Introduction

Course Overview: Garden Tools Galore: Unleash Your Inner Gardening Guru!

🌿 Are you ready to embark on a journey into the world of garden tools that’s both informative and downright fun? Join our Garden Tools Galore course, where we’ll demystify the magic behind every tool and equip you with the gardening superpowers you’ve always wanted!

🔨 Tools Covered: Get ready to dive into a treasure trove of garden gadgets! From the trusty Trowel to the snazzy Pruners, the ever-reliable Watering Can to the versatile Bucket, and the all-purpose Knife, we’ve got the basics down. But wait, there’s more! Explore the exciting world of specialized tools for garden creation, maintenance, and even plant nurturing.

📚 Course Structure: We’ve divided our tool-tastic adventure into six epic categories to keep things exciting:

• Quality of Tools: Learn to separate the heroes from the zeroes in the tool world.
• Essentials: These are the MVPs, the go-to tools every gardener needs in their utility belt.
• Creating the Garden: Dive into the toolbox of garden dreams and bring your visions to life.
• Maintenance Tools: Keep your garden looking sharp with these essential maintenance maestros.
• Nursery: Grow your green thumb with specialized nursery tools that’ll make your plants thrive.
• Maintaining Your Tools: Discover the secret to keeping your garden sidekicks in tip-top shape for years to come.

🔍 Learning Methods: Raymond, our gardening wizard, will lead you on this epic quest, sprinkling in humor, hands-on demos, and insider tips along the way. Plus, we’ll show you how to rock the no-dig method and start your garden from seeds using module trays – it’s like magic!

Whether you’re a budding beginner or a seasoned horticultural hero, this course is your golden ticket to gardening greatness.

✅ Benefits: By the end of this adventure, you’ll wield the power to choose the perfect tool for any gardening quest. No more guessing games – you’ll have the wisdom and confidence to tackle any gardening challenge, big or small. Say goodbye to garden mishaps and hello to a world where you know exactly what you need and how to use it!

Join us in the Garden Tools Galore course – where gardening meets adventure, and you become the gardening hero you were always meant to be!

Trowel

Let’s kick things off with the trusty trowel – the garden’s best friend! This versatile tool is more than just a shovel; it’s an extension of your hand. Use it to transplant plants, gently break open the soil for bulb planting, and even as a precision weeder between delicate plants. A quality trowel is a must-have for any gardener; it’ll serve you well, last a lifetime, and prove almost indestructible.

Pruning Shears / Secateurs

Next up, meet the pruning shears, a gardener’s secret weapon! Choose a high-quality bypass pruning shear with two sharp blades for precise cuts that minimize plant damage. Besides trimming trees and shrubs, we love using them for harvesting and tackling tough stems, like those on cabbages. They also come in handy for general garden maintenance and flower deadheading.

Watering Can

Yes, it may seem obvious, but having a trusty watering can is a gardening essential. We recommend one with a fine rose head – it mimics rain, ensuring thorough watering in one go. For larger gardens, opt for a larger can, like a 15-liter model, to reduce trips back and forth. If you’re lucky enough to have a garden hose, consider connecting it for efficient watering. Stay tuned for our upcoming irrigation masterclass for more watering tips!

Bucket

Surprisingly, the humble bucket becomes a garden hero! Whether you’re collecting weeds as you stroll through the garden or gathering your harvest, the bucket is your handy sidekick. We always keep several buckets around the garden for various tasks – it’s a must-have that often gets overlooked by gardeners.

Knife

Don’t underestimate the power of having a knife on hand in the garden. It’s the tool for quick cutting, harvesting, slicing twine, dispatching slugs, and general garden maintenance. Unlike pruning shears, a knife easily slips into your pocket or attaches to your belt for easy access. Opt for a folding knife that stays sharp and feels balanced in your hand. Having one handy can be a game-changer in the garden.

Equip yourself with these essential garden tools, and you’ll be ready to tackle any gardening adventure that comes your way!

