How to deal with enemies of the plants
The process of tackling plant enemies can be of two types:
- By taking external protection measures.
- By applying insecticides and fungicides.
One of the most popular tools to fight plant enemies is the covered frame. This device is a wooden box which is about 18 inches to 2 feet square and 8 inches high in measurement, which is covered with glass, a piece of cloth for protection, mosquito wire or mesh. The first two layers of covering protect the plant from extreme weather conditions as well as retain the requisite heat. These protections make it convenient and safe for early planting which would have otherwise been unsafe. This device is very useful particularly for vine growing plants like cucumber, melon and other vegetables.
Another mechanical device considered giving good protection to newly-set plants like tomatoes and cabbages from cut-worm are stiff paper collars made of tin, cardboard or tar. They are made high enough to be put round the stem of the plant and go a couple of inches into the ground for a firmer grip.
If you are thinking of spraying your plants with poison powder, it is best that you do it yourself. The best option is to get one of the hand-power and compressed-air sprayers. Used mainly for wet sprays, there are many models of these devices available. Ensure that you get one which is fitted with a mist-making nozzle, which is automatic and is clogging-free. A barrel pump that is mounted on wheels is suitable for more extensive spraying but any one of the two as mentioned above can do a suitably efficient job.
For spraying on trees and vines, a good idea is to fit this type of equipment with extension rods. If the job is on a smaller scale a hand-syringe is good enough but you could spend a bit more and acquire a tank sprayer, which assures you of a non-stop stream of spray and is capable of holding a larger quantity of the spraying solution. Whichever machine you decide to use, buy something made of brass as this will last 3 times longer than one of those made with cheaper materials. The biggest problem with cheaper machines is that they corrode very easily with the strong chemicals used in the sprays.
Other than the spade, prong-hoe and spading fork, very few other implements are needed for maintaining a small garden. All other machines not only longer rows but need a lot of electricity also to run during harvesting. The double-wheel hoe fitted with the onion harvester could be used efficiently for loosening the soil for plants like onions, beet, turnips etc. It is also used for cutting spinach. For getting carrots, parsnips and other vegetables which grow deeply in the soil out of the ground, you could run the hand-plow closed on either side. The wire-fingered fruit picker is a useful tool for picking fruits from tall trees. When fitted to a long handle, this tool is very handy. Of course, for low-headed trees, this tool is net necessary.
One of the great areas where gardening tool is needed is for pruning. But for plants which have tended very carefully right from the start, a good sharp jack-knife and a pair of sharp pruning shears are all that you need for your pruning operations.
Stakes, trellises, wires are devices used in the garden for lending support to creepers, etc. Though very little is discussed about these tools, but if you take a little extra care during winter months they are not only long lasting, but can lend an added glamour to your garden.
The last word of advice I would like to give to a potential buyer for garden tools is that: first assess your needs, do your research properly and then the best materials, which might seem a bit expensive but are guaranteed to last a long time and offer efficient and convenient service. You will forget the price factor in a short time and when you try to economize on these tools, it will keep on being an object of inefficiency and inconvenience. Not only should you buy good and efficient tools but you will have to take good care of them too. You could gradually build your gardening tool set over a period of time, spending a few dollars each year on tools which are not only convenient but also help you make your garden a marvel for all to enjoy.
Darren Williger is a tea drinking, guitar playing, meditating, wine making sales maker who writes for MiniGarden.com, RoseMaven.com, and HomemadeWine.com.
