Top Gardening Tools: Essential for beginners

1. Watering can: 

It is obvious you have to water your plants, but with a watering can you be fancy! A watering can is basically a portable container with a handle to hold and a funnel with holes attached at the end. 

There are 2 types of cans Metal and plastic. Metal ones usually have a big container which is heavy but they last for a long time, but they are prone to rust. On the other hand, plastic ones are smaller and lighter comparatively, but plastic contaminates the water which can be harmful to your edible plants. Otherwise, either of them does a good job. Other than the convenience and the knick-knacks, a water can with a thin, long spout can come in handy when watering pots that are slightly hard to reach, or when you want to avoid touching the foliage (succulents).

2. Pots:

   It is important to take the features into consideration before buying a pot. Buying the wrong pot can lead to waste of time, money and can also damage your plants. The 3 main features are: 

DRAINAGE

A container should have adequate drainage holes. Plants need room to grow and they also need enough facility to let the excess water flow away and not get clogged inside the pot.

POROSITY

Porous containers such as those made from terracotta or clay, timber and other natural materials allow moisture and airflow through them. They help to keep the soil cool, help drain excess water, allows air to circulate through the roots.

WEIGHT

Moist soil gets very heavy when wet. A heavy pot is obviously going to make it harder to move around. So, it may not be the best option for indoor plants, especially if you keep moving them around to change the look of the room or garden. If you often repot or change the containers, a lighter container is the way to go! 

However, if you want stability in a windy or exposed position, then a heavy container may be a better choice for heavy or tall plants. If you know for sure that you won’t be removing the plant from the pot for a prolonged period of time, you can keep them in sturdy pots!

3. Tray or saucers:

   Saucers under plants are shallow dishes used to catch excess water that drains from a container planting. Saucers and containers are usually sold separately. 

Adding a plant saucer to containers can be useful in increasing the decorative appeal of potted plants. Small stones and pebbles can be added to larger saucers to add texture. Saucers are usually essential for indoor plants. 

After watering a plant, the water seeps through the drainage holes and gets collected in the tray. This prevents leaks on the floor or carpet. Trays should be emptied as still water can attract mosquitoes and other insects.

4. Gloves:

   Gloves are another important tool for outdoor gardening. There are many advantages of the glove, a few of them are that while working in harsh weather conditions with very wet soil, they protect your hands from the mud and keep your hands clean and dry. It prevents from getting splinters, infected cuts and nail cuts. They can be big and uncomfortable, but with the time you get used to it.

5. Mini spade or trowel:

   Like a spade, a gardening trowel is used for digging small holes and moving soil. It is like a flat pointed scoop. You can use this trowel to make holes for the plants. It is also perfect for scooping up seedlings that you need to transplant! When choosing a trowel, look for a strong one that can last a long time.

6. Mist spray:

   A mist spray or a mister is a bottle with an adjustable nozzle at the end that can provide a pleasant and refreshing splash of water to plants by spraying fine particles of water or other liquid and creates a cloud-like moist condition for plants. As misting is an important step for keeping your plants healthy, a mister helps you keep the plants clean. You can also use this to spray on insecticides like Neem oil.

7. Pruning shears:

   These are scissors made specially to prune plants with thicker stems. The way they are built makes sure you’re not damaging the plant while pruning. A lot of people are scared of pruning or avoid it, but on the other hand, pruning off the parts of the plant that are dead or dying, will save the plants energy and help it direct that wasted energy into growing. So, let go of the fear, grab a shear!

You can find most of these items in a local nursery or even a supermarket. If not, online stores are always an option!

Until next time,

Have a lovely day and Happy Planting!!

Gayatri Vaidya©