Gardening Tools and Equipment - Top Picks & Reviews
A good gardening tool can make a tough job easier. Here are reviews and selections of some of the best gardening tools and equipment available to the home gardener.
Ideas for Storing and Toting Your Garden Tools
Gardening is easier with the right tools, but there are a lot of them. You need a way to store your garden tools so that they're still handy when you need them. These products will help your organize all your garden tools, so you can find them when you need them. Some even let you take the organizer and the tools with you.
Gardening is easier with the right tools, but there are a lot of them. You need a way to store your garden tools so that they're still handy when you need them. These products will help your organize all your garden tools, so you can find them when you need them. Some even let you take the organizer and the tools with you.
PlantWatcher - Automatic Potted Plant Watering System
The PlantWatcher is an easy to use tool for one of the most forgettable gardening tasks - watering your houseplants. It takes a little thought to get started, but once you get it right, you can forget about it for 3 weeks. If your houseplants are begging you for more attention, the PlantWatcher is a low-tech automatic watering system you should look into.
The PlantWatcher is an easy to use tool for one of the most forgettable gardening tasks - watering your houseplants. It takes a little thought to get started, but once you get it right, you can forget about it for 3 weeks. If your houseplants are begging you for more attention, the PlantWatcher is a low-tech automatic watering system you should look into.
Books - Worthwhile Books for Gardeners
Next to actualy working in their gardens, gardeners love to read and learn more about gardening. There are dozens of new gardening books each year. The following garden book reviews can help you find some of interest to you and your gardening needs.
Next to actualy working in their gardens, gardeners love to read and learn more about gardening. There are dozens of new gardening books each year. The following garden book reviews can help you find some of interest to you and your gardening needs.
Cold Frames - A Good, Easy Way to Harden Off Seedlings
Cold frames are structures that insulate young plants when temperatures drop, but allow them to acclimate to the outdoor air and the strength of the sun's light slowly. You could create a cold from bales of hay and an old blanket, but these cold frame kits have brought science and convenience to the craft of cold frames.
Cold frames are structures that insulate young plants when temperatures drop, but allow them to acclimate to the outdoor air and the strength of the sun's light slowly. You could create a cold from bales of hay and an old blanket, but these cold frame kits have brought science and convenience to the craft of cold frames.
Forks - Choosing A Garden Fork That's Up to the Job
Nothing works as well as a fork to break up soil. Garden forks are slightly shorter and thicker than pitch forks. The strongest have square, rather than flat tines. A garden fork can usually take the place of a spade.
Nothing works as well as a fork to break up soil. Garden forks are slightly shorter and thicker than pitch forks. The strongest have square, rather than flat tines. A garden fork can usually take the place of a spade.
Gadgets to Make Gardening Easier and More Comfortable 2007
New toys for the avid gardening appear every gardening season. The best are usually designed by another gardener who saw a need. Here are 5 relatively new products designed to make your gardening life a little easier and less stressful. Some succeed more than others, but they're all worth a look.
New toys for the avid gardening appear every gardening season. The best are usually designed by another gardener who saw a need. Here are 5 relatively new products designed to make your gardening life a little easier and less stressful. Some succeed more than others, but they're all worth a look.
Green Thumb Award Winners
Mail Order Gardening Association Green Thumb Award Winners 2006
Mail Order Gardening Association Green Thumb Award Winners 2006
Greenhouse Kits - Choosing the Greenhouse for You
It’s so tempting. The idea of a greenhouse means gardening year round, a warm sunny spot to garden in February. Tropical plants that survive the winter... Greenhouses are the ultimate fantasy for gardeners, but they’re also a big responsibility. One night without heat and all of your plants and seedlings could be goners. Your greenhouse will need heat, water, benches, venting, electricity. And that’s just for starters. Here are some greenhouse kits and their pros and cons.
It’s so tempting. The idea of a greenhouse means gardening year round, a warm sunny spot to garden in February. Tropical plants that survive the winter... Greenhouses are the ultimate fantasy for gardeners, but they’re also a big responsibility. One night without heat and all of your plants and seedlings could be goners. Your greenhouse will need heat, water, benches, venting, electricity. And that’s just for starters. Here are some greenhouse kits and their pros and cons.
Hoe Review of Heart Hoe - Removing Weeds and Sod from Difficult Places
Weeding is not one of the most popular gardening tasks, but it sure beats removing sod. The Disc-Hoe company has come out with an innovative set of interchangeable tools designed to make this unpleasant, but necessary gardening chore easier.
Weeding is not one of the most popular gardening tasks, but it sure beats removing sod. The Disc-Hoe company has come out with an innovative set of interchangeable tools designed to make this unpleasant, but necessary gardening chore easier.
