Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Ten reasons why I wouldn't be without my scissors


What tools are absolutely essential for gardening on a balcony? Well really, none. But I wouldn't want to be without my scissors.

Balcony gardening is light on tools and equipment. You need some containers, obviously, and a good watering can. But forget the spades, forks, rakes and hoes that you need in an ordinary garden. Not to mention lawnmowers, hedge clippers and all the rest. When you're balcony gardening, almost everything can be done with your hands.

My own tool bag consists of two trowels and a small fork which haven't seen the light of day for months, a dibber which I occasionally use for planting bulbs and seedlings, and a pair of secateurs which don't work and which I suppose I'll get round to replacing someday. But there's no rush. On a balcony even shrubs tend to be kept small, so that the scissors often do the job of pruning just as well. Gardening gloves aren't necessary, but I do sometimes put on rubber gloves - the thin type that doctors wear - if I'm handling plants that irritate the skin (alyssum brings me out in blotches for instance) or if I've got a cut on my hand and don't quite feel like plunging it into stable manure.

But I do use my scissors a lot. I have two pairs - one large and one small, nail-scissor type. I use them for all the jobs I don't want to use my hands for, or which would otherwise have me tearing at things with my teeth. They're invaluable for ..


  • deadheading - especially things like horribly sticky surfinias.

  • getting rid of dead or dying sections of plants - a snip a day keeps the red spider mite away. Well, sometimes.

  • preparing softwood cuttings - yes, I know a sharp knife or razor blade are usually recommended. but in my hands these would become lethal weapons, and I'm too fond of my fingers to risk it. Nail scissors work just as well.

  • opening bags of compost - even I don't use my teeth for this one.

  • cutting lengths of twine - nothing looks worse on a balcony than long bits of twine sticking out from the plants. Trim them at the knot.

  • opening seed packets - OK, you can rip the paper. But that little internal sealed packet?

  • pruning - see above

  • cutting flowers for inside and harvesting veg

  • threatening my family - when they brush past the plants and break bits off.

So there you have it. Nine reasons why I wouldn't be without my scissors. I know, I know - the title said ten. But I've run out. Have I forgotten anything? Can anyone else suggest the tenth?


This post was part of a group writing project suggested by Darren Rowse of Problogger - a site well worth visiting for ideas on blogging.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Loved your title, it piqued my curiosity. Here from ProBlogger myself :).

Rowena said...

Good point on the internal seed packet. I tried ripping one of those open with my teeth of all things. Dumb move! Half of the packet scattered all over the floor. :-P

Country Dweller said...

Hello Sue, enjoyed your blog very much. It has a nice blend of topics, all very interesting. I'll be back when I have more time.

millar prescott said...

I came over from ProBlogger. Wow, you're serious about the scissor thing. Great. I'll have to consider carrying a set from now on.

growingagardenindavis said...

I love number 9...I imagine in your close quarters that could be a problem and no one (no gardener) would blame you for flashing those scissors threateningly!

Chandramouli S said...

Join the club, or should I sau I join your club? :D. My old horrible looking scissors (beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder though) serves me too, but I did purchase a new secateur yesterday and I love using it, so my poor little scissors feels unattended. lol.

Jan said...

Even though I have a yard, I consider my scissors invaluable as well:) They are wallpaper cutting scissors that I never used for a project...they are really long, and work for almost anything! Jan

Greenhouses Kits said...

Yes... scissors always be with us while we are gardening. Small tool but big function.

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