TIME TO GEAR UP FOR NEXT SEASON
Different Tools For Different Gardens

by Beth Lopez
(click on images to enlarge)

Browsing through the tool section of a gardening center, you meet a wide assortment of implements which can be intriguing and attractive, but are they all necessary? What tools do you really need to garden? Depending on what kind of garden you have, you probably don’t need much.

The right watering implement can be functional and decorative.

If your garden is a few plants on the window sill, you have the pot and soil and plant which came all together when you bought them. An old saucer under the pot will protect the paint work on the sill, and a container for adding water is nice. I particularly love this little old coffee pot that my daughter gave me with a bouquet in it. It is the perfect size to hold water for the plants on one window sill, it has a spout that lets me get in under the leaves on the African violet (they hate getting their leaves wet) and it looks cute sitting on the sill when not in use. But a water bottle or a measuring cup will serve just as well.

If you are the type of gardener who gets a plant and then throws it out if it gets too big or doesn’t thrive, you probably don’t need more than that. If you hate the thought of letting a plant die or get unwieldy, then you probably need some equipment to keep it thriving.

Plants will outgrow their pots, requiring transplanting. You’ll need a bigger pot and some potting soil. The best tools for this job are your hands. Put some stones or broken pottery in the bottom of the bigger pot to help with drainage, then a handful or so of soil, pop the plant on top, fill in a bit of soil around the edges and press it gently. Water it and you’re done. There are trowels and scoops, but with small jobs like this they just get in the way. Just remember not to touch your face as you work! Plant food will also be needed to keep your plants healthy over time. Do a little research to find the best blend for your plants and follow directions carefully. Too much food is probably worse than not enough.

If you have space outside, you probably will need more tools.

A small trowel and cultivator can help with soil care and planting. Large bags of soil are more economical than multiple small bags which works well if you have a spot to store leftovers. The trowel and cultivator will be necessary as you add food to the soil and work it in.

For the small space gardener a few tools are all that’s needed.

Stakes and string are needed if you’re growing something that climbs – clematis, sweet peas, pole beans and all types of peas. They will also help with tomatoes, but there are wire cages which might serve you better. The cages are specifically made for tomatoes and hold up the plant from all sides.

If you are growing something tough and woody like roses or bushes, you might like a pair of sharp secateurs for pruning, but I just use a good pair of kitchen shears. I just have to remember to wash them before using them on food! More tender plants like herbs and flowers don’t need more than regular scissors.

There are many options for watering. You may have a patio or outside garden with access to an outdoor faucet for a hose. You will want to choose a hose long enough to reach the entire garden and, if you have a lawn to care for, perhaps a sprinkler. Just be aware of watering restrictions during the summer.

For patio and balcony gardens without an outdoor hose connection, you still have options. I started with a large watering can but I had to make many trips to the kitchen sink to refill it and then the very heavy can would slosh onto the floor as I carried it. I found a connector at the hardware store that attaches to the kitchen tap and a light weight hose that reaches from my kitchen to the patio. Watering became so much easier with the hose and it has become one of my favourite activities of a summer’s evening. I can almost hear the plants thanking me for the cool drink at the end of a warm day.

Gardening gloves are also a nice addition to your gardening gear. They will protect your hands from thorns and prickly leaves and keep your manicure in good shape. I have at least four pairs of gloves, from light weight ones to others with rubberized palms. I do confess that I forget to use them most of the time.

Plant markers are handy, especially if you are growing seeds. You might need a reminder of what is growing when the seedlings start to emerge. Cute printed markers can be found while blank plastic and ceramic markers are also available. You can add the plant names with a permanent marker. Then there is the thrifty way I learned from my friend Pascal, which I mentioned in the February 2023 column. You can cut a plastic container – yoghurt or margarine containers work fine — into pieces and write the plant names on them with a marker.

An extension pruner isn’t something most West End gardeners are going to need, but if you do the gardening centre will help you find the right one.

The larger, heavy duty tools are only really needed if you have a yard with lawns and gardens. Shovels, rakes, wheel barrows and hoes aren’t needed unless you’re gardening on a large scale. Pruning saws or heavy secateurs that can take on a small tree trunk are useful if you have trees or heavy bushes. You can trim hedges with large scissor-like tools or electric saws. A good conversation with someone at the gardening centre or hardware store will help you find the best tool for your needs.

If you are gardening in the ground rather than in a raised planter, you might find a garden seat or kneeling pad a nice addition. I’ve seen one that combines the two functions in one. It can be placed with the pad near the ground with side rails that help you get down and up again. It can then be reversed and become a low stool to sit on to reach the lower branches of plants. As I get older, crouching and bending has become more difficult and such a device might make it possible to garden for a few more years.

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Kevin Dale McKeown
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