Monday, November 28, 2011

Hand Pruners For the Disabled

!: Hand Pruners For the Disabled

Gardening need not be limited to the able bodied enthusiast. In fact, gardening provides a lot of enjoyment and therapeutic benefit for disabled people and the infirm. So that everyone can enjoy getting out into the garden to perform all of the chores required to help the plants thrive and remain healthy, some tools have required modifications.

A hand pruner is an essential tool for a gardener, some might argue the most important tool, but traditional hand pruners can be difficult for a person with a disability to use. Consequently there are some modified pruners available.

In order to make the cutting process easier there are hand pruners available that operate using a ratchet action. This ratchet hand pruner is designed to help someone with a weak grip or who has limited hand movement. Many ratchet pruners are designed with a finger loop to make it even easier to hold.

To avoid having to bend down and pick up stems that have been cut off, there is a range of hand pruners known as cut and hold pruners. These tools contain a mechanism that allows the stem to be held after it has been cut. They are ideal for people who have bad backs, who are blind or partially sighted or for people with only one hand.

Lightweight long reach pruners are another helpful, modified tool that is essentially long handled pruners. They are designed to give the gardener a long reach and supply extra cutting power. They are specially designed for gardeners confined to a wheelchair or who have difficulty in bending down. They can be operated either one handed or two handed so those with a weak grip can also use them.

Just because you are not an able bodied gardener does not preclude you from performing some of the basic tasks in the garden. With the modified tools mentioned above as well as some others, you can get all of the essential pruning work done.


Hand Pruners For the Disabled

Garmin Forerunner 205 Watch Discounted

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Essential Japanese Gardening Tools

!: Essential Japanese Gardening Tools

There are four Essential Japanese Gardening Tools needed to create a serene space. Every gardener who understands that lifelong quality tools are better than cheaper tools that will need to be replaced every couple of years will appreciate using the quality and affordability of Japanese tools.

Japan has a centuries old tradition of blending nature, beauty, and creativity. In order to create these living works of art, the perfect tools have been sought after and developed as well.

Here is a short list of essential Japanese garden tools:

Japanese Hand Pruners

These razor sharp blades are used in world famous gardens. In Japan, these hand pruners are probably the most used tool in a gardener's repertoire. These reliable hand pruners are some of the strongest clippers on the market, and they also retain their clean cutting edge for years. Japanese hand pruners, such as the Okatsune brand, compete with other familiar brands such as Felco. They are professional quality, life-long garden companions, and an affordable price.

Japanese Shears

These shears are probably the second most important tool in order to create the beautiful tamamono mounds and hedges found in Japanese gardens. These blades smooth and swift and allow you to prune for hours because of their lightweight.

Often when people think of gardens in Japan they have an image of a large bonsai-like sculpted pine tree. However, when you truly look at a garden you will notice that although specimen trees are appreciated, they only fit into the scene smoothly because of the finely sheared background trees and tamamono blob-shaped bushes. You can even have a beautiful and natural Japanese-style garden without specimen trees, but you can't have one without the sheared background mounds. Don't neglect the importance of Japanese hedge shears.

Essential Japanese Garden Tools, Pt. 2 is a continuation of an earlier blog written about the some of the basic tools needed in the Japanese Garden. We are continuing this because one of our most often questions is "What type of tools are needed for Japanese gardening, and are they any different from western tools?"

The latter part of that question can be summed up with a big YES, they are different. Japanese gardens have been around for centuries and the development of the perfect tools to create these works of art has also been an ongoing process that surpasses most western tools. The average tool sold at the hardware store and big-box store has been dumbed down because of the average brute force used with many garden tools.

The beauty of Japanese gardens lies in the precision and detail given to the pruning and maintenance of the gardens. The following are often overlooked Essential Japanese Garden Tools:

Japanese Hand Saws

From my experience in gardening in Japan I have found that these straight-handled Japanese hand saws work best for me. This is mostly do to the fact that I often have to climb up in the trees and prune. With a fixed blade I can reach for it, unbutton it from its wooden sheath, and use it with only one hand, allowing me to keep one hand for balancing in the tree. The folding saws are also well-made made and more compact. You also have to take into consideration that, yes, you will look like a cowboy with the fixed blade style strapped to your waist!

One of the main reasons that these are essential Japanese garden tools though is that unlike western made hand saws they work on the pull, not the push. It takes a few times to get use to, but you will find that more technique is involved with the pulling stroke, as opposed to the forceful push stroke.

The Sickle, or Kama in Japanese

Believe it or not Japanese gardens do not use weed barriers or plastic liners. Even though they are often weedless with a perfectly smooth cover of moss or in a rock garden, artificial environmentally unfriendly products such as chemical sprays and plastic liners are not used. These gardens are weeded.

Japanese sickles, or Kamas, are used to weed the gardens and again, work on the pull. Technique triumphs over strength and a soft pull inward is all that is needed. Many times home gardens are weeded almost daily and you never get the build up of strong weeds. The garden needs to become a part of your life. If 5 minutes a day were given to light weeding and exploring your garden, you would be both weed free and have a new healthy routine to add to your lifestyle.

Although these Kamas may be more popular as being part of a Karate demonstration, they were originally intended to be used as everyday weeding and harvesting tools. Because they were a common everyday item used by gardeners and farmers, a natural method of self-defense was devised using them. Make the Japanese sickle a part of your everyday experience.

We use them daily, as people have for centuries, so we can attest to their durability, ease of use, and affordability. Whether you are maintaining a Japanese garden or an English garden, superior quality is superior quality.

If you would like to learn more about Japanese gardening visit Serene Gardens http://www.serene-gardens.com/shop/index.php?c=31.


Essential Japanese Gardening Tools

Low Price Bissell 3106

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Felco 100 Cut and Hold Shear

!: Prices Felco 100 Cut and Hold Shear clearance sale

Brand : Felco | Rate : | Price :
Post Date : Nov 10, 2011 03:27:04 | Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Cut and hold convenience, Felco quality. Blade set has attached grips which hold onto cuttings. Ergonomic handles with vinyl coating, shock absorbing spring action, a wire cutting notch and a sap groove. 8" long weighs 9 oz.

  • Cut and hold convenience, Felco quality
  • Blade set has attached grips which hold onto cuttings
  • Ergonomic handles with vinyl coating
  • Shock absorbing spring action
  • Wire cutting notch and a sap groove

Best Prices Yamaha Keyboards 88 Keys Information Dual Fuel Range Downdraft Hercules Dj Rmx Console Help


Twitter Facebook Flickr RSS



Français Deutsch Italiano Português
Español 日本語 한국의 中国简体。