BUNNINGS October 2019

54
Cyclone 254mmm
x 254mm tamper,
$79.98, I/N: 0131549
Cyclone long
handle hay fork,
$99, I/N: 0013525
While power tools have their
place, there’s nothing like
hand tools for letting you
immerse yourself in nature
and literally get your hands dirty – plus, if
your space is less than large, they could be
all you need to keep your garden growing.
Make your bed
A mattock is really useful if your soil is
severely compacted; it lets you break up
the surface, chop through tree roots and
prise out rocks. Where rocks and roots are
not an issue, a garden tiller is an excellent
choice for getting soil in good shape. “It’s
perfect for turning tough soil such as clay,
allowing air, water and fertiliser to
penetrate deep into the ground,” says
Tristan Eastaugh, product manager at
Cyclone. “A three-prong cultivator is ideal
for turning and cultivating less compacted
soil, in preparation for planting.”
Despite its ancient origins, the humble
hoe is still handy today. “It’s great for
breaking up the roots of weeds and turning
over the soil for a vegetable bed,” says
Brendan Molloy, owner of Molloy & Co
Gardens. Use an extra-wide landscaper’s
rake to level the soil afterwards.
Cyclone galvanised
D-handle mulch
and bark fork,
$197, I/N: 0013528
EXPERT TIP
Don’t forget your safety
gear! Use gardening
gloves with long cuffs
for extra protection
when working with
roses and other thorny
plants. If spraying
chemicals, pick a
windless day, wear
protective clothing,
including a mask, and
always read the label.
Can you dig it?
Primarily used for digging holes and
trenches, a spade has a relatively narrow
and rigid blade that is designed to cut
into the ground, with a solid handle to
help lever out clumps of dirt or lift turf.
In comparison, a shovel is optimised for
scooping up large amounts of dry
materials. “A square-mouth shovel is
most appropriate for shifting larger
volumes of soil, sand or gravel,” says
Laurie White, national product manager
at Spear & Jackson. Use a round-mouth
shovel for jobs that require a digging
action, such as mixing concrete in a trench.
Pop in some plants
Small hand tools allow you to get up close
and personal with your plants. Use a trowel
for potting up and planting seedlings,
and a specialised bulb trowel with depth
markings for tulips, daffodils and other
bulbous species. “Bulbs need to be planted
at a specific depth, usually three times the
length of the bulb,” explains Brendan.
A hand fork allows you to work around
herbs and flowers with shallow root
systems, aerating and mixing compost
in planter boxes and raised beds without
BONUS FEATURES
Make gardening by hand easier and more fun with these clever accessories
Cut blooms for a bouquet or harvest
herbs using floral scissors or micro
snips. They give you precise control
for the neatest cuts, which also makes
them great for shaping bonsai.
Fiskars floral
scissors, $16,
I/N: 3360802
Use a dibber to create consistent holes
in the soil for dropping a seed in. Once
sprouted and ready for transplanting,
use a widger to extract
the delicate seedling
without damaging it.
Gardman widger and dibber,
$3.90/set with 25 plant labels
and pencil, I/N: 3010206
Secure a fruit-picking
attachment to a compatible
pole pruner, to make harvesting
a breeze without needing to
use a ladder.
Fiskars
fruit-picking
attachment,
$26.90, I/N:
3367164
Previous page: Trojan 2kg fibreglass handle mattock with cutter end, $52.50, I/N: 0057897. Cyclone garden tiller, $49.98, I/N: 0101387. Cyclone 3 prong cultivator, $29,
I/N: 3360057. Spear & Jackson swan neck hoe, $19.95, I/N: 0198598. Trojan 18T fibreglass handle landscaper’s rake, $41, I/N: 3360928. Cyclone ‘Supersocket’ D-handle
spade, $49.98, I/N: 0084803. Cyclone long handle square mouth shifting shovel, $58.95, I/N: 3360949. Fiskars ‘PowergearX’ telescopic tree pruner, $199, I/N: 3350854.
Silvan ‘ProGrade’ 15L no leak backpack sprayer, $159, I/N: 0045933. Fiskars aluminium fork, $8.50, I/N: 3360132. Scotts ‘Easy’ hand-held fertiliser spreader, $21.38,
I/N: 3351482. Cyclone stainless steel bulb trowel, $9.98, I/N: 3361000. Saxon hand weeder, $3.70, I/N: 3361031. Gardena ‘EnergyCut 750B’ bypass pruning lopper,
$109, I/N: 0103192. Cyclone straight hedge shears, $42, I/N: 3361015. Fiskars nyglass trowel, $3.48, I/N: 3367481. Hozelock ‘Pure’ 2L sprayer, $19.98, I/N: 0126306.
Gardena aluminium bypass garden secateurs, $49.98, I/N: 0082240. Hortex 325mm heavy duty pruning saw, $10.50, I/N: 3361972. Fiskars 61cm (24”) soft grip bow
saw, $15.98, I/N: 3360360. Mechanix Wear ‘Ethel’ garden utility gloves in Plum, $21.98/medium, I/N: 0033181. Tommyco all terrain honeycomb gel knee pads, $49.50,
I/N: 5810159. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.
Words Gun Arvidssen
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