In my family, at Christmas time, the adults draw names so we only have one adult person to buy for, which keeps things from getting out of control. Unfortunately, that means in a few days, some cousin or sister-in-law or older nephew is going to be asking me for a "Christmas List"... things I want for Christmas. I stink at making such lists.

So I'm asking my fellow garden nerds for a little help coming up with ideas. What are your favorite garden gadgets and tools? They don't have to be tools... weather gages, bird feeders, garden art, but tools also. Like I could really use something to help me with dandelions and thistles. And of course, any tricks or gadgets you use in dealing with daylilies would definitely be welcome.

Here are a couple of my favorites. A while back, I bought a Hori Hori knife like this one:
https://www.gardenersedge.com/...

It's GREAT for digging holes for planting in garden spaces that are cluttered with shrub or tree roots. It also has a handy ruler on it when digging bulbs.

And a couple years ago a friend of mine sent me one of her favorite tools, which looked kind of like this one: https://www.gardentoolcompany....

This is great for shallow or new weeds. For example, my neighbor bought a really fancy but messy Morning Glory. At least once a month, I have to clear a carpet of its seedlings from my adjacent garden bed. This tool is great at getting under the roots and loosening the seedlings so they can be raked away.

What are your favorite garden gadgets?

A.M Leonard Cape Cod Weeder.
This tool is perfect hand tool for weeding. My husband got me one and after he saw how good it worked I had to buy him one so I could use mine. It is made for right handed people but adaptable for us leftys. Weather gadgets like metal wind spinners are good gifts and reasonable. Hayneedle, wind and weather, amazon has large selection but from reasonable to outrageous.

Tim, my DW got me one of these for my birthday. Works like a champ at pulling those weeds with long tap roots!

Trenton Gifts Easy Weed Grabber, you can find it on Amazon for under $25. There is a short and long version. The DW purchased the short one and it requires some bending, so if you don't want to break your back, get the long one.

Tim DW got me a bridge from Hayneedle late summer. I am going to put it together next spring. I will look up the pic on the laptop and post the link here.

Thanks Karen and Stan. Those are excellent things to add to the list! I really like the idea of the long handled weed grabber for my seedling bed, but I also have a bunch of raised beds where Karen's tool might be perfect!

Thanks for the ideas.

Mike, I 'm familiar with Hayneedle because I bought a few sets of these trellises a while back. I'm sure Hayneedle would cringe at this picture, because all three peices are supposed to be attached together to keep it looking nicer, but you get the idea.



Are there any other tools or gadgets out there that you don't know how you lived without after you discovered them?

Lyshack said:In my family, at Christmas time, the adults draw names so we only have one adult person to buy for, which keeps things from getting out of control. Unfortunately, that means in a few days, some cousin or sister-in-law or older nephew is going to be asking me for a "Christmas List"... things I want for Christmas. I stink at making such lists.

So I'm asking my fellow garden nerds for a little help coming up with ideas. What are your favorite garden gadgets and tools? They don't have to be tools... weather gages, bird feeders, garden art, but tools also. Like I could really use something to help me with dandelions and thistles. And of course, any tricks or gadgets you use in dealing with daylilies would definitely be welcome.

Here are a couple of my favorites. A while back, I bought a Hori Hori knife like this one:
https://www.gardenersedge.com/...

It's GREAT for digging holes for planting in garden spaces that are cluttered with shrub or tree roots. It also has a handy ruler on it when digging bulbs.

And a couple years ago a friend of mine sent me one of her favorite tools, which looked kind of like this one: https://www.gardentoolcompany....

This is great for shallow or new weeds. For example, my neighbor bought a really fancy but messy Morning Glory. At least once a month, I have to clear a carpet of its seedlings from my adjacent garden bed. This tool is great at getting under the roots and loosening the seedlings so they can be raked away.

What are your favorite garden gadgets?

Tim, you listed two of my all time favorite tools that I cannot garden without. The second one goes with me everytime and everywhere I work in the garden. Without it, I would be very lost. It is awesome for weeding and cultivating. I love it so much that I bought 5 just in case. However, I get a different brand than yours. Mine is cheaper and is sold on Amazon. It is very well made and is imported from Japan. The only drawback about this tool is that if you expose it to the rain, the handle will fall out. THis is the brand that I get, Tomita Nisaku Sickle Hoe.

kousa said:
I love it so much that I bought 5 just in case.

I like your style, Karen.

Mine came as a gift, and the one I showed wasn't my brand, either. I can't find a picture of the exact one I have. Might be local to the Pacific Northwest, or worse some artisan-made tool I'll never find again. It does have the same issue you mentioned. You have to be very diligent in cleaning it, or it can deteriorate. I'll give the one you mentioned a try when mine finally gives out. If I ever see the one I have again, I'm buying 5!

I notice there are long-handled, like regular hoe-sized, versions of this tool. I'm not sure that would be as useful to me.

Tim, that small hoe saved my hand and fingers from soreness and pain! It made weeding almost effortless. I also like A M Leonard's garden knife very much. It is a handy multi purpose tool! I use it to whack off daylily foliage in the fall for clean up and the task is a breeze with this tool.

Tim, I have a short handled multi purpose hand tool that has a three tined tiller on one end and a hoe on the other. I use it for everything from scratching in fertilizer around established plants to digging holes for new ones. It is my most utilized tool next to my spade.

Love the three piece trellis.
This was the bridge that DW got me to replace the old one. https://www.hayneedle.com/prod...

Stan, thanks for the second suggestion. I've seen things like that at garden centers, but I've not pulled the trigger on buying one.

This is really taking the stress out of thinking up a Christmas list, that's for sure.

Mike, I like the bridge and it seems pretty reasonable. It's in my long term plans to put one of those landscaping creek beds in my back yard. I'll definitely remember your bridge when I go to put that together. Very cool looking.

I use a lighter stick to burn off the heads of dandelion seeds. I have trouble digging the roots out, cause of my rocky soil.

It's lots of fun, deeply satisfying, and it keeps them from making more

I have definitely never heard of that, but I can see where it could be an entertaining way to spend a summer day.

Thanks Mary!

Tim besides my other tools I got a daylily divider this past summer. Love it!!! I have some clumps that need dynamite to split them and this worked great. I got the middle one. Very well made.

https://donsdaylilydivider.com...

Ginny, how tall are you? I'm 5' 2. Which one should I get?

Good question, Mary! I love to know because I am very short too.

Plus I need to get the cheapest one I'm about flat busted broke over these dang daylilies

My wife, who turned 71 today, using our favorite garden tool;



Happy birthday Anna-Mary

Charley

Charley, that would be my favorite garden tool too if I can afford it! THough if I have it, I will be in big trouble! I will probably want more land and make more flower beds.

Legalily said:I have some clumps that need dynamite to split them and this worked great.
https://donsdaylilydivider.com...

GREAT idea, Ginny! Adding dynamite to the Christmas list! Thanks for the suggestion!