8+ Must-Haves Every Gardener Needs
Got a green thumb?
Cultivate a lush garden this summer with our editor-approved selection of gardening products, pulled straight from House & Home’s Garden News. From cool tools to must-have gardening gear, discover our must-have items to kick off the summer.
Essential Gardening Gloves
Made in Canada from recycled materials, these gloves have water-resistant leather and hooded fingertips to protect your nails.
You Grow Girl gloves by Watson Gloves, $25 Mark’s
Gardening Trousers
These Women’s Slim-leg gardening trousers come fully loaded with two pockets lined in stab-resistant Cordura 500 nylon (the brand used to make military tactical vests), so you can safely stash clippers and other sharp garden tools. In a breathable, quick-dry fabric, the pants can be adjusted for comfort, and there’s even built-in padding at the knees. A zip pocket keeps your phone secure while bending and pruning.
Women’s Slim-Leg Gardening Trousers, Approx. $245 Genus Gardenwear
A Clever Weeding Tool
Aim this fine, high-pressure spray of water blasts weed at taproots so they can easily be pulled up (and the adjustable wand handle lets you weed from a seated or standing position). The spray can also make holes to plant small bulbs such as lily of the valley or bluebell.
Water-powered weeder, $73 Lee Valley
Good Quality Fertilizer
Containing more than 60 minerals, vitamins and active growth hormones, this Canadian-made fertilizer is made in Winnipeg using 100% organic seaweed.
Thrive Premium House Plant fertilizer, $30/60 mL.Fleur & Co
Gardening Pouch
This machine-washable apron holds veggies, blooms or pulled weeds so harvesting is easy. When the bag is full, release the cotton rope holders at the bottom of the apron and let items tumble out into the sink for rinsing, or use to dump weeds into the compost pile.
The Roo Gardening apron in Purple, $45 West Coast Seeds
Garden Trug
Based on baskets used by New England clam diggers to clean their catch, this garden trug has a mesh bottom that allows veggies to be easily sprayed, washed and drained.
Maine garden hods, $62 (medium), $72 (large) Lee Valley
Expert Gardening Book
You don’t need a sprawling backyard to nurture your green thumb. In fact, says garden expert and author Jane Moore, author of The Little Book of Crops in Small Spots, tomatoes, lettuce and peas appreciate the lack of weed competition and greater water retention that growing in a pot can offer.
3 Gardening Tips from Jane’s Book:
1. Most fruits and vegetables are sun-lovers that need a full day of sun, so place pots accordingly.
2. Aim for a minimum 18″-deep container with adequate drainage holes.
3. Water regularly, or try an automatic drip watering system like EarthBox.
Quadrille Publishing, 2022, $22. Amazon
Bucket Hat
This nylon hat has UPF 50-plus sun protection and quick-dry fabric that keeps heads cool.
Zendo bucket hat by Outdoor Research, $50 MEC
Waterproof Shoes
The contrast tops of these boots can be rolled up to protect your ankles.
Women’s Muckster II Mid boots, $140 The Original Muck Boot Company