It may feel like all garden trowels are the same, but each differs in its features if you look closely. Some trowels are good for indoor gardening, while other do wonders for tending to your outdoor garden. Although buying a good trowel doesn't cost too much, it's better to research before purchasing one.
What Are The Types Of Garden Trowels?
There are three main types of garden trowel:
Traditional Trowel
A traditional trowel looks like a scoop, and it is a solid trowel that can do most of your gardening jobs. For instance, it can move dirt, dig soil, and transfer a plant.
Weeding Trowel
A wedding trowel is a tight-space or rockery trowel that is best for digging deep. The trowel has the shape of a saw, and the ends are designed to be extra sharp.
Potting Trowel
As the name suggests, a potting trowel (also known as transplant trowel) is best used for planting new flowers. These towels are known for their unique design and shapes as they have a thin pointed end.
Which Features Are Necessary For A Hand Trowel?
Material
The quality of any product is defined by the material used in making it. Typical materials used for making garden trowels are fiberglass, stainless steel, polystyrene, and aluminum. Each material has its pros and cons, and you can buy the one that best suits your needs. Generally, most people agree that aluminum and stainless steel are both the most reliable and the most effective because they are rust-resistant. Your garden trowel will come in contact with water many times, so it's best to buy a rust-resistant material to ensure that the product lasts a long time. Polystyrene and fiberglass are popular options for those who want to buy a lightweight garden trowel.
Blade
The length and width of the blade are essential factors, but the sharpness of the blade is even more important. You need to check if the blade is curved, pointed, or beveled; this will determine how tough of soil it can break. A long and narrow blade is best for digging deep holes for planting flowers and small bulbs. If you want to measure the soil, you can opt for a blade with gradation marks to get precision. Thus, determining the best type of blade depends on the type of job that you have to conduct with your garden trowel.
Handle
The handle of a garden trowel is highly important to check before buying because it determines how comfortably you can work. If you're planning to pursue gardening for a long time, you want to make sure that fits your hand well. Handles that are ergonomically designed are the best because they are made with extremely soft material that gives you a secure grip on your garden trowel. Even better, a padded handle is highly comfortable, and although it will add a few extra bucks, it would be worth it if you want to avoid any wrist pain.
Does Warranty Matter?
Having a warranty is always useful and comes in handy if your product breaks too early. Some gardening trowels come with a lifetime warranty, but that won't always be the case. Thus, you need to check the warranty specifically before buying. Most of the reputed and well-known brands offer a warranty on their product, and it is one of the points that distinguish them from their generic counterparts.
When we are talking about warranty, it is expected that at least two years warranty is offered because it shows the company's trust in their product. If a company is confident that they have made the best garden trowel, they will not be worried about offering two years or more warranties to their customers.
Some Customers Also Ask
Q. What is the difference between a transplanter and a trowel?
A: There is not much difference between a transplanter and a trowel, the only being that transplanters tend to have a narrower blade. It is precisely designed for digging under plant roots to get them out and plant at another location carefully.
Q. What is the difference between a trowel and a spade?
A: A spade is used for digging trenches for drainage lines, while a trowel is used for gardening.