There are certain fundamental gardening tools and supplies you should have, regardless of whether you’re growing ornamental plants, fruit, or veggies in your balcony or patio container garden. They greatly simplify caring for potted plants.
A pot or container garden is rather straightforward compared to a whole backyard. We don’t need a big storage shed full of tools and materials because we are container growers. All we need are a few basic tools and materials that you can keep in any cabinet.
Best Container Gardening Tools
There are a number of gardening tools you should always have on hand, regardless of what you plan to plant in your balcony or patio container garden. They merely make gardening chores for maintaining potted plants much simpler.
What are the most important tools for elevated planter and container gardening? A trowel, a hand cultivator, a pruner, a pair of hand gloves, and a watering can are the most fundamental instruments for container gardening. A kneeling pad, soil scoop, pointed scissors, a variety of plant supports, and plant labels may also be useful once you get going.
You might be curious as to what these tools are, when and how to use them, as well as factors to consider before purchasing them. Don’t worry! This blog will help you know about the best container gardening tools you must have in your cabinet.
Hand Trowel
This tool has the appearance of a tiny garden spade. It is the most practical instrument available. It is used to level dirt, mix soil, drill holes, transplant seedlings, and divide tubers. It can also be used to remove compost or potting soil from bags.
To prevent it from bending readily, ensure the spade component is constructed of a heavy metal such as carbon steel, iron, or steel. Aluminum trowels may be less expensive initially, but they will last you several seasons. It is quite simple to dig a hole that is precisely the right depth for planting tubers when using a tool with inch markings on the inside.
Make sure the tool fits well in your hand and that the grip is secure. Look for a rubber-coated, ergonomic hand grip. Additionally, it’s quite practical to have a loop at the handle’s end for simple hanging.
Hand Cultivator
This tool has a hand grip on one end and three or more prongs on the other. It is used to remove weeds, blend slow release nutrients with potting soil, and rake and till container soil.
Make sure the prongs are constructed of thick metal, just like a trowel, so that they won’t bend easily. The cultivator’s grip should feel secure and awake in your hand. A hanging hole at the end of the grip is preferred for simple organization.
Pruner
It is sometimes referred to as a bypass pruner or garden shear. Small branches and woody stems are chopped with it. This is how I gather tomatoes, bell peppers, and eggplants from the plants.
Sharp blades are the most critical feature to look for in a pruner. Make sure the blades won’t rust and won’t need to be sharpened frequently. The option to lock the pruning blades will also aid in avoiding any unintentional harm. For container planting, you won’t require a cutting diameter capacity larger than 5/8 inch.
Watering Can
You will need a watering can to water your plants if there isn’t a nearby water hose connection where you want to garden.
The shape, size, and substance of watering cans are all varied. Choose a container with a capacity of between 1 and 3 gallons, one lightweight, and one with a long reach spout. It’s also interesting to note how the watering can feel and grips when you tip it over. Consider your plan for watering the potted plants. Are you planning to fill the self-watering container’s bottom reservoir? Consequently, a long-reaching spout with a pointy tip is crucial. Using a watering can with a shower head is preferable if you want to overwater young seedlings and plants.
Gardening Gloves
You need to have this to keep your hands from getting muddy or your nails from looking like zombies. I like to get many sets of generic gardening gloves so that I always have backups in case one pair disappears or gets washed.
Purchase long sleeve gardening gloves if you have delicate skin or are allergic to specific plants, such as okra or eggplants. Purchase thorn-proof gloves if you intend to care for container roses.
Kneeling Pad
It’s so simple to operate on the floor thanks to this bouncing tiny rubber pad. This is one of the things you will be happy you bought because you can use it as a cushion to sit on or as a place to rest your knees while caring for your container.
Make sure the pad is constructed of a soft, flexible sponge-like material that is waterproof and comfortable to sit on. If you really want to indulge, search for kneeling pads that, when turned around, serve as stools! You’ll be happy you paid more money for this convenience!
Soil Scoop
This resembles a pet food scoop quite a bit. It is utilized to transfer soil, fertilizer, compost, and other materials from a bag to a container.
Look for higher side walls and a greater scooping capacity. Ensure that it is made of a rust-resistant material, such as steel or plastic. It makes it simple to transfer a sizable amount all at once.
Micro-Tip Scissors
These are little, razor-sharp scissors. It is quite useful for more precisely snipping off leaves and blooms from homegrown plants than a pruner can. I employ this method to remove tomato suckers.
Look for rust-resistant blades with sharp tips made of steel or titanium. Some types have locking mechanisms to stop unintentional misuse.
Plant Supports
Container gardening entails making the most of the available vertical space. A strong cage or stake is necessary if you are growing tomatoes in a pot. Later in the season, it will be required to stack and support vegetables like peppers and eggplants in a container to keep them from toppling over. A trellis must be installed for vining crops like beans and peas. Melons and squash can be trained to grow vertically using cages. Additionally useful for supporting container plants are twine and knots.
