How to Grow a Garden

In maintaining your own garden, it is best to have all your gardening supplies ready. Like any product of nature, gardens require hefty maintenance and nursing. The more equipment and tools you have as a gardener, the more prepared you will be for any accident or disaster that comes your way. Here are a few of the must-haves when collecting your own set of gardening supplies:

1. Soil Scoop, or Spade. Similar to a mini shovel, this handy tool can help dig into compacted soil. There are designs that come with serrated edges that allow you to cut thick roots and slice through sturdy clays.  These are also quite handy for moving potting soil from a bag to the plant pots.

2. Potting Bench. If you have an outside garden, a potting bench is definitely a must have accessory.  A potting bench provides a specialized space to prepare seeds for planting, seedlings for transplant, and the transfer of growing plants from small pots to larger planters.  It also can provide a space to store some of your smaller gardening tools.

3. Potting Tray. If you are not able to purchase a potting bench or do not have the space for one, then a potting tray is the next best thing.  When it comes to the process of preparing your seedlings or transferring plants from one pot to another, a potting tray makes cleaning up easier at the end of the day. You can use this tray to fill seed trays or mixing fertilizers with soil, and the soil will (hopefully) stay contained within the confines of the tray while you work.

4. Garden Gloves. Keep your hands from infection of any bacteria that hides within soils. Try getting gloves made out of nitrile, a synthetic latex which allows wearing to be lightweight and makes working more secure. These come in boxes in any number from 25-100 or more and can be used for other household chores about the house.  Alternately, for working with large garden tools such as shovels, hoes and tillers, a heavy duty glove made with cloth or leather or any combination thereof would offer better protection to your hands from the damaging friction of handling such tools.  Heavy duty gloves also offer protection from splinters from wooden handled tools, from cuts or scrapes from removing rocks from the soil, etc.  Be sure to protect your hands!  They are your most important tool.

5. Garden Knife. Garden knives are often made with stainless steel blade, allowing itself to effortlessly slice through soil or cut twigs and stems. It is often best to use garden knives when opening mulch bags.  Garden knives are also handy in the spot-removal of pesky weeds, especially those with deep roots.

6. Tool Belt. A tool belt helps you become more productive while nursing your garden. With all the supplies you need at your reach, you will be able to maintain your plants better.

7. Storage Bin or Shed.  A storage bin will protect all of your tools from the elements.  What good is it to spend money on shovels and the like only to leave them out in the rain, wind and relentless sun to become damaged?  Extend the lives of your tools by protecting them, either in a tall upright storage bin, a storage bench, or even a large storage shed.  If you have a grass lawn to care for, then a shed would house your lawn mower perfectly and will free up precious space in your garage!

8. Composting Bin. Composting bins are used to create your own nutritious fertilizer.  These are where you would dump your grass clippings, leaves and twigs from trees, and kitchen scraps, and over time nature will turn what would otherwise be considered “garbage” into your own homemade fertilizer for your garden.

There are a number of other gardening supplies that one requires to start and maintain a garden, but these are just a few to start with.  I will post about more gardening supplies you will or may need to obtain in order to provide the needed maintenance for your growing garden, at a later date.

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