Forks

Choosing the right garden forks

You can't have a flourishing flowerbed or garden without loose, friable soil. And you can't have loose friable soil unless you put in the right amount of hard work and have the right set of tools. The importance of the right garden tool is indescribable. You can easily choose a tool that is not right for the size of your garden. It means you might have to put in more work than expected. So always put in the right amount of research before you select a garden tool. There are people who like to use shovels or spades but nothing can replace the garden fork. It is a device with a wooden handle and several thick prongs. A garden fork is one of the most basic yet effective tools of a home garden.

Why you need it

Your garden fork will be your workmate for the rest of your gardening life. So you need to ensure that you choose one that you are comfortable working with, that serves the purpose that you are buying it for and also puts minimum strain on your back. The ideal garden fork is the one with lines that can penetrate into the sub soil with ease. If you have a stony bed under the top layer of soil, nothing can be more effective in removing it. The chances that you will hit stone are almost negligible. The same stands true for bulbs. If you are cultivating root vegetables, then consider a garden hand fork to be a pre-requisite. Hey, if you are making compost manure in your backyard, then it can serve as an effective replacement for the pitchfork in moving mulch and leaf mould.

Types and Sizes

You can choose from two sizes of garden forks. One is the larger digging fork which has an 8 inch wide head. The depth is 11 ½ inches. These are mostly used for larger gardens with lots of digging work. If you have a smaller garden, then you can opt for the broader fork which has a width of 9 inches and depth of 5 ½ inches. This is especially useful in tactful digging around plants and shrubs. Not to forget the fact that it is easier to carry and store. You can choose from stainless steel ones and carbon steel ones. The later are the recommended choice as they are cost effective and durable.

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