5 Helpful Gardening Supplies 🌳 Indoor Garden Guide
Whether you are a beginner, enthusiast, or skilled gardener, there are always tools that you will need to keep your garden neat and productive. If you only have a few plants in a small hydroponic system, a few tools will be enough. However, if you have a significantly large indoor or outdoor gardening system, you will need more tools to get the job done.
As you can probably imagine, there are almost countless gardening tools out there. Without careful consideration, you could easily end up with unnecessary tools. Do not fall for the familiar temptation of buying every tool you see. There are almost infinite tools that can make your gardening experience better, but few are necessary. This guide will outline the five best gardening supplies and give you a criterion for deciding whether or not to purchase a particular tool.
Best Helpful Garden Supplies
Water Can – WhaleLife Indoor Watering Can
Pros
- Large enough for indoor plants
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Made from durable plastic
- Easy to see the water level
Cons
- Insufficient for a large garden
- Uncomfortable to hold when full
The WhaleLife Indoor Watering Can features a nice-looking contracted Nordic design with beautiful lines and a chic feel to it. The can’s body is made from thickened resin, which results in excellent durability and transparency. The clear body lets a user see how much water they have remaining and easily control the flow. This can has a 1.4-liter capacity, which is good enough for most indoor gardening projects but might be insufficient for large outdoor gardens.
If you need a compact watering that will last years, you should certainly consider the WhaleLife Indoor Watering Can. While those with huge hydroponic projects will find the 1.4-liter capacity inadequate, those whose gardening projects only involve a few potted plants will find this can perfect. Additionally, the small capacity results in plant-friendly output water pressure. With large-capacity cans, the pressure might be too much for tender plants.
Pruners – gonicc 8″ Titanium Hand Pruners
Pros
- Excellent build quality
- Soft handles
- Extremely sharp blades
Cons
- Not ideal for branches thicker than 0.75 inches
- Bolts require frequent tightening
If you have an indoor or outdoor garden with plants that require constant pruning, you will definitely need to have pruners at hand. The gonicc 8″ Titanium Hand Pruners features drop-forged handles and a body with blades made from titanium steel. The handles are outstandingly designed using aluminum and coated with a layer of soft PVC. One particularly nifty feature is the sap groove that channels off plant sap and prevents it from sticking on the blades.
The gonicc 8″ Titanium Hand Pruners have blades that open wide enough to cut branches measuring up to three-quarters of an inch in diameter. The pruners are of the bypass variety. This model draws a curved blade past another blade, cutting anything in between. Unlike anvil pruners, bypass pruners are way more effective at pruning live green plants, which makes up most people’s plant varieties. A plant’s outer wall easily yields to the pruner’s bypass motion.
If you are in the market for a friendly-priced, sharp, and durable pruner, look no further than the gonicc 8″ Titanium Hand Pruners. The only minor qualm with this product is that the screws and bolts need to be frequently tightened, especially if you regularly use the pruners.
pH & TDS Meters – KETOTEK Digital Water TDS and PH Meter
Pros
- 3-in-1 measurements
- Extremely portable
- Highly accurate TDS readings
Cons
- Very slippery when wet
- pH meter is inconsistent
If you have an aquaponics system at home or in the office, you will definitely require a pH measuring tool such as the KETOTEK pH and TDS Meter Combo. This is due to the different pH requirements of different fish species. Besides aquaponics, a TDS (total dissolved solids) and pH meter also come in handy in a wide range of other gardening conditions. Perhaps you frequently need to evaluate your water’s purity, or you need to gauge your soil’s pH, this meter will be ideal.
The KETOTEK pH and TDS Meter Combo comes with a full pH measurement range from 0 to 14 and a TDS meter with a range of 0-9990ppm. Keep in mind that you cannot use the tool to measure seawater. The manufacturer includes a protective case with this meter making it both portable and convenient.
This 3-in-1 meter can simultaneously measure EC, TDS, and temperature making it super easy to use. If your gardening project is heavily reliant on accurate temperature, pH, and dissolved solids measurements, you should definitely get yourself the KETOTEK pH and TDS Meter Combo. One misgiving with the tool is the somewhat inconsistent readings when it comes to pH measurement.
Plant Labels – Whaline 50 Pc Bamboo Plant Labels
Pros
- Eco-friendly, renewable materials
- Easily writable
- Fade-resistant
Cons
- Not resistant to mildew
- Cannot withstand harsh weather
If your gardening project has several pots, cans, growth media blocks, or ceramic containers, you have probably felt the need to get markers to help with the easy identification of seedlings. If this sounds like you, then you need the Whaline 50 Pc Bamboo Plant Labels. These double-sided tags are easily writable and made from eco-friendly materials. The wrong markers could easily ruin your gardening by adding toxins to the soil or attracting mold.
