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Gardening Tools

Posted: June 6th, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Gardening Articles | Tags: , , , , , , , | Comments Off

What exactly is a gardening tool?  It is any tool made for working in gardens, and overlaps with use in horticulture and agriculture.  Some of the earliest tools used by man were the spade, the garden hoe, pitchfork, garden fork, rake and a plough.  Most of the tools in the earliest of agriculture times were made from wood, bone and flint.  

Later on, tools were made from copper, iron and steel, which enabled the farmers to have more durable tools.  With the emergence of industrial metal working came the manufacturing of cutting tools, like pruning shears and grass shears.  

Gardening

With the dawn of power tools a whole new line of items became available.  Tools such as cultivators, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, leaf sweepers, lawn aerators, irrigation sprinklers, mini tractors and of course the lawn mower. 

Although lawn mowers are not necessarily considered a garden tool as most people look at it, it is something gardeners depend on to keep the grounds looking nice and trimmed.  

Depending on the type and size of your garden you could use a variety of these tools.  If you are taking care of a flower garden, you may need a hoe, rake, grass shears or even a spade for planting or moving things around.  Rose gardens, may require pruning shears for cutting back roses at the appropriate time, so that they bloom again.  For large vegetable gardens a tractor, with a plough and cultivator maybe necessary as well as a garden hoe and a rake.  

Other tools or things that might be considered as tools are the fertilizer and feeds or weed killers that you may have need of at any point in the life of the garden.  Lawn sprinklers or irrigation systems could also be considered as tools of the trade.  Granted you may not need the sprinklers that you see in fields where the power of the water turns the wheels and waters acres and acres at a time.  

No matter the size of the type of garden you have or are planning, you can locate most tools needed for the job at any hardware store, or any store that has a garden department.  Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Walmart, Ace Hardware and probably any local feed store if you live in the country can provide you not only with the tools to start or work your garden, but the seeds, seedlings and fertilizer you need to get it in the ground.

Even with tools gardening is hard back breaking, knee bending, and a lot of times hot work.  So why do people do it?  For stress relief, for the pure pleasure of making something grow and maybe even to feed their family.  


Landscape Gardening in East Sussex

Posted: June 1st, 2011 | Author: admin | Filed under: Gardening Articles | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

East Sussex is home to a number of fine examples of landscape gardening and innovative landscape architecture. Battling with a slowly encroaching London, Sussex is doing a very good job at maintaining and preserving both historical gardens and landscapes, as well as more allowing modern expressions of landscape architecture to flourish. In this article we briefly explore a few of these in and around the South East of England that are open to the public.

For those with an interest in history as well as landscape gardening, Waltham Abbey Gardens is the perfect choice. Combining the beautiful remains of the last Abbey to be dissolved by Henry VIII – also reputed to be the site of King Harold Godwinson’s grave, killed in the battle of 1066 by William the Conqueror’s army – with beautiful gardens featuring a Dragonfly Sanctuary. The gardens provide the opportunity to enjoy a number of walks around the many laced pools and larger waterbodies – a haven for many species of birds.

Gardening

If your taste requires landscape gardening on a grander scale, then you might enjoy a trip to Wickham Place Farm. Featuring 14 acres of beautiful wildlife, including mixed woodland, and a famous 250ft long wall covered in Wisteria, the gardens are a delight for those preferring a more rustic, grand approach to landscape architecture. The site also attracts a large number of different species of birds for the nature lover as well.

RHS Garden Hyde Hall is the perfect spot for those wishing to view examples of landscape gardening on a very large scale. With an estate of 360 acres full of wildlife, actively maintained gardens as well as farmland, meadows, and woodland, this location is perfect for those hoping to lose themselves. Hyde Hall is also a good example of the way in which landscapes can be maintained over larger areas, where subtle differences in management create varying effects to the landscape.

For those with a culinary interest, Audely End House & Gardens offers a fine display of landscape gardening, as well as offering visitors a chance to see a well-kept Victorian Kitchen Garden in working order. The estate, dating back to 1790 also boasts a beautiful lake, water-meadows, and a 17ft long vine house.

RVDM Landscaping offers a comprehensive range of expert landscape gardening in East Sussex including ground working and construction services.