Reduce Fatigue with These Ergonomic Gardening Tools
The right tools can make gardening easier on your body and more enjoyable. Amy Galloway, a horticulturist at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas, shares the best ergonomic gardening tools she uses to reduce fatigue, prevent strain, and work more efficiently in the garden. Learn which tools can help you garden longer and more comfortably.
This pole pruner gives you more reach to make quick work of tall tasks
The FELCO Telescopic Pole Pruner is a wonderful and multipurpose tool that extends my reach in many helpful ways. No need to pull out the ladder—this tool enables canopy-level snipping from the safety of the ground. The end is made up of a large bypass pruner, similar to a pair of hand pruners, and it can cut tree branches up to an inch in diameter. It’s also very useful in trimming vines or hard-to-reach areas of large shrubs.
This pole pruner has the added benefit of allowing me to safely remove wasp nests; its length provides a buffer to snip and move the branches they’re on. I appreciate a tool with many uses, especially when it helps to reduce my reliance on pesticides. Maintenance is simple: Just like any hand pruner, keep it clean, occasionally oiled, and, most importantly, sharp.
Pro tip: You can swivel the handle to change the angle of the pruning head.
Felco Telescopic Pole Pruner
Get yourself an ergonomic soil knife that kills weeds but not your wrists
The Lesche™ Digging Tool changed my life. My wrists used to feel the brunt of the work during busy planting times, but the offset angle of this soil knife takes a lot of the pressure off them and greatly increases my digging power. I can plant in half the time I would with a normal soil knife or trowel. The rubber handle is comfortable, and the hand guard provides protection.
It also comes with a Cordura® nylon sheath. Its pointed tip is great for more detailed weeding, and the teeth on one side of the blade are excellent for getting at deep taproots. I simply pierce the root with the serrated edge and then pry it out so that it never returns. The thickness of the steel is perfect for working in our rocky Texas soil. This invaluable hand tool is extremely durable and well-constructed.
Pro tip: Turn the blade around, plunge it into the soil, and pull it toward you for more efficient digging.
Lesche Digging Tool with Cordura Sheath
Read More: Garden Tools That Make Maintenance Easier on Your Body
Use this tree puller for effortless removal of unwanted plants
The Uprooter is a genius invention. It acts as a lever to pull saplings out of the ground, roots and all. The metal jaws pinch the trunk to remove the plant. This often results in damage to the bark and the tissues below the bark, so this is not a tool for transplanting or retaining young trees. However, it is very useful for eliminating unwanted woodies and invasive species without the use of herbicides. In addition, it is a real back saver.
Pro tip: Increase leverage by raising the fulcrum height, making tree removal easier—just add stones or wood under the base until it feels right.
Say goodbye to bulky kneepads with a versatile rocking stool
Over the years I’ve tried various seats and pads to ease the strain on my back and knees while gardening, and this stool is one of my favorites. Thanks to a rounded base, the ROCKr™ follows me in any direction that I lean. This allows me to reach farther, minimizing the need to stand and reposition.
The seat itself is surprisingly comfortable and feels like it’s formfitting to my bottom. This stool is also waterproof and easy to clean, and its lightweight design lets me move it around the garden without breaking a sweat. The seat height is adjustable, and the bottom pedestal doubles as a tool holder.
Pro tip: Don’t lean too far back unless you fancy a tumble.
ROCKr™
Read More: Cheap Garden Tools with Multiple Uses
Try these small, ergonomic pruners for delicate tasks
I have many pruners that I use for different purposes, and this model is very gentle on the hands. The shape of the Modern Sprout Gardening Pruners makes them easy to grip and a relief to work with when my hands are tired. They fit like a glove, which adds a lot of control, and they don’t slip, even when my skin is covered in dirt. The spur sits nicely between the thumb and index finger, and on the other side, the grooves follow the curve of the index and middle finger.
The sharp and narrow head is perfect for detail-oriented tasks, such as bonsai pruning, thinning, and precise deadheading. These pruners are very lightweight and fun to use, and fit in small pockets. They also come in many colors, making them a delightful gift for the horticulturist in your life.
Pro tip: Sharpening your pruners between uses significantly reduces hand strain, and it’s easier than you think.
Modern Sprout Gardening Pruners
A well-made stirrup hoe lets you weed effectively without bending over
I love this tool for weeding gravel pathways and large areas of garden beds. The head of the A.M. Leonard 7-inch Stirrup Hoe is narrow enough to maneuver around my desired plants without disturbing their root systems. The sharp stirrup edge glides below the surface, slicing weeds through the root. All I have to do is rake up the freed weeds and enjoy instant gratification from transforming an unkempt area into a clean slate.
Since the majority of my gardening is done while bending over, I appreciate that I can stand completely upright and weed with this scuffle hoe, giving my back the break it needs.
Pro tip: Keep the stirrup blade sharp for optimal performance.
A.M. Leonard 7-inch Stirrup Hoe
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BAR + CHAIN: 8 in. auto-lubricating bar + chain with 2.7 fl oz oil tank capacity and oil level window. TELESCOPIC: Telescoping pole extends from 3.7 ft to 7.2 ft, providing up to 14 ft of overhead reach. ADJUSTABLE HEAD: Multi-angle head adjusts from 0º to 30º
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MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point – no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.
FELCO F-2 068780 Classic Manual Hand Pruner, F 2, Red
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Comfortable, lightweight, sturdy aluminium alloy handles. High quality hardened steel blades, forged aluminium alloy handles, wire cutting notch
Anvil blade with sap groove, rubber cushion shock aborbers. For a medium to large hand, right Handed; the handles have a non slip coating. Lifetime guarantee, all parts replaceable. Ideal pruner for light applications and easily adjustable. Features strong blades with a wire cutting notch. Lightweight metal handles. Blades are made of high-quality hardened steel. Limited lifetime warranty.
