Garden tools for small hands

Penny_Forthem

Not children's hands, but mine.
Through a family trait, my right hand is quite small and missing bits. I've grown up with it, adapted to it.
Mum didn't help, when she forced me to write with my right hand.
There are things I do naturally left handed, but using tools, mainly right.
Many secateurs are too big for me.
Can any of you kind people suggest tools for the smaller hand please?

pansyface

Don’t know if any of these might help?

https://peta-uk.com/product-category/garden-tools/

nick615

Lidl and Aldi sometimes have very rugged, supposedly children's, tools.  With no obligation to buy, and by keeping an eye on their web sites, you may find some useful items.  We found a small rake that has proved ideal in our case for clearing leaves from a ditch.  Very strong.

Desi_in_London

@Penny_Forthem, I also have small hands (generally quite small frame and commensurate lack of strength vs hands specifically). I do use a (cheap) children's rake to clear leaf debris from under a hedge (would leave in situ were it not for weevils). I haven't found any children's cutting tools (safety regulations?), but - if you can live without mega lasting quality and occasionally annoying floral handles that disappear in the garden - sometimes the "gift" packs you see from V&A etc are well designed for small-ish women. Often quite overpriced in the run up to "holiday" season but invariably on sale thereafter. 

Topbird

Several years ago I visited Peter Beales rose nursery & gardens on a garden club visit. All gardening staff are given a pair of Felco (No 2 I think) secateurs and a pair of ARS snips. Our guide told us that (lovely as the Felcos are) they all use the ARS snips 95% of the time.

At just £10 a pair I bought some and have never looked back. I use them all the time and can't remember the last time I used 'proper' secateurs. They are a lot smaller & lighter than regular secateurs and sit much more comfortably in my small hand. They sharpen easily to a keen edge and will cut through up to about a bamboo cane diameter. 

After that I use long reach loppers - but there are short handle loppers out there which could be useful for close up work.

I'm so in love with the ARS snips that I've bought them as presents and converted a few people including my 87 year old MIL who is very, very petite and has a bit of Arthur in her hands. Currently £8.45 on Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/0TkDwmo

Uff

Do they cut string Topbird, my florists scissors are ready for sharpening but wondering if these would be a good back up?

JennyJ

Small hands here too.

Look for smaller size secateurs - I've got Burgon and Ball ones (pocket pruner) and Darlac (which look a lot like Felco but significantly less money). If you want left-handed as well as small ones, you might find it's only the pricier brands like Felco that do them.

For other tools, shears, loppers, forks, spades, rakes, hoes, trowels etc I find that sometimes the shaped/moulded grips are too thick for comfort. There's no substitute for picking them up and trying them in the shop (for weight and length too, if you're on the short-and-puny side like me).

Penny_Forthem

Thank you everyone. Food for thought here. 
Bit more research required (don't 'do Amazon, but will look on ebay) so good to have recommendations.

Topbird

@uff - sorry for the delay getting back to you - busy day yesterday.

The snips cut garden twine and stuff like flexi-tie so I don't see why they wouldn't cut string. They're very easy to sharpen and I keep them nearly as sharp as my kitchen knives. They have long thin blades and are good for precision pruning and cutting.

Topbird

@Penny_Forthem The snips I suggested are not only on Amazon. They're also available in some garden centres and they are also available from ebay although they're more expensive. If you go for them just ensure you go for the long bladed ones. They also make some shorter stubbier bladed ones which I've not tried.

Athelas

I’ve had a pair of Okatsune 101 secateurs for 7 years now; I use it for nearly everything — from deadheading/pruning roses to cutting dead box branches and thick bamboo canes. I use Niwaki forged snips for deadheading small-stemmed flowers. Both can be bought online elsewhere, but I like the sharpening service offered by Niwaki, and I’m addicted to cleaning all my gardening tools with their Crean Mate (it’s like a rubber eraser, gets rid of stuck-on sap) and camellia oil — it makes a difference.

https://www.niwaki.com/okatsune-secateurs/#P00002-4

https://www.niwaki.com/forged-snips/#P00424-1