Tools of the trade

I never thought I would get this excited over a garden tool. And the one I am talking about is not even one I had wanted, thought about or even knew about – a bit like the dishwasher. I never wanted one of those either but when I came across one in the house I rented, that soon changed my mind. I always enjoyed them when I had them but could take them or leave them if the house was without one. But that’s where the similarity ends. This tool, a battery-powered, hand-held pruner will be a must-have from now on in.

Stephen’s friend came around the other day to help prune the hedge and had this gadget with him. As I wasn’t there that afternoon, I didn’t see the tool in action. I only heard about it. We were told this item was for sale. Did we want it? I was reluctant at first, as have secateurs, and hand-held pruners, though those, I must say drive my crazy with their bluntness and inability to do the job. I had been chipping away at the remaining hedge, cutting one or two of the thick branches a day with our electric saw but the smaller pieces were a nightmare – too small for the saw, but too big for the blunt pruners.

Stephen picked the new gadget up yesterday after we finally decided to buy it and wow. In a matter of minutes, the remaining side of the hedge was completed, just like that. Zip, zip, zip with the pruners and gone, gone, gone with the hedging. There were only four or five larger bits that required the saw and a couple, the chainsaw. I could not believe how easy these pruners have made my life. I had imagined another week or two of pruning to complete the hedge. Instead, it will be one more stint.

Part of my reluctance to buy these had been the fact that the pruning I do is of smaller wood and can generally be achieved with the secateurs. Would I have use for them? But honestly, even if they only came out once a year, they will have been so, so worth it. And I know I will use them next year when I prune the hibiscus and later when I do the bougainvillea.

When one has the right tools, life is so much easier. I couldn’t imagine going back to handwashing, for example. So often we make do with what we have but if only we knew that a certain tool or gadget could turn our chores into something that almost becomes enjoyable. Even the electric saw was a game-changer. That was bought last year for the same job – pruning the hedge - but as I mentioned above, it had its limitations on the smaller bits.

I wonder what else is out there that I haven’t yet discovered. Now, I have heard that air fryers do a pretty good job.