Six Tips for Using a Garden Hoe and Other Hand Tools

I didn’t grow up using garden tools in my day to day life. As a kid in Houston, TX, I spent much of my free time at Little League or rollerblading around our neighborhood. As I got older, I played a lot of video games.

I rarely (if ever!) used a garden hoe, mattock, pruners, loppers or saws; tools that I now use on a regular basis around our 5-acre homestead.

About the extent of my hand tool experience was an old hatchet my grandfather passed on, an old oil sharpening stone that I had no idea how to use, and the push mower my mom bought one summer with high hopes that never materialized.

So, yeah, I was pretty much an  average suburban kid without much practical know-how.

Fast forward to today, about 10 years into this homesteading journey, and I feel comfortable using my body and hand tools to get things done.

It’s taken some time, practice and my fair share of blisters, sore muscles and minor injuries; but I believe that anyone, no matter your upbringing, can learn (or relearn) to use hand tools in an enjoyable, safe and effective way.

Here are six tips to help you succeed with your garden tools.

1. Strive for Good Timing

You know that feeling when you get seeds in the ground right before it rains? That’s good timing.

When you nail the timing, conditions are ideal for your intended task.

For weeding, this means getting out there when weeds are small and require minimal effort to slice. Ideal soil conditions for weeding would be moist, but not too dry or sopping wet.

Same goes for bed preparation: soil moisture is important, so is soil temperature.

Attaining perfect timing is no easy task. There are many variables in our lives, many of which we can’t control; but keeping it in mind can improve the quality and efficiency of your work.

2. Get your Mind Right

Our results are partly determined by our

attitudes and beliefs. So how do you feel about weeding or your other garden chores?

I must confess that even though I love to produce food and medicine, sometimes the work it takes to get there feels like drudgery.

One way I combat this sort of mental resistance is to turn your work into a game or workout.

I might look at each row I need to hoe as a rep. or segment of a larger workout. I switch my left and right hands between rows to get a more balanced workout. Perhaps I’ll do some body weight exercises like squats in between rows.

In this way, the work becomes a part of my larger health and lifestyle goals. I’m not just weeding, I’m also getting a work out, spending time outside, making vitamin D, etc.

How can you change your mindset to make your work more pleasurable?

3. Bring the Target Closer

The closer you are to your target, the easier it is to hit the mark. So how can you bring your target closer?

One way is to break your large tasks down into manageable, bite-sized chunks.

You’ve got a whole garden to prep or weed? Try breaking that daunting goal down into smaller chunks. Can you weed two beds this morning and two this evening?

By breaking up your work and setting small goals, large jobs become more approachable. You’ll be done before you know it.

4. Pace Yourself

There is a micro and macro scale to this.  At the micro level, this simply looks like taking your time as you work your way down the row, whether it’s weeding your veggie garden, digging holes for trees or pruning your rose bush.

Sometimes you have to hustle, but try not to rush. Find a rhythm if you can. Breathe!

If possible, I like to coordinate my breathing with my motions.  This is easiest when using garden hoes that require rhythmic movements, like chopping.

At the macro scale, pacing yourself often looks like planning.

Do you know about when you’ll plant your spring, summer or fall crops?  With this knowledge, you can make a plan for when your beds need to be ready for planting.  If possible, work your way towards readiness steadily, without last minute (and often back busting) flushes of work.

I know this can be challenging, as often it’s the weather that dictates when we can or can’t get things done in the garden, but it’s possible and worth the extra bit of effort.

I hope these ideas help you have a better experience with hand tools, whether you’re using a gardening hoe, a shovel or pruners.

Now I’d love to hear from you!  What are your favorite tips and techniques for working with hand tools? Send me an email with your tips, and I’ll add them to this list.