Hoe

When it comes to maintenance tools, let’s start with the trusty hoe. While we don’t hoe very often in our garden due to our no-dig method, having a hoe on hand can be quite handy. A quick pass through the garden bed with a hoe prevents tiny weeds from growing into monsters. When they’re still small, they’re vulnerable. Hoe only in dry weather so that the weeds dry up immediately. There are various types of hoes to choose from. I personally prefer the straight hoe, but you can also opt for a heart-shaped hoe or the swivel version, which is popular but relatively expensive. The swivel hoe allows you to hoe both forward and backward. Whichever you choose, make sure it has a smooth handle to avoid splinters in your hands. When using the hoe, grip the handle as you would with a broom, and keep the hoe just below the surface. This way, we can slice off the tops of the weeds. When used correctly, hoeing requires minimal effort.

Wheelbarrow

For larger gardens, lugging buckets back and forth can be quite the workout. That’s where a trusty wheelbarrow comes in handy. Your choice depends on where you can store it when not in use. Most wheelbarrows can handle some weather, but if they’ll be exposed to the elements indefinitely, consider a plastic variant to prevent rust. We have an old metal one and a borrowed plastic one, which is slightly larger and speeds things up. However, I often feel like I’m about to tip over when it’s full of compost, so if you’re not a powerhouse, opt for a regular 80-liter wheelbarrow.

Bamboo

Looking for an economical way to add height and structure to your garden? Look no further than bamboo! Create charming tipis or use bamboo as supports for your plants. We often use bamboo here for tipis or to support mesh sideways. It’s budget-friendly, easy to work with, and adds a playful touch to your garden. If you’re building a tipi, it’s a good idea to insert the bamboo stakes into the ground upright and then tie them at the top. This creates healthy tension on the bamboo and helps them maintain their shape.

Twine

It might seem straightforward, but twine is a garden hero! Whether you need to quickly tie something up, create temporary support structures, or mark straight rows for seeding, twine is a versatile tool to have on hand. Imagine you’re constructing a tipi – you’ll need to secure it somehow. Additionally, twine is handy for stretching between two stakes to define your beds or create straight lines for seeding. You can even use a garden twine set for this purpose. Nicole also uses natural twine extensively for binding bouquets.

Manure Fork

When it comes to garden setup, many opt for a shovel to handle compost, but let us introduce you to a game-changer: the manure fork, often known as a compost fork. This fork typically sports four or more long, slender, pointed tines that curve slightly upward to scoop or move loose materials without bending. It’s perfect for turning compost heaps or transporting compost across your land. One major advantage of a fork over a shovel is how effortlessly it penetrates the soil or compost, even if it’s a bit compacted or contains twigs. Shovels struggle, making it hard work, but a manure fork slides right in, and it’s lighter, making compost handling a breeze.

Shovel / Spade

Let’s say you’re dealing with larger plants or trees that need planting in the garden. You’ll need a tool for serious digging. For this task, you can use a spade or a shovel. We mainly use a spade because it’s designed to get deep into the ground and turn it over. Shovels are usually better for moving sand. Some shovels have a curved top for resting your foot on, providing extra comfort. However, you don’t necessarily need one with that feature. Any spade or shovel that you find comfortable to work with is the right choice. Invest in a high-quality spade or shovel, and it will serve you well for a lifetime.

Rakes

To level garden beds or remove debris, rakes are our go-to tools for garden maintenance. There are various types of rakes, but we’ll focus on those suitable for garden upkeep. We use a large yellow plastic rake for leveling surfaces and a metal rake for breaking up the topsoil. This is because the yellow rake matches the size of our beds perfectly. However, you can certainly use the smaller rake for both tasks. As a bonus tip, you can flip the rake over and use its smooth backside. We often do this for the bed edges to make them nice and straight. Rakes work best when they have a sturdy handle and tines made from a single piece of metal. This allows us to move compost with ease without worrying about the strength of the tines. Raking, for us, involves spreading the topsoil to create a level surface and loosening the topsoil to prepare the bed for planting vegetables. This improves drainage, prevents water accumulation, and enhances soil water absorption.

