Good Tools Work for You

Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just getting started, having the right tools will make the job easier. Check out our recommendations.

Screened Garden: tool wall

Tools do make a difference in most every endeavor, especially gardening. Having tools that fit you and are well made can make even the most difficult job a little easier. You don't have to buy every gardening gadget on the market. Just a few key tools can make all the difference.

Gloves

Nothing can make working outside in the soil and with plants a better experience than a well-made pair of gloves that are not too large or small in size. Well-fitting gloves that don't easily fray at the seams and are not made of thin material can make handling prickly weeds and thorny stems or bushes much easier. Thin cotton gloves are inexpensive, but they will fall apart quickly. Look for gloves made of sturdier material, such as denim or leather; these will last much longer. You might spend more at the outset, but you won't be buying new gloves every few months either.

Hand tools

These include a hand trowel, cultivator, and pruning shears. All types of gardening use hand tools, especially container gardening. Having tools that are well constructed so that they don't bend or break when in use is important. The tools should be constructed with seamless metal that joins solidly with a heavy plastic or wood handle. In cheaper-made tools, any decent amount of pressure causes the tool to bend, making it difficult if not impossible to use after a while. Go ahead and invest in better-made hand tools, so that they last year in and year out. Also make sure that they fit the user. Available now are gardening hand tools made with women and children in mind, so that the tool fits the hand using it.

Choose well-designed gardening tools for a healthier, happier gardening experience. (image source: iStock.com/Jonas Unruh)

Garden Fork, Spade, Shovel, and Rake

These are all-important tools for gardeners who have flower beds or gardens larger than container gardens. As with hand tools, quality construction is important as well as fit. A rake, spade, shovel, or garden fork that is too large for you to handle smoothly or that is too small, requiring you to bend over too much, will make the job at hand more difficult and unpleasant than it needs to be. Gardening is great exercise, but it shouldn't be torture. Well-fitting tools can ease your labor, making every move more efficient. Investment in tools that will last more than one growing season and are well-suited to the person who is using them can insure that your gardening experience is far more pleasant and less frustrating.

A wheelbarrow

Again, for those with flower beds and decent-sized gardens, a wheelbarrow can be a great tool. Look for rust-proof steel and good balance to your wheelbarrow. Whether you are trying to move new Bonnie vegetables or herbs from the car to the garden or hauling dirt or waste to a compost heap or trash, a good wheelbarrow can reduce the trips and make the load easier to carry.

Check with your local Bonnie Plants dealer; often they have gardening implements for sale, and they will be more than willing to help pick the right tool for you. To go one step further toward a terrific harvest, be sure to pick up some high quality soil (for beds) and/or potting mix (for containers), such as Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil for Vegetables & Herbs and Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix, while you're there. And be sure to feed your plants with Miracle-Gro® Shake ‘n Feed® Tomato, Fruit & Vegetable Plant Food to keep them well nourished and producing at their best.

Your gardening experience can really be improved with the tools you use!