Here we are!
It’s Premiere Day: episode 1 of the all new season of . . . Tales From the Garden!
As you probably recall, last season ended with a real cliffhanger. How WILL the garden fare . . . after multiple late-season blows. First, The Deer. And then, The Roofing Siege. Tune in and follow along as . . . things unfold!
Yes, friends.
Last week, I was finally able to get out in my garden and do some REAL gardening. And this week? Well. Pull out all the stops! We’ve got FOUR sunny days in a row coming . . . with temperatures in the low 70s. Things are going to POP around here. (Talk about shifting from 0-to-60 in less than 10 seconds . . . )
But things are still actually . . . really dull in the garden. (Unless serious weeding and bed-cleaning excite you.) So today, instead of exciting garden tales, I’ll share with you . . .
Five Gardening Tools I Use Every Day
First, my garden gloves. As you can see in the photo at the top of this post, I keep a huge supply of Nitrile TOUCH garden gloves on hand. I’ve been using these gloves for years — and I can’t imagine gardening without them. They’re thin (it’s almost like gardening with bare hands). They’re lightweight. They protect my hands from any garden nasty-ness. And they’re machine washable. Each pair usually lasts a couple of seasons in the garden — and I wear them every day. My favorite nursery carries them all season long – and at better prices than I see online – so I’m really fortunate. (I usually start the season with 2 or 3 new pairs.)
I also have a couple of pairs of heavy-duty garden gloves in my “stash” that I use for tougher jobs like hauling limbs or more nasty pruning jobs. I also have a pair of rose gauntlets – this very pair – to protect my arms from “thorny” work. Mostly, though, my Nitrile TOUCH gloves are my everyday, go-to garden gloves.
Next, my Felco (F-2) hand pruners. I never go out to the garden without these pruners in my back pocket! Yes. They are expensive. But they are The Best — and they last and last. I’ve had mine since 2011, and they still work perfectly – just like new! Although you can’t tell from that photo above, I do clean them, oil them, and sharpen them a couple times each year. (I will say . . . that if you want to buy a pair for yourself, make sure to purchase them from a reputable dealer — because there are a lot of “fakes” out there.)
Then, I have my garden clogs. I’ll start off by saying . . . I don’t get new “gardening stuff” very often. I use the same old “stuff” for years and years. Like . . . until it wears out, and sometimes even after it does wear out. I had my previous pair of garden clogs for about 20 years. They were plain, boring, green clogs (Sloggers was the brand) – but they were great, and they lasted For.Ever. (Mine were just like these — only a much less fun shade of green.) I used to see all kinds of newer, funner, cuter varieties of garden clogs every year (and I was mighty tempted), but my Sloggers were still hanging in there just fine, so I just stuck with them. After 20 years, though, the treads eventually wore down in a dangerous way . . . and I ended up slipping on wet grass. When I replaced those old Sloggers, I got this pair from backdoorshoes. I love them! They’re comfortable, lightweight, and . . . super cute! This will be their third season on my feet out in the garden, and they’re holding up beautifully. (Note: I never garden without my gardening shoes. I also have pair of chicken rain boots for really mucky days in the garden.)
I also have my trusty garden cart. This little cart has already made many appearances here on the blog. It’s my oldest piece of garden equipment still in use, actually. Erin and Tom gave it to me as a Mother’s Day gift when Erin was almost 2 (Brian wasn’t even around yet), so that means I’ve been scooting around on this little cart for nearly . . . 32 years!!! (They don’t seem to be available anymore — except on Ebay.) It’s a fabulous little garden cart — I use it ALL the time; every time I’m out in the garden. It can be tricky in the hilly parts of my garden (I have fallen off a few times) (no big deal, but I do hope no one saw me, y’know?), but it it allows me to sit and weed for hours without stressing my back or my bad knee. (And it holds my favorite garden tools – and an extra pair of gloves – in the little compartment under the seat.)
Last, there’s my plastic “tubtrug.” I love these lightweight, plastic “buckets” when I’m out in the garden. They’re great for weeds. Or when I’m deadheading. Or for hauling compost. Or transplants. Whatever needs hauling or toting! I have two of them that I purchased many years ago online, but now I see them at garden centers near me, so I could easily grab some more. Still . . . I just have the two. (I also use 5-gallon buckets from the hardware store sometimes when I need to haul even more stuff.)
