Metal Garden Tools
March is a time of year when the snow starts to melt, tulips begin to blossom, and your yard is a dirty mess. Spring cleanup can be the worst part of yard work. You have to deal with leaves everywhere, matted down grass, and, in some cases, pet messes every few feet.
With all these messes around your yard it is likely you will be reaching for a rake, shovel, hand garden tools, and possibly even a lawn mower. Did you know many of these tools commonly use steel?
Let’s take a look at some metal garden tools, shall we?
Metal Garden Tools
Rakes
Metal lawn rakes, also known as leaf rakes, are generally made from metal or plastic. There are pros and cons to both, but let’s take a look at metal rakes.
Metal is more resilient, but can cost more money than a plastic rake. They feature either a wooden or metal handle as well as a flexible metal rake head. The metal tines on the rake head are fashioned into a fan shape and angle slightly downward to easily grab leaves.
There are a few different types of steel used for metal rakes. You can find rakes made from light gauge aluminum, as well as light gauge galvanized and other types of carbon steel.
Another metal garden tool includes bow rakes. Bow rakes are used for heavier materials than leaves and are great for leveling dirt, sand, mulch, or gravel. The tines are shorter and thicker than the leaf rake, but are also made of metal. A heavy-gauge carbon is typically used for the rake head, but they can have wood, metal, or plastic handles.
Other rakes that use metal include: shrub rakes, thatch rakes, and hand rakes.
Shovels
As we mentioned in a previous post, Winter Uses for Steel, shovels are commonly made from steel. Steel provides a durable, long lasting quality to garden tools, which is why it is the ideal material for a garden shovel.
Chances are you have a digging shovel or two in your garage or shed. These kinds of shovels are used for digging, planting, and allow for transplanting small bushes and plants. They are also great for cutting sod and small roots. Digging shovels are most commonly made from a heavy-gauge carbon steel, however you can find them in aluminum as well (typically used for smaller jobs).
Garden trowels and soil scoops are also commonly made from steel. If you plan on potting small plants, spot reseeding, or doing any other minor gardening task, trowels and scoops are the tools to use. Because these are used for lighter tasks, they are also frequently constructed using plastic. However, steel trowels and scoops are more durable and last longer.
Lawn Mowers
After you have raked your lawn and the grass has turned green it is time to trim it. Lawn mowers come in many different sizes depending on the job; you may have a small reel mower, a rotary mower, or even a ride-on mower.
Whichever type of mower you have, it contains metal parts. Major components that are made from metal are the mower pan, handlebar, engine, and blades. Depending on the type of lawn mower, the cover might also be made from metal, but they are also commonly constructed of plastic.
