Gardening tools: Best practices for lawn fertilization and pruning

Effective garden maintenance requires selecting the appropriate tools for specific tasks, such as fertilizing lawns and pruning plants.

To avoid uneven lawn growth or damage caused by over-fertilization, using a spreader is recommended over manual application. For small areas like flower beds or small yards, a manual spreader is sufficient and allows for adjustable dosage. For larger properties, wheeled spreaders provide more consistent coverage and larger capacity, though users should avoid overlapping passes to prevent fertilizer buildup.

When pruning, the type of tool should match the plant material. Bypass pruners, which feature blades that slide past each other like scissors, are ideal for live shoots, roses, and young fruit tree branches to ensure clean cuts. Ansecateur with an anvil design, which presses the branch against a flat base, is better suited for dry, hard wood. Additionally, selecting a tool based on the diameter of the branches to be cut prevents physical strain and ensures a smooth cut.