Last summer I got out my little floral shovel to attack the dandelions. Dig, stoop, try to grasp the weed's core, then pull or twist hard to yank out. Stand up and stretch; repeat. Once a driver stopped to say, "Get a Grampa Weeder—it's much easier."

Containers, raised beds and window boxes are often chosen for their easy maintenance reputation or for limited garden spaces. The real truth is that their usefulness comes with its own heavy issues sooner or later.

A floral shovel has a long wooden handle like your standard shovel, but the blade is smaller than a standard size. The lighter weight and smaller blade can be a real back saver for gardeners as it self-limits the load size that can be lifted. 

Welcome to Tuesday Tools & Tips, a new blog series about ergonomic garden tools and tips for using them. The goal is to make gardening easier on our bodies so we can do it well into our aging years.