Growing your own flowers, herbs and vegetables is a really fun activity that anyone can do.
A small balcony or simply a large window will suffice, unless you are among the lucky ones to have a large garden.
You can grow a few tomato or cucumber plants in pots on a balcony, herbs or flowers in a planter box or maintain a large garden.
But as any gardener will tell you, no matter the size of your garden or your level of experience, there are certain tools and accessories that are essential to facilitate the maintenance of plants.
Over the years, and through a lot of trial and error, here are 10 gardening tools and accessories I wouldn’t do without.
- Gardening kit (5 tools)
- Trimming Scissors
- Heavy Duty Bypass Pruning Shears
- Japanese Hori Garden Landscaping Digging Tool
- Gardening Gloves
- Thick Kneeling Pad
- Watering can
- Plant labels
- Gardening tote
- Gardening bag and tool kit
These items are some of the tools you'll use most when gardening: a trowel for digging holes and shallow trenches, a hand-rake for loosening hard soil, a transplanting trowel with measurements for digging holes of precise depth (for example if you're planting bulbs), a fork and a weeder. Gloves are also included, making this a handy starter kit.
Secateurs and scissors are the other type of tools you'll use the most. This model, with its fine blades, is perfect for cutting flowers, leaves, delicate stems or herbs without damaging the plants.
A second pair of pruning shears is also needed to cut larger branches and stems, such as those of tomato or bell pepper plants, as well as branches of small shrubs.
Japanese Hori Garden Landscaping Digging Tool with Stainless Steel Blade & Sheath
I first bought this Japanese garden knife only because I thought it was cool. But it's honestly, along with the pruning shears, the tool I use the most during the summer.
The serrated edge allows you to dig by cutting branches and roots in slightly less loose soil, the measurements allow you to dig holes of exact depth and it's just more efficient for planting, transplanting, digging.... in short, I wouldn't do without it.
Gardening gloves are another must-have accessory, because if there's one thing that's hard to get off, it's dirt on your fingers or under your nails.
Choose a pair like these, with a waterproof, durable layer for the palm and a fabric that allows heat and moisture to evaporate from the top. These gloves are also easily washable, by hand or in the washing machine.
If you have to kneel down, for example to weed your flowerbeds or to work in your garden, don't look up from this accessory.
It will prevent you from getting your knees dirty and, above all, will allow you to work without ruining your back. We are not 20 years old anymore!
I prefer this model to the kneepads that are attached to the legs, but that's a matter of personal preference.
This watering can is very practical because you can remove the head. You then have the option to have a long spout to reach further plants or to water without wetting the foliage or, on the contrary, to install the knob for a gentle shower on plants.
There's nothing that looks more like a tomato plant.... than another tomato plant until they have fruit!
To identify your seedlings and different varieties of vegetables and flowers, these labels will come in very handy. And you can use them again next year.
A gardening tote is another big favorite among my garden accessories!
It's really handy to have everything in one place.
Before, my gardening tools were everywhere, one part in the basement, the other in a cupboard and in the shed.....
I bring my bag with me when I'm out gardening and I have everything at my fingertips. I also use it inside during winter when taking care of my interior plants.
If you need to get everything, this kit, which includes the bag and most of the necessary tools and accessories, is a good option to save a little money.
It has, amongst other things, a pruning shears, a trowel, a fork, a weeder, a cultivator, a kneepad, a spray bottle and gardening gloves.