5 Gardening Tools You Didn’t Know You Needed
When weeds are growing rampant and the sun is mercilessly beating down your back, a day in the garden can seem like guerilla warfare. But with the right tools, you don’t have to fight in the trenches any longer. Oftentimes, gardening tools are seen as inconsequential and boring – bothersome at best and crappy junk that only lasts one season at worst – but in reality, they are crucial for efficient gardening practices.
Here are five gardening tools that you didn’t know you needed, along with a basic overview of some gardening essentials that you may have left out.
5 Essential Gardening Tools for Every Gardener
Gardening tools should be comfortable to use, easing the strain rather than adding to it. If your garden rake is just not doing the work, ditch it. When choosing tools, look for those designed to be ergonomic and don’t force your wrist into unnatural positions.
1. Hori Hori Knife
Some weeds never seem to learn, and now they have to pay the price. The Hori Hori knife, digging, weeding, and tending to your garden becomes a breeze, and many unnecessary tools are eliminated. Many gardeners can attest to the great versatility of the hori hori knife, praising it as their go-to tool in the garden. Among the best weeding tools in the market, its serrated edge helps dig through compacted earth to break up stubborn weed roots. And not only that, it serves multiple functions, acting as a shovel, ruler, and even bottle opener – essentially ten tools for the price of one.
2. Kneeling Pads
Bad posture is a silent killer, which is why anything that reduces aches and strains is a godsend in the garden. Even with raised garden beds, there are times when you’ll want to sit when tending to your garden. Kneeling pads, typically made of foam, are easily transportable and rinseable, allowing you to easily lug them around as you work in the garden. The foamy material provides a soft and supportive surface that cushions your joints and knees – ideal for these hard-to-reach crevices.
3. Worm Composter
Composting is often something that is viewed with disdain, a highly technical process that can quickly turn into a hazardous miasma of toxic waste if not disposed of properly. But with worm composting, it only takes 2 – 3 months to turn food scraps into rich, organic matter. What sets vermicomposting apart is that you don’t have to worry about percentages beyond the basics, and there’s little to no smell. Meant to be buried into your garden beds, this in-ground composter is a hassle-free way to begin your foray into composting. The rich worm castings produced by earthworms naturally aerate the soil while amending it with variety of essential nutrients such as potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
4. Elevated Raised Beds on Wheels
We’ve all known that abrasive, rude coworker – the proverbial hell on wheels. Thankfully, raised garden beds on wheels are the polar opposite. A lifetime of bending over, whether metaphorically or physically, causes a toll on the human body. A raised garden bed removes the need for back-breaking labor by bringing gardening up to a more comfortable height. Beyond easing physical strain, the benefits of raised garden beds extend to control over soil quality, increased yield, and improved fruit color. Add wheels into the equation, and you gain the added advantage of easy mobility, along with a convenient platform for your garden tools and wicking cells for efficient watering.
5. Retractable Watering Hose
If you find tangled garden hose a real pain, then look to a retractable watering hose for an more efficient set up. It’s a bit expensive, but well worth the investment. Unlike traditional watering hoses, it has a reel cover that protects your hose reel and is mounted to a stand where water sprays in a wave-like pattern. The hose extends to a generous 130 ft, offering ample distance to navigate the entire yard. You can also adjust nozzles for either a more precise spray or a wider range of coverage.
Basic Gardening Tools and Useful Add-ons
When learning the tools of the trade, it can be easy to neglect some basics and useful add-ons that can facilitate gardening. You don’t need twelve different shovels and pickaxes – sometimes, a singular, well-made tool can prove indispensable.
- Solar Lights: Lighting isn’t necessary, but many gardeners agree that it’s always a good idea to live life to the fullest. Whether you’re a maximalist that seeks the pleasures of life or a sentimental sort that prefers the solace of nighttime, solar lights are an unobtrusive way to illuminate your plants at night. These stylish solar lights, intended to securely fit in the corrugated shape of Vego raised garden beds, will help guide your way around garden beds after dark.
- Mister Irrigation System: For some, plants seem to thrive naturally, and watering is as effortless as breathing, but for others, watering is an elusive art that requires precise divination. Fortunately, the mister irrigation system, compatible with both classic and modern garden beds, takes care of all your plants by hydrating them with gentle coverage.
- Spacious Garden Bag: Bags aren’t just for shopaholics – they’re the necessary companion for every gardener, regardless of skill level. A high-quality garden bag is essential for keeping your tools organized and within reach. When considering garden totes, it’s important to consider storage capacity, durability, and number of compartments, which the Vego garden bag excels at. With roomy exterior pockets for storing garden tools and sturdy, waterproof reinforcements, this lightweight yet heavy duty bag has everything you need to handle all of your gardening needs.
- Shovel & Other Basic Supplies: Every gardener’s toolkit typically includes some essential staples: a shovel, pruners, a small hand rake, and a watering can. Though these tools have evolved overtime to become more specialized and refined, the core purpose remains – to help you garden to the best of your ability.