Potting Tray

You know the feeling – compost everywhere except in the seed tray. We used to think it was just a messy part of gardening until we discovered the potting tray. You don’t necessarily need it, but it’s a game-changer if you’re not the neatest gardener. It keeps things cleaner, conserves compost, and allows you to sow seeds indoors on a rainy day. Some people even make their own with wood, which works just fine. However, a potting tray makes gardening much easier and tidier!

Plant Labels / Pencil

You’ve filled your seed tray, and then you realize you’ve forgotten what you’ve sown where. To avoid this, plant labels are a lifesaver. You can use popsicle sticks, cut-up yogurt containers, or specialized labels – the choice is yours, just use something! Forgetting what’s in your seed tray happens more often than you’d think. We often receive photos with the question, “What did I sow here?” And for experienced gardeners, identifying seedlings in the first few weeks can be quite a challenge. We prefer labels that you can write on with a pencil since ink can fade in the sun.

Seed Trays / Pots

When it comes to growing your plants, we highly recommend starting with seedlings. There’s a wide range of pots and containers available for seed starting. Our preference is modular trays, but we also use P9 pots or regular seed trays. The key is to choose what suits your gardening style. If you want to learn more about seed starting, be sure to check out our seed starting masterclass. But whether you choose seed trays or pots, they are essential for successful seedling development.

Sowing / Pricking Out Set

A small yet handy toolkit to have is the sowing and pricking out set. You’ll mainly use these tools during seed sowing and transplanting small seedlings. Typically, a set includes a mini dibber and a fork/shovel. The dibber allows you to make small holes for sowing seeds, while the fork/shovel makes it easy to transplant small seedlings. Imagine a seed tray filled with seedlings that need to be transferred into individual modules – this set is a must-have for those who love growing from seeds.

Garden Sieve

Depending on the compost you use, a garden sieve can be quite useful. Most compost available in the Netherlands often contains twigs and clumps, making it challenging to fill seed trays or pots smoothly. By sieving the compost, you can sift out what’s suitable for seed starting. I typically use a 6mm sieve, but it does take some time and effort due to its fine mesh. Alternatively, you can use a 1 to 2cm sieve, which makes the process a bit easier!

Dibber / Planting Stick

Once your seedlings are ready, they need to go into the ground. Creating holes with a shovel can result in large holes and take up a lot of time. That’s where a dibber, also known as a planting stick, comes in handy. You can find both long and short versions of dibbers. Both can serve the same purpose, but the longer ones make it easier to apply more force. We plant almost everything using our long planting stick, except for plants from P7 or P9 pots. For those, we use a tulip bulb planter, which is perfect for larger root balls.

Maintenance

By now, we’ve covered all the handy tools for your garden, but we need to take a moment to discuss tool maintenance. How can you ensure they stay in good condition and don’t rust? For almost all tools, one thing is crucial: proper storage. It begins with storage. Most gardening tools are made of steel and are prone to rusting, so leaving them out on your lawn or in your garden bed for days will accelerate this process.

Always remember to put your tools away after use. And when you do, take a moment to clean and dry them. Drying is especially important to keep them in good condition for as long as possible. This applies to the handle as well, which is often overlooked. Since handles are made of wood, they can’t withstand prolonged exposure to excessive water. So, storing them dry and clean is the key to preserving your tools’ longevity.

Closing words

So, you now have a wide range of tools to choose from for your garden. Tools certainly make tasks easier, but they’re not essential for gardening. That’s why our advice is to only acquire the tools you’ll genuinely use frequently.

That wraps up our gardening tools masterclass. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask in the community tab, and we’ll be happy to assist you further.

For now, thank you for watching, and enjoy your gardening journey!