Trowels

Trowels are a type of garden tool that has a pointed scooped blade and handle. The trowel blade is made from metal and is used for breaking up or stirring earth and digging for holes. Trowels are mainly used for planting and weeding, though bricklayers have their own trowels that they use with concrete as do archaeologists. Trowels are often identified with masons who use trowels for leveling and spreading, but as pictures of trowels show, they are also an important tool used in gardening.

Choosing Between Trowels

What kind of garden trowels can you buy? Trowels can differ in size as well as shapes. Some trowels may be flat while others are curved. The blade of the trowel may be attached to the handle with a curve or be straight as with a spade, or a shovel shape. Long-handed trowels allow gardeners the comfort of moving the blade without having to stoop or bend down. There are also specialty garden trowels, such as trowels that can fit between pavement cracks or that can slice through roots and tough weeds.

A hand trowel features a unique and comfortable shape that is easily gripped by the hand. Hand trowels may also be made of special tempered steel for longer lasting quality and have a rounded hardwood handle or a square one. The best hand trowels are lightweight and easy to use. A wrist saver trowel is specially designed to ease up on your wrist pain. The ergonomic design gives gardeners more power and leverage, with less stress on the muscle and joint. These trowels are especially appreciated by gardeners who have Arthritis or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Metal trowels are not necessarily the best trowels you can buy; stamped metal trowels actually have a shorter life span than average. The best quality trowels are made from carbon steel or stainless steel. Garden trowels that are stainless steel are also rustproof. Aluminum trowels have also been used by gardeners to much success.

The Radius garden trowel from NRG is an ergonomically designed tool that allows gardeners to keep a more natural position in their hands and wrists. This trowel throws a curve into the handle, which is still lightweight, and a more comfortable hold. In addition to comfort, the handle shape also provides a transfer of energy from the hand to the tool, giving you greater power as well as comfort.

You can find the best trowels at websites such as Southern Tool and Discount Equipment.