Age, sophistication and disposable income have given rise to a new species of hand tools for the lawn and garden.
In fact, the word “ergonomic” has become part of the everyday vocabulary for Susan Schmidt, who works with new tools for the lawn and garden at Wisconsin-based Fiskars.
That’s because “10,000 Baby Boomers a day are turning 50,” she says, “which means there is a population out there that is in search of lighter weight, more comfortable tools that are designed to give gardeners a mechanical advantage rather than having them use arm and hand or wrist strength.”
Dan Caspall, vice president and general manager of V & B Manufacturing, says that homeowners, in general, are “spending more of their disposable income on their home grounds than ever before and are becoming increasingly sophisticated when it comes to outdoor projects and the tools they work with. As a result, hand tool manufacturers like ourselves are producing `garden smart’ tools that will fit each job and make it easier.”
One aspect of “garden smart” tools is the adjustable length of their handles as well as their ability to do several different tasks because of the design of their tool heads.
Schmidt says that tools that are ergonomic have other advantages as well. “They are designed to keep your wrists and arms in more neutral positions to reduce fatigue and they are also designed so that you use all of your fingers, rather than just two or three, to gain leverage on the tool.” She adds, “Tools also use compound mechanisms to allow less strong people do bigger jobs by virtue of the tool design.”
Color is also often an important aspect of these new garden tools. Schmidt says that a bright color accent is sometimes used so that the tools will be easy to find if they are laid down on the ground.
While these tools can make gardening easier for the aging population and people who are disabled as well, they also offer the advantages of their intelligent design to all gardeners. “If you’re making a tool that is much better for a 50- or 65-year-old person or for a woman,” says Schmidt, “you’re making it significantly better for a man who perhaps has better hand strength.”
A number of these new gardening tools are described below. The prices listed for the products are suggested retail prices. You can contact the listed manufacturers for help in finding a retailer in your area that carries a specific item.
Easy to handle
Fiskars has a number of new tools designed to make gardening tasks easier. The Cut-N-Hold Floral Shears has a cutting blade that comes down on a flat surface so that it will hold the flower stem once it has been trimmed from the plant. The handles and jaws are made from a composite plastic that is strong but lightweight. The Power Lever Pro Pruner has a design that requires less effort than traditional tools. It has a pistol-grip handle, which means that the wrist will not become fatigued. It weighs less than conventional pruners and is accented in yellow to make it easy to find. Fiskars also has a line of Power Axes with ergonomically designed handles to make them easy and safe to use. Prices: $9.99 for the Cut-N-Hold Floral Shears; $31.99 for the Power Lever Pro Pruner; $36 to $70 for the Power Axes. Fiskars Lawn and Garden, Customer Service Department, 780 Carolina St., Sauk City, Wis. 53583. Phone: 800-500-4849.
Combination tool
V & B Manufacturing Co. has created a multi-purpose tool that eliminates the numerous hand tools usually necessary for digging, clawing and shoveling the ground in order to plant bulbs and small plants. The company’s new Mini-Planter requires a hammer-like swing that puts less strain on the wrist. One side of the head features a pick end for breaking up soil and loosening it. The other side has a scoop end that can be used for digging and clearing out the planting hole. In addition, the tool has been specifically balanced to make it easier to use. Price: $13. V & B Manufacturing Co., P.O. Box 268, Walnut Ridge, Ark. 72476. Phone: 800-443-1987.
Greater reach
Ames Lawn & Garden Tools has expanded its GroMaster line to include a new cultivator, shrub rake, round point shovel, warren hoe, garden hoe and level head rake. They have longer handles to provide greater leverage as well as increased reach for working in small flower and vegetable gardens. They have blades made of 16-gauge tempered steel, wooden handles that are coated to protect them from moisture, and soft grips to make them comfortable to grasp. The blades and tips of the handles are teal. Ames has also introduced a Compact Utility Shovel that is accented in red and is smaller than the traditional size for use in small spaces. Price: $12 each for the GroMaster Short-Handled Tools; $14 for the Compact Utility Shovel. Ames Lawn & Garden Tools, P.O. Box 1774, Parkersburg, W.Va. 26101. Phone: 800-624-2654.
Just for women
The Lady Gardener line of tools from Union Tools was specially created with women in mind. The handles are more slender, the heads are slightly smaller and the tools are lighter weight than the traditional ones. The length of the handles of the 10 tools in the line have been adjusted so that work done from a standing position won’t require any stooping and the work done while kneeling in flower beds can be done over large areas without having to move around. The tools feature matte black heads, honey-stained wooden handles and burgundy accents. Price: $12.99 each. Sears Lawn and Garden Departments.
Flexible gardening
Bond Manufacturing has several versatile tools for caring for the lawn and garden. The tines of the Adjustable Rake can be closed to a narrow width of 8 inches for clearing debris out from under bushes or opened up to a full width of 21 inches for use in larger areas. The grip on the handle is molded so fingers will fit securely over it. The Telescopic Lopper has handles that extend from 20 to 31 inches and the Telescopic Hedge Shears has handles that adjust from 22 to 31 inches. The tool has added leverage when the handles are fully extended. Soft cushioned grips on the handles lessen the chance of blisters and other aches and pains. Prices: $9.99 for the Adjustable Rake; $29.99 each for the Telescopic Lopper and the Telescopic Head Shears. Bond Manufacturing Co., Customer Service Department, 105 Channel Road, Benicia, Calif. 94510. Phone: 800-359-8665.
