At Decker’s Nursery, we are proud to offer the highest quality of supplies and tools available to our customers. Basics such as gloves and watering cans are readily available on our shelves as well as sprayers, hoses, and pruning tools needed to keep your landscaping healthy and beautiful.
The Evolution of Garden Tools
As far back as history can tell us, farmers and gardeners alike have created and used instruments to aid them in their daily tasks in the fields. Early tools made of wood and bone, allowed for digging and cutting of larger plants. This helped to expand the types of crops that our ancestors could manage.
Eventually, tools like shovels, axes, hoes, and rakes were made more effective by adding in metals like tin and iron to their construction. This made them last longer and allowed for more work to be done before the devices wore out. Also, the longer-lasting tools granted farmers and gardeners the ability to sew and tend to even larger crops with a greater variety of plants to support the demand of an ever-growing industry.
Fortunately, modern tools have become much more affordable and user-friendly by incorporating lighter weight materials like plastics and aluminum. These components have also made gardening equipment less taxing on the human body. More ergonomic in design, tools took less and less impact on limbs and joints, making the profession safer for workers all around.
With the evolution of gardening supplies and tools, gardening has become a hobby your entire family can enjoy. Here at Decker’s Nursery, we welcome customers of all shapes and sizes, ages and skill levels. And our expert lead events and workshops show that just about anyone can find joy in caring for nature’s beauty. What a long way we’ve come from sharpening sticks and stones!
Our Garden Supplies & Tools
Fertilizers and other supplements can be tricky to navigate, especially if you’re new to gardening. Whatever your preference, we’ll be glad to make sure you find what you need. Our Decker’s professionals are available to help customers with advice on anything from sick plants and lawns to pointing clients in the right direction of pesticides and fungus control.
Feel free to stop in at Decker’s Nursery 7 days a week, any time of year to browse our selection and have your questions answered. We enjoy meeting new customers, but we take great pleasure in seeing you return because who doesn’t like seeing family!
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Garden Supplies & Tools
Gardening is an enjoyable and healthy hobby that will get you outside, give you some much-needed exercise, and help you relax. However, if you have never done any gardening in the past, you may not know the ins-and-outs of what tools you need. Whether you’re a new gardener building your first tool kit, or a seasoned veteran wanting to beef up your collection, start here to find out exactly what you’ll need to make your gardening as easy and enjoyable as possible.
What Supplies Do You Need for Gardening?
If you are ready to start your home garden, you will want to have the right tools on hand to make your job easy. Gardening supplies and tools can be broken down into three categories, based on the duties they will be used for:
- Soil Preparation
- Planting
- Health Maintenance
- Harvesting
Begin with supplies for readying the soil, such as shovels and rakes, as well as tools that will help you plant your seeds or seedlings, such as a trowel or plant divider.
Once your plants are properly growing, you will need another set of supplies to ensure that they stay healthy, such as watering equipment, fertilizer and pruning shears to get rid of dead branches or flowers.
Finally, you will want supplies that help you harvest your vegetables, trim your bushes or get your garden ready for winter. This could include such tools as wheelbarrows, loppers, and hoes.
What Are the Different Types of Garden Tools?
While there are many more types of gardening tools than we can list, most will fit into the two broad categories of hand tools & power tools. You will most likely end up with an array of both types in your gardening arsenal.
In general, hand tools are far cheaper to purchase, and there is usually far less that can go wrong with them over time. However, you will certainly find that you have to put more physical effort into using them than you do with power tools that run with gas or electricity.
Some of the most common hand tools include items that help you plant, weed and cut your plants. For example, you will need handheld garden shears and may also want a lopper to cut off wider branches. Handheld weeders make easy work of getting rid of unwanted plants while trowels, garden rakes, and aerators ready your soil for planting.
Power tools are great investments if you have a large garden and want to make quick work of large tasks. You may want to consider a power trimmer, leaf blower, chainsaw or even a mini-tractor if you have a great deal of land.
What Are the Basic Tools for Gardening?
Gardening tools can range from the most basic to the most unique and extreme options for dedicated gardeners who love having the newest items. However, don’t need an entire hardware store to get your garden growing and to keep it healthy all season long.
Basic gardening tools include the following:
- Trowels and aerators
- Shovels and spades
- Pruning shears, loppers, and trimmers
- Hoses, sprinklers and watering cans
- Topsoil, fertilizer, and mulch
- Rakes
- Hoes
- Wheelbarrows
- Row guides
- Planting cages
What Garden Tools Are Essential?
While a quick trip into any garden center will quickly show you just how many gardening tools are available to you these days. Don’t let this wide array of possibilities overwhelm you into thinking you must have every item on the shelves in order to grow a successful garden. Instead, you can start out small with just the essential items and add in more tools over the years as you see a need for them or as your budget allows.
Consider purchasing one each of the following essential items as you get started:
- Shovel
- Hand rake
- Trowel
- Weeding tool
- Watering can
- Pruning shears
If you want to make your gardening time even more comfortable, consider also starting with a pair of quality gardening gloves and a soft kneeling pad.
How Do I Choose the Right Garden Tool?
Think of your gardening supply purchases as being investments into your future hobby. Rather than opting for the cheapest possible tool, choose a moderately priced tool that is designed to last but that will not break your budget. In general, the tools should feel slightly heavy in your hand, proving that they are made from quality materials and are sturdy.
Search for rust-proof metal tools with wooden or metal handles rather than plastic handles that could easily break. Choose hand-held tools that have comfortable molded or padded hand grips and long-handled tools that are the right height for your body.
Also, be sure that you choose tools that are correctly sized for your garden. For example, if you have a very narrow or tight garden, you will want to invest in smaller rakes and shovels that can fit into the narrow spaces between your existing plants.
How Do You Maintain Garden Tools?
If you want your high-quality tools to last for years, you must care for them well to keep them from rusting or breaking. Obviously, you do not want to leave your tools outside but will want to store them away from dampness and sunlight. In addition, you should clean your tools off with a soft, clean rag after each use.
Tools that have moving parts, such as shears or loppers, should be regularly oiled to lubricate them and get rid of any rust. Finally, keep shears and other cutting tools sharp by honing them yourself with a handheld tool or by taking them to a local sharpening shop.
Where Can I Buy Garden Supplies on Long Island?
At Decker’s Nursery of course! Proudly serving Greenlawn & Long Island. At Decker’s, you’ll find a wide range of all types of gardening supplies and tools, as well as numerous seeds, plants, soils, fertilizers, and much much more at incredibly reasonable prices! Whether you want to start a small self-sustaining vegetable garden or wish to add cheery flowers around your walkways, Decker’s has everything that you need to make your dreams a reality and to create a gorgeous outdoor space!