Hoes - The Many Choices Available in Garden Hoes
Weeds are a fact of gardening life. Hoes can make quick work of weeds. They can also be used to break up soil that isn’t to compacted. For strength, look for a rolled steel blade that is riveted to the handle. Smaller blades allow you to get in between plants.
Weeds are a fact of gardening life. Hoes can make quick work of weeds. They can also be used to break up soil that isn’t to compacted. For strength, look for a rolled steel blade that is riveted to the handle. Smaller blades allow you to get in between plants.
Hose Reels - The Best Ways to Store Your Hose When Not in Use
Hoses are essential gardening tools, but they're not much to look at and they take up a lot of space. Plus, garden hoses can be a hazzard if they're left laying about. Here are several top choices for storing your garden hose and keeping it handy, with the least amount of effort on your part.
Hoses are essential gardening tools, but they're not much to look at and they take up a lot of space. Plus, garden hoses can be a hazzard if they're left laying about. Here are several top choices for storing your garden hose and keeping it handy, with the least amount of effort on your part.
Hoses - A Garden Hose is as Essential as Water
Gardens have to be watered, makin a good hose an essential gardening tool. Garden hoses can be reliable or they can be a headache. Price is very often an indicator of quality in a garden hose, because you are paying for stronger material that will not only last, but will hold up to higher water pressure. Here are some recommended garden hoses.
Gardens have to be watered, makin a good hose an essential gardening tool. Garden hoses can be reliable or they can be a headache. Price is very often an indicator of quality in a garden hose, because you are paying for stronger material that will not only last, but will hold up to higher water pressure. Here are some recommended garden hoses.
Leaf Blowers, Vacuums & Even Rakes
Cleaning up fallen leaves is an inevitable garden chore for most of us. New leaf vacuums, blowers and improved lawn rakes can make the job easier. The following are top picks of leaf pick-up tools.
Cleaning up fallen leaves is an inevitable garden chore for most of us. New leaf vacuums, blowers and improved lawn rakes can make the job easier. The following are top picks of leaf pick-up tools.
Leaf Clean-up Help - Leaf Rakes, Blowers/Vacuums and Shredders
Fall clean-up of leaves is not a chore most gardeners look forward to. One way or another, you are gong to have to collect the leaves from your lawn, raking or otherwise, and there really aren't that many options. Here's some advice and tips in choosing a leaf blower/vac, shredder or even a humble rake, to make quick work of the leaves in your yard.
Fall clean-up of leaves is not a chore most gardeners look forward to. One way or another, you are gong to have to collect the leaves from your lawn, raking or otherwise, and there really aren't that many options. Here's some advice and tips in choosing a leaf blower/vac, shredder or even a humble rake, to make quick work of the leaves in your yard.
Loppers - Tree and Shrub Pruning Tools for Medium Sized Branches
Loppers are a step up from hand pruners. Loppers are basically hand pruners with long handles. While the longer handles will give you added reach to prune higher branches, that's not their true advantage. The handles on loppers give you leverage, so you can pruner can handle larger branches; up to 2" in diameter, depending on the lopper. Here's what to look for when shopping for a lopper and some notable products.
Loppers are a step up from hand pruners. Loppers are basically hand pruners with long handles. While the longer handles will give you added reach to prune higher branches, that's not their true advantage. The handles on loppers give you leverage, so you can pruner can handle larger branches; up to 2" in diameter, depending on the lopper. Here's what to look for when shopping for a lopper and some notable products.
Lubricant and Tool Cleaner - JIG-A-LOO
Keeping garden tools clean and in working order takes effort. Here's a tip to help you do both jobs at once, without a lot of time or effort. This 'lubripellent' can be sprayed on all your garden tools and even used throughout the house.
Keeping garden tools clean and in working order takes effort. Here's a tip to help you do both jobs at once, without a lot of time or effort. This 'lubripellent' can be sprayed on all your garden tools and even used throughout the house.
Pole Tree Pruners - No Branch is Out of Your Pruning Reach
Sometimes there's a damaged branch, just out of reach. Or maybe you need to open the canopy or snip off crossing branches. It's frustrating when there's a branch you can't get to it. Ladders are fine, but pruning requires stability and balance. Some clever person came up with pole pruners. How brilliant to attach a long handle to a saw blade. Here's some advice and suggestions on what to look for in pole tree pruners.
Sometimes there's a damaged branch, just out of reach. Or maybe you need to open the canopy or snip off crossing branches. It's frustrating when there's a branch you can't get to it. Ladders are fine, but pruning requires stability and balance. Some clever person came up with pole pruners. How brilliant to attach a long handle to a saw blade. Here's some advice and suggestions on what to look for in pole tree pruners.
