Essential Hand Tools for the Desert Gardener

21.12.2023 - 20:49 / finegardening.com

Some people are particular about the garden tools they use. Others take it less seriously and are content with the cheapest things they can find. I’m somewhere in the middle. I’m not one to waste money on overpriced brands, but I do want durable tools that last a good while. Just as important, they need to do the job and be up for the conditions under which I’ll be using them.

It’s common knowledge that gardening in the desert Southwest is different, but it’s not just the climate. The soil and garden styles are different as well. Hard, rocky soil is not uncommon, and pockets of caliche can be found almost anywhere if you dig deep enough. Some areas are sandy or full of gravel with little organic matter. Garden mulch materials are usually inorganic fine gravel, breeze, or crushed rock. Many of our trees are legumes producing an annual crop of “beans” that litter the ground. An abundance of pointy plants requires special handling as well. All these challenges mean a “regular” version of a popular garden tool might not be the best choice for us.

Most common tools need little introduction. I always have a sharp pair of hand pruners at the ready, and always the bypass type, not the anvil type that can crush stems before it cuts. A good pair of nitrile gloves is standard for me. But other tool choices may not be as obvious. Here are some of my top tools that are well-adapted and especially useful as I work to enhance my little piece of the desert:

Hori hori

This is the rugged hand digging tool that works best in my rock-laden soil. It pries small rocks out of the way, is narrow enough to dig deep quickly, and does not bend like cheaper aluminum trowels.

Sharpshooter shovel

A narrow blade will often find its way between