The Whaline 50 Pc Bamboo Plant Labels are made from 100% bamboo making them leaps-and-bounds better than the more conventional plastic markers. Additionally, bamboo labels can be easily written using ordinary markers. Do not worry about water accidentally washing off the labels. This will not happen. They will also not fade from continued exposure to sunshine.
The markers’ three-millimeter thickness makes them hard to break and quite durable, especially when used indoors. If you have a knack for an extremely organized garden, these relatively cheap markers will go a long way in labeling your precious plants.
Garden Tool Bag – WORKPRO Garden Tool Bag
Pros
- Numerous pockets
- Deep pockets can accommodate most tools
- Excellent reinforced bottom
Cons
- Material is not very durable
- Limited color options
If you have an assortment of gardening tools and need to have them together every time, consider getting the WORKPRO Garden Tool Bag. This bag is made from 600D oxford cloth lining meant to be extremely durable and soft. Additionally, the bag provides sufficient space for easy storage of virtually any gardening tool you may have. Besides the internal space, the bag also comes with an elastic cord and external pockets for added storage capacity.
The WORKPRO Garden Tool Bag has two pockets on its side and six on its front. These pockets have a depth measuring up to eight inches to prevent accidental tool slippages. The anti-slip strap is comfortable for regular gardeners and is made from a soft material that prevents fatigue. The bag’s bottom is reinforced using a PE board that allows the bag to stand straight even when it’s empty. bag only comes in an extremely vibrant color, which might not work perfectly for everyone. This is a minor qualm, though, and the color is not that bad anyway.
What to Look for When Buying Garden Supplies
Numerous trends have contributed to the increased uptake of gardening projects throughout the world. These trends include the demand for healthier products and hobbyist reasons. If you have an ongoing indoor or outdoor project, you must have found yourself needing various tools. The increased number of manufacturers developing gardening tools has led to an influx of these gardening supplies. If you decide to window shop or browse an online store, you can easily purchase unnecessary tools that you will probably never use.
How do you decide on the tools to buy and those not to? Here is a look at some important factors to consider.
Brand Reputation and Warranty
Every gardening tool has options made by different manufacturers. As you can imagine, these manufacturers have varying standards and processes, resulting in vastly different products. It is important to consider a manufacturer’s general reputation in the industry and the guarantees or warranties they provide. If a manufacturer is willing to back their product with a lifetime warranty or money-back guarantee, it shows their confidence in their product’s quality. Avoid gardening supplies that you cannot return for repairs or replacements.
Quality
Gardening tools are meant to be frequently used, especially for people with large indoor or outdoor gardens. This means that a tool’s quality should be high enough to make it withstand the effects of water exposure, sunlight exposure, accidental drops, and other conditions related to gardening. Numerous factors determine a tool’s quality. The most important of these are the build materials, quality of joinery, finishing, and the ability to withstand the elements.
Keep in mind that quality comes at a cost. Most times, an extremely cheap product tends to be of poor quality. When it comes to gardening supplies, do not sacrifice quality for a few bucks. You will be better off purchasing a few high-quality tools that will last years than buy many cheap tools that will all break down after a few months of use. To get an idea of the quality standard to go for, search for whatever product you want across several dealerships or online stores.
Versatility
This is perhaps the single most important factor that most people disregard when purchasing gardening supplies. When possible, it is better to purchase tools that can be used in multiple ways. For example, a multi-use cutter can be used for pruning, trimming, shaping, and cutting. The more versatile a tool is, the more money it can save you. It is also important to avoid tools that you will never use more than once. Ask the hardware dealers to show you products that have multiple uses in a single tool or pack.
Price
Due to the large number of manufacturers dealing with gardening supplies, you can find similar-quality tools at different prices. While price differences are often indicators of quality differences, sometimes this is not the case. If a product has an acceptable build quality and is cheaper than similar alternatives, there is no problem choosing the cheaper model. It will save you several bucks and might be as good, or even better, than the pricier alternatives. Factors such as brand power, advertising, and consumer perceptions can cause the aforementioned price differences.
Value for Money
Ultimately, we evaluate every gardening tool based on how well it does and what it’s supposed to. If your expensive pruners no longer work, you can consider that a bad purchase. If your overly cheap pruners still work properly ten years later, you can consider your money well spent. Every gardening tool you purchase should provide value proportional to the price you paid for it. Attributes such as quality, durability, and ease of use can determine a tool’s value for money. Keep in mind that the pricier a tool is, the more you expect from it to justify the price point.
Ease of Use
Gardening tools are supposed to make your entire gardening easier, not more difficult. A good tool should therefore be relatively straightforward to use even for beginner gardeners. Overly complicated tools often end up costing you so much in time and money.
Summary
There are so many gardening tools that are all designed to make gardening better, easier, and more fun. For most gardeners, it is easy to fall into the trap of purchasing the wrong tools. However, by considering the five factors outlined above, you are guaranteed to make the right decision.
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