Both gardening and woodworking are very gratifying hobbies, but who knew they worked so well hand in hand? Even though the vast majority of conventional tools aren’t as effective as gardening-specific ones, there are more than a few ways you can bring these two worlds together.
Not a lot of people would instinctively try to incorporate their wood-carving chops into their typical gardening routine, and today we’ll talk about the best ways to utilize woodworking tools in a gardening setting - so let’s start from the top.
A pocket knife as an all-around solution
Essentially, the most essential, as well as the most basic woodworking tool is the pocket knife. It can be used to chip, pierce, and cut even the sturdiest of logs, so you should have no problems doing the same with a turf of earth.
First and foremost, a pocket knife is very compact and easy to carry around, so you’ll always be able to cut unnecessary leaves from some of your plants. You can also trim smaller weeds and ensure there’s enough space between the seeds in your garden.
Secondly, you can use it for plant cutting (striking). This is a fundamental part of gardening that entices cutting the stem (or the root), which is essentially an effective way to propagate plants. Most pocket knives are sharp enough to be used in such a setting.
A typical pocket knife may not be as useful as a specialized garden pruning knife, which has an angled blade with a lanyard hole. However, a quality model that was properly maintained and sharpened should be pretty close performance-wise.
Using a measuring tape to measure the distance between the seeds
Garden plants need ample space in order to properly grow. While traditional farmers used pieces of cut rope to ensure that each seedling was positioned properly, modern-day farmers have it much easier with the use of measuring tape.
Basically, there are a few techniques to measure the spacing between your garden plants depending on the design of the actual garden.
If you’ve planted the seeds in rows, the process is fairly simple. Measure starting from the very edge of your garden inward half of the distance between the rows. You can use a piece of stick to mark this particular spot, or you can use larger nails. Use this spot as a point of reference before taking measurements towards the other edge. Repeat the process until you’ve marked the edges.
The first seeds should be placed at the marked positions. Use the distance between the first and second vertically placed seedling as a measurement for vertical placement. Again, repeat the process until the garden is fully marked.
The measuring tape is drastically more convenient than any other measuring tool, as it is both compact and long enough to measure several meters of distance easily.
A similar process should take place for square-foot gardens, although you’ll probably want to use a longer measuring tape. Either way, this woodworking tool is by far superior to the vast majority of alternatives.
Cut and prune any branches with a reciprocating saw
The hand-held saw is essentially a taller, more controllable, and substantially sharper knife with sturdier, pointier blades. While you would normally use a pocket knife to either cut smaller, thin leaves or mark plants, a reciprocating saw can be used to prune, hack, or cut even the thickest of plants or branches.
It’s a perfect tool for any woodworking projects you may want to take to your garden, especially if you aim to construct larger chairs, benches, or plant fences.
One of the main benefits of reciprocating saws is that their blades are typically interchangeable. This further means that you can adapt to pretty much any task before you, whether it be slicing leaves to cutting metal.
Hammer any stake or nail
Another highly versatile woodworking tool that works great in any garden is the hammer. Basically, it’s an essential tool for any kind of woodworking project that you may want to take outdoors, although it’s not as well-rounded in any other gardening scenario.
You may want to use it to build bird houses, plant fences or sliders, or even a fence. Again, you’ll need other woodworking tools in combination with it, as its standalone usefulness isn’t particularly huge.
Hammers are better rounded than mallets, which are mainly used to pound nails or stakes into the earth. Stakes can be of exceptional value when it comes reinvigorating damaged plants and branches, in which case a mallet will certainly come in handy.
Mitre saw for garden furniture
Now, most gardeners wouldn’t think too much about using a power tool in their line of work. These big, bulky, and more importantly dangerous devices are relatively hard to handle even when used in their natural ‘habitats’, and on top of that, they can’t dig holes or cut plants efficiently.
However, if you’re up for building any type of outdoor furniture, no other tool boasts the dexterity and rapidity of a Mitre saw.
Essentially, the Mitre Saw is the quickest, most accurate woodworking tool that can cut even the thickest of boards in the matter of seconds. Whether you want to craft a smallish chair or an enormous fence, this tool will help you wrap up any kind of project with ease.
Some woodworkers suggest that compound sliding saws are most cost-effective, which is true in case you’re a professional that makes their bread and butter this way instead of a hobbyist or an enthusiast.
Gardeners who may take up a few woodworking projects over the course of several years will be better off with commercial non-sliding saws, as these are essentially just a tad smaller and less powerful while serving the same purpose with the same degree of accuracy.
In a nutshell, Mitre saws aren’t exactly crucial for gardeners who aren’t too handy with power tools, but they’re an excellent choice for people who want to keep improving their gardens. We hope that this guide was useful to you and that you’ve picked up a few fresh tips and tricks on gardening. Make sure you are staying safe in these times we are all going through and have a good one, guys!