There are several options available when purchasing plant support. You get the idea: of round and square cages, coated steel and bamboo poles, rings, and half rings in various shapes. Whatever you choose, be sure it is built of strong materials that won’t bend, rust, or break easily.
Plant Labels
When you have several plants, even different types of the same plant, you’ll need to keep track of which is whose. You can use plant labels to assist you in recalling the name, variety, and date of the plant’s placement into the container. You can use this if you wish to keep a garden notebook, in particular.
Make sure the labels permit the use of fading- and waterproof ink. After some time, wooden labels will start to rust and decay. It is possible to purchase metal labels and engrave plant names on them. You may decorate river rocks to use as plant labels.
Plant-Safe Pesticides
You might not need any pesticides if you’re one of those hardy gardeners who can control squash pests without feeling nasty. However, keeping a plant-safe insecticide on hand is a good idea if the thought of squashing a tomato hornworm caterpillar gives you the creeps. If you can, remove the insect from the plant while wearing gardening gloves and spray the pesticide on it when it is on the ground. Ensure you follow all directions (these may not be used on food plants).
String and Sticks
For gardeners with container plants needing support, string and sticks are essential. Plants going up trellises or young trees that need support to grow straight up, as well as tomato plants (you can use poles and twine or a tomato cage for tomatoes), all require support. In a park, you can find sticks, and at your neighborhood garden store, you can buy rods or canes. To blend in, yarn and thread can be dyed in natural hues like dark green or brown.
Potting Soil
When you know how, picking the ideal potting soil mix for your container garden is not that difficult. Garden soil is not truly present in potting soil. It is a synthetic mixture of mineral and organic components. Manufacturers have developed potting Soil mixtures to fulfill your unique needs for container gardens. Always look for a brand that contains high-quality ingredients.
Fertilizers
Having plant nutrients on hand, whether in liquid or pellet form, is always a good idea. The majority of gardeners only require an all-purpose plant fertilizer, while you can buy specific fertilizers for each variety of plants, such as citrus or rose fertilizers. Choose a brand that employs high-quality organic ingredients, and then adhere to the label’s directions.
How to Organizer Gardening Tools
A garden tool bag should usually be by your side whenever you go outside to work in the garden. Just grabbing the Garden Tool Bag and walking out the patio door is so convenient! In addition to the hand tools, always keep some paper towels, a water bottle, and a few plastic bags in your gardening tool bag to collect trash and compost.
How to Care for Your Gardening Tools
- Hand tools should be thoroughly rinsed in water after each use. Then hang them up to dry naturally or wipe them down with a rag or paper towel.
- When the season ends, clean the plant supports.
- Use alcohol wipes to clean gardening hand tools once a month, or soak them in lukewarm bleach water for 10 minutes.
- Every few months, sharpen the pruner and scissor blades.
- Apply WD-40 to the pruner and scissor blades to grease them.
- All gardening equipment should be kept indoors in a garage or shed. The tools’ usability will decline if they are left out in the open.
Final Words
Here are the top 14 best container gardening tools that you must have in your cabinet. These gardening tools are essential for the majority of patio or balcony container gardeners; however, you may find other items useful. The tools can be kept in a cupboard corner because they don’t take up much room. If you buy more attractive garden tools, you can even exhibit some of the equipment. The fact that these products will make container gardening simpler, quicker, and more productive is what matters most. Keep reading our blogs to learn more about the best gardening tips and reviews about the best tools and products for gardening.
FAQ
What Tools Do I Need for Container Gardening?
A trowel, a hand cultivator, a pruner, a pair of hand gloves, and a watering can are the most fundamental instruments for container gardening. A kneeling pad, soil scoop, pointed scissors, a variety of plant supports, and plant labels may also be useful once you get going.
How Deep the Soils Should be in a Container Garden?
Your vegetables will grow best in potting mixes designed for container gardens, like the majority of other container gardens; immediately before planting, water the soil. Soil should extend at least two to three inches below the rim of the pots (that extra space at the top will give you room to water deeply without overflowing the container).
Is it Fine to Reuse Potting Soil?
Reusing potting soil is generally acceptable as long as the plant you were growing in it is robust. First, clean the old potting soil of any roots, grubs, leaves, or other trash. It’s best to sterilise the mix if you find bugs or diseases on your plants to prevent contaminating the plants for the following year.
How Often a Container Garden Should be Watered?
More advice on containers. Be ready to water every day; with little pots or water “pigs,” you may even need to water twice daily as the plants grow bigger and the temperature rises. You might only need to water every three to four days in the early spring when your plants are smaller, and the temps are lower.