You might also notice that I have a new garden bench.
But that’s a tale for another day.
And now . . . it’s time to get out in the garden!
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How about you? If you garden, what are your can’t-do-without tools?
My can’t-do-without garden tool will be winging her way from Scotland in just about a month from now!!
Ooh, nice stuff! I may have to try those gloves this year. I’ve got a bunch of gloves but they’re all too thick and I end up taking them off after five minutes when I can’t feel anything. I don’t need a pair of garden clogs but maybe they would give me a better attitude and help make weeding more fun!
Well, I have FLYING PIG Sloggers!! Are you jealous yet???
No garden cart …….I just sit in the mud. No pretty trug/tub. I use an old plastic plant pot (or a Rubbermaid tub with no lid). I love my pruners. I don’t know the brand, but they’ve been workhorse even if the spring sometimes pops off. My trowel and fork get a good workout and so far, they are hanging in there. They may have come with the house. I don’t remember.
I don’t garden nearly the space you do and certainly not with the joy you do. I do the work, but ONLY so I get the reward. LOL
I always enjoy your garden posts. My garden plans have been foiled by days of pouring, cold rain and a return of the cough but soon. I am replacing my pruners this year so thanks for the recommendation. I have a similar cart that I also love and a bucket with pockets strapped to it. I might need one of those orange totes to complete my gear. My plan is for a season of flowers and a herb garden and lots of space for our two small diggers to play.
Nitrile gloves always! We’ve got a nice kneeler too. I may need those clogs though – they are pretty sweet! Oh yes… and always a hat!
Felco pruners are the best!!! We’ve used them for years for our Christmas tree farm, they do last forever. If you are ever looking for pruning shears, Okatsune is a brand that is of comparable quality to Felco.
I’ll have to look for those gloves, they seem to be just what I’m looking for.
I’m trying to figure out if I need those gardening clogs for my raised beds (probably not a need, but definitely a want). And I must get some of those buckets.
This post couldn’t have come at a better time — I was out pulling weeds and doing general clean-up on Sunday and thinking that I really need some good tools! I’ve got some gloves on their way to me, but I could use some pruning shears and, after shlepping lots of weeds from the front yard, a tub like you have. I have seen some plastic tubs at Target in past years intended for use as beverage coolers (fill with ice, add cans and bottles), but I think one would work really well for collecting garden debris!
I think the best thing for my garden is that I married Chuck – otherwise, I think I would need to live in a condo, not a house with a yard. It’s been a while since he’s said “I really can’t believe you were raised on a farm.” — but that might tell you something about how much I enjoy gardening. Still those gloves look like good ones — because even I feel the need to be helpful now and then. And I wonder if Chuck might like a tubtrug like yours for Father’s day this year?
I have many of the same things: that same garden cart that I’ve had forever and I love those gloves, too! I have pruners but they aren’t fancy and certainly could be sharper. I really need to seek out a pair of garden clogs. I have a high instep so the fit can be tricky for me. Oh, and I use 5 gallon buckets for weeding and, when it’s really intense, a big tarp that I put down in front of the bed so I can just throw weeds on it and gather it up when I’m done.
Nitrile is the brand of surgical gloves that Amazon sent me during the pandemic. I didn’t take them seriously – any old surgical gloves would do – but now I guess I will! You can tell how serious someone is about their work by the quality of their tools. As if I didn’t already know – you are dead serious! So glad you spotlighted Tools, Kym. Even as a non-gardener, I appreciate them! (And really treat with reverence some beautiful, sturdy cooking ones I was lucky to inherit. OXO eat your heart out.)
Like you, I prefer the nitrile gloves, but we have a plethora of thistles here… and thistles are so nasty, so I use a sturdier glove more regularly. Thanks for the link to that pruner, I am in need of a new one!
My other “must” in the garden is a good hat that shades my face and neck… I got a great wide brimmed washable, vented hat at Costco several years ago and it is still going strong (although I think now that one that allows for a ponytail would be even better!