also lighter in weight to help with manoeuvrability. A new manufacturer called Samurai have also started producing both edging and lawn shears with telescopic handles, so back ache, shoulder ache and arm ache for smaller gardeners who want perfect lawns may soon be a thing of the past!

Smaller hands also need smaller gloves and for many even a size small can prove too big. This is because many glove manufacturers use a standard unisex pattern for all sizes, which means the small size is much too wide. All Ethel Gloves are made to suit ladies hands and so the size small is not only a perfect length, but is also narrower to suit a woman's hands. Briers also make their small lined hide glove extra small to accommodate smaller hands.

Taking all of the above into account perhaps it is a small world after all!

If you require any further advice on smaller tools please email me at: info@qualitygardentools.com

Any comments? Please email us at info@qualitygardentools.com

Next article >> << Previous article

Quality Garden Tools Blog

It's a Small World

Blog Archive