Just like any profession, horticultural experts will advise you to buy quality gardening knives. Gardening knives come in different shapes and sizes and have different uses. There are some knives used for pruning, harvesting, and even trimming plant stems.
What to look for in a gardening knife
- Material
- Grip comfort
- Size
- Effectiveness
Material is essential when considering the type of garden knife to buy. Metal made knives last longer but can also rust if they don’t receive proper care. You can buy a B40550 rust-resistant knife that is easy to clean and take care. Avoid blades with plastic handle since they are lightweight and can easily break. Wooden handles are also attractive but dry out very fast. You can find rubber handled knives for more comfortable garden use.
Ensure you buy a garden knife that is easy to hold. Some materials are not comfortable and can hurt if used longer. Find cushioned handles that will provide comfort and avoid blistering.
You spend a lot of time handling tools in the garden. Size is important to avoid injury, fatigue caused by handling heavy knives, and interference with other plants. The blades should be easy to store and carry on the wrist.
Look for sharp-edged knives and consider the design used in attaching the handle. To avoid being hurt, ensure the handle is reinforced while gardening.
Most used gardening knives
- The Fiskars large grip garden knife
- The truly garden knife
- The Lifewell hori-hori garden knife
- The Wolf Garten plastic handled soil knife
The Fiskars big grip garden knife has a significant grip that is handy, light, and an excellent choice for planting, digging, and transplanting. The blade is sharp and easy to use, although the handle is not durable. The knife is padded and oversized to provide improved control and comfort. It is also rust-resistant, making it an excellent choice for garden use.
It is a hori-hori garden knife, and any garden lover will recommend this knife. It is curved with high-grade stainless steel, serrated blades. They have a safety guard to protect your hands from injury.
The knife is versatile, sharp, and multi-functional, making it suitable for gardening. It has a high-quality blade with a handle made of hardwood. The knife is rust-resistant with triple serrated edges.
The Deteknix garden digging the knife
The Deteknix garden knife is heavy duty and well-balanced. It has a plastic handle that has a non-slip grip and stainless-steel blade with deep scale, serrated edges. The knife comes with a nylon sheath and a belt loop.
The wolf garten garden knife is light, thus making it comfortable to use. It is used in sawing, scooping and weeding. It is stainless steel with a plastic handle.
How to take care of your garden knife
- Keep it clean
- Storage
- Oiling
- Repair
- Keep the keen
Just like any working item, knives need to be kept clean at all times. Wash and wipe the blades with a soft cloth and ensure the handles get treated with some oil. You should remove any sappy materials from knives that were used to cut through plant matter; you can do this by using a scouring pad. Cleaning knives is critical since they might cut you in the garden, and if not clean enough, they will contaminate your blood.
Gardening tools are sharp and need to be protected. Don’t leave your garden knife anywhere since kids might find them and get injured. Instead, find a hanging place and protect the knives from the reach of children. Ensure the blades are in a dry area to keep away moisture that could make them rust.
Garden knives are prone to rust, thus the need to oil them after cleaning. Oiling will also make it easier to sharpen the blades.
Knives are prone to damages such as the handle getting off. You need to check them always and ensure repairs are done in time to avoid being disappointed the next time you want to go pruning.
Find a specialized knife sharpener so that you have quick results. Ensure you get the right sharpener since cheap ones will remove too much metal from the blade thus shortening the knife’s lifespan. I advise you buy a BearMoo whetstone since it will do wonders and it lasts longer.
Types of garden knife sharpening materials
Whetstones
They are made of blocks of stone. They are in two kinds depending on the lubrication used like water or oil. Whetstones are suitable for sharpening secateurs and knives, and sometimes the stones are double-sided with coarse grit. They have a flat and firm surface.
Diamond-coated sharpening tools
These tools come in many shapes and sizes. They are portable thus ideal for sharpening knives on the go.
Sharpening steel
Primarily used for sharpening kitchen knives but some gardener finds them effective for small knives. They are cheap and readily available.
Files
They are light and make work easier. They are used to sharpen spades, hoes, secateurs, and knives.
How to protect your hands when gardening
Prevention is better than cure, and thus there is a need to protect yourself when handling knives on the farm. Gloves are vital as they protect your hands from injury. The three types of gloves are:
Washable synthetic gloves
They have a thin fabric with a snug fit which allows your fingers maximum dexterity. They are easy to maintain and handle while gardening.
Latex-coated cotton gloves
They come in handy for dirty and wet jobs such as planting shrubs. They have a latex coat that is puncture resistant.
Heavy-duty leather gloves
Used for though jobs like clearing bushes, digging holes, and carrying firewood. Most leather gloves are long, thus protecting even the arms.
Arm protectors
They are considered elastic and work well when pruning or cutting nippier grass.
Bottomline
Staying focused on the type of knife you want, and the purpose is essential. Ensure the knife you admire has basic features. The knife should be easy to care and perform different functions.