Everyone Owned It For Centuries, And It's Still Hard To Match In The Garden

Walk into any garden shed that's been standing for a few years, and you're going to see at least one item that everyone has owned for centuries, and which you'll find is still unmatched — the wooden-handled gardening tool. It could be one of the most essential gardening tools, like a spade, a shovel, a rake, or even a hoe, but each one possesses a sturdy wooden handle that has probably seen lots of action over many years.

While your local hardware store may stock a range of gardening tools with fiberglass or steel handles, you'll still see a selection of wooden-handled tools because many seasoned and even new gardeners prefer them. Their enduring popularity isn't just about tradition. There are quite a few valid reasons as to why wooden-handled tools may actually be better than their less eco-friendly counterparts. After all, a wooden handle was originally a growing tree that stored carbon, while a fiberglass one is made from glass fiber and a resin derived from petroleum. You'll actually find that wooden-handled gardening tools are easier to use and make any yard task less tiresome, especially if you keep the handles splinter-free with a WD-40 hack.

There are numerous reasons why many gardeners instinctively prefer to use tools with wooden handles. Firstly, they're more comfortable in the hand, no matter what kind of weather you're working in. During the colder months, steel or fiberglass handles tend to feel much colder than a lovely wooden one. In fact, there's no denying the intrinsic warmth of the wood that you'll feel when you pick up that shovel with the beech handle.

Wooden handles also offer better shock absorption than those fiberglass or metal ones. While you may not notice this every time you use one of these tools, if you've spent the whole day digging in rocky ground, you'll find that the reduced vibration can leave your hands and arms feeling noticeably less fatigued. 

Another advantage is longevity. Wooden handles are remarkably durable when they're properly maintained. This involves garden tool maintenance you should be doing every spring, and it can include a bit of treatment with linseed oil to keep the wood seasoned and prevent your handles from drying out and cracking. If, over time, the handles feel a little rough, it's easy to give them a light hand sanding to smooth them again. It's also a good idea to store your wooden-handled tools in the shed so that they're not constantly exposed to the elements. But when the inevitable does happen, it's not that difficult to repair a cracked wooden handle if you have even the most basic woodworking skills.