Pruners - Comparing Bypass Garden Pruners
There may be no tool more used by a gardener than pruning shears. The bypass garden prunercomes in many styles and sizes. Choosing a garden pruner is a matter of personal taste.
There may be no tool more used by a gardener than pruning shears. The bypass garden prunercomes in many styles and sizes. Choosing a garden pruner is a matter of personal taste.
Pruning Saws, Folding - Portable Power for Pruning
For all the special garden pruning tools available, sometimes nothing beats the common old saw. The reason for buying a special garden pruning saw is that these are designed with sticky, gummy plants in mind. Your shop saw will probably just get stuck and/or bind if used to cut branches. There are convenient folding saws that tuck into your gardening bag to have ready whenever the need arises.
For all the special garden pruning tools available, sometimes nothing beats the common old saw. The reason for buying a special garden pruning saw is that these are designed with sticky, gummy plants in mind. Your shop saw will probably just get stuck and/or bind if used to cut branches. There are convenient folding saws that tuck into your gardening bag to have ready whenever the need arises.
Pruning Shears - An Old-Fashioned, but Reliable Gardening Tool
Every homeowner seems to have a pair of pruning shears in their tool shed. Garden shears have fallen out of favor because shearing leave ragged edges when they cut and that's not good for plants. But when you have a lot of shrubs to trim, nothing beats a gardeing shear. Shears are also excellent for cutting back perennials and grasses after their initial bloom period. Here's what to look for in gardening shears.
Every homeowner seems to have a pair of pruning shears in their tool shed. Garden shears have fallen out of favor because shearing leave ragged edges when they cut and that's not good for plants. But when you have a lot of shrubs to trim, nothing beats a gardeing shear. Shears are also excellent for cutting back perennials and grasses after their initial bloom period. Here's what to look for in gardening shears.
Rakes - Choosing the Right Rake for Your Garden Chores
Every gardener and home owner needs at least two garden rakes. Yard rakes will help you get fall’s leaves out of your gardens and also collect all your garden debris. You will also want a heavy metal rake to smooth out newly tilled garden soil and break up clumps.
Every gardener and home owner needs at least two garden rakes. Yard rakes will help you get fall’s leaves out of your gardens and also collect all your garden debris. You will also want a heavy metal rake to smooth out newly tilled garden soil and break up clumps.
Shovels - No Garden Tool Does More Job Than a Good Garden Shove
A good garden shovel is as important to a gardener as a pair of pruners. When shopping for a garden shovel, you'll want to look for a solid blade, a comfortable handle and a flat edge at the top of the blade for better leverage for your foot. The shovels discussed here also address specific gardening conditions.
A good garden shovel is as important to a gardener as a pair of pruners. When shopping for a garden shovel, you'll want to look for a solid blade, a comfortable handle and a flat edge at the top of the blade for better leverage for your foot. The shovels discussed here also address specific gardening conditions.
Square Foot Gardening Success Kit
This truly is square foot gardening and for someone with a small terrace or patio who wants to experiment with a few plants, it’s a good idea. The kit comes with everything you’ll need to get started growing, except a plant. They leave that choice up to you.
This truly is square foot gardening and for someone with a small terrace or patio who wants to experiment with a few plants, it’s a good idea. The kit comes with everything you’ll need to get started growing, except a plant. They leave that choice up to you.
Trowels - A Shovel in Hand
Most planting will require you get down on your knees with a trowel. Choosing a trowel to suit your needs will probably take some experimenting. Wide or narrow blade? Handle material. Ergonomic assistance... there are all kinds of choices when shopping for garden trowels and chances are good you will wind up with more than one favorite. Here are a few worth looking at.
Most planting will require you get down on your knees with a trowel. Choosing a trowel to suit your needs will probably take some experimenting. Wide or narrow blade? Handle material. Ergonomic assistance... there are all kinds of choices when shopping for garden trowels and chances are good you will wind up with more than one favorite. Here are a few worth looking at.
Watering Cans - Garden Tools and Garden Art
Watering is an endless task in gardening, but the right watering can make it an easier task. Good balance and a reasonable capacity are key. Here are some watering cans worth a look.
Watering is an endless task in gardening, but the right watering can make it an easier task. Good balance and a reasonable capacity are key. Here are some watering cans worth a look.
Wheelbarrows & Garden Carts - Choosing the Right Tool
Wheelbarrows and Garden Carts make large garden jobs possible. Bucket style wheelbarrows and flat bottom garden carts each have their pros and cons.
Wheelbarrows and Garden Carts make large garden jobs possible. Bucket style wheelbarrows and flat bottom garden carts each have their pros and cons.