bamboo chopsticks and credit cards. :D

~james

LOL, James.

Some of my best gardening equipment is a wagon and wheel barrel. Wagons are great for loading up bags of compost and wheeling it to the back, but I use them mostly for moving potted plants or empty pots with a bag of soil for planting in the spot where I want the potted plant to be for the season. Wheel barrel, I mix compost and gardening soil together in it. It allows me to do two to three bags at a time.
Rain barrel's, I don't have one yet but it's on my wish list.
Compost bin, I want one of these too LOL. All in due time.

I really REALLY like my yellow (hello) dolly! It cost $20 from Walmart a couple of years ago and it's great for moving pots or even bags of bark, etc.. That way I don't have to lift them at all.

I'd hate to do without the battery operated leaf blower and the battery operated hedge trimmer. I have the plug-in form of both for the big jobs, but the battery ones are great for a quick trim or to sweep off the patio, driveway or sidewalks. Both of those cost around $69 in the not too distant past.

Those are the main things I can think of right now.

Merry gardening!

I couldn't live without my trowel! It has serrated knife-like edges that cut through roots. My daughters went together and bought it for me for Christmas a couple of years ago. It is so great that I have had 3 gardening friends try to steal it! Mine came from Lowe's but there is one that is very similar at Home Depot.

Necia

Here is a link that might be useful: Best trowel ever!

Forgot to add that this is the one that I am asking for Christmas this year:

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden knife

Garden hose quick connects - no more screwing the hoses together or to your frequently used hose ends. The best thing since the microwave oven!!
J.D.

I couldn't live without my garden fork. Stainless steel is best but I even broke that one in the caliche!

Best gift ever was a true garden cart my sister gave me (my old cart shattered when I dropped a rain soaked bag of mulch into it).

This cart seems to glide over rough terrain, carries everything and the back board slides out so I can easily dump loads of leaf mulch.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1378192}}

I second the trowel, I have one that is very pointed on the end and scooped with serrated edges on both sides. Even in my wet clay soil I can dig a good size hole for planting.

It is called the scoop trowel.

Uh Oh, Barb! Sounds like a need one of those, too! I will have to google that to see what I can come up with.

Necia

My sharpshooter --- a must have for me.

Books are always on my list:
Native Texas Plants by Sally Wasowski or any of her other ones.
Perenial Garden Color by William Welch is another good one.
Oh you might like this, I told my kids, bags of mulch are always welcome if you can't think of anything else. I never seem to have enough mulch.

A friend of mine loves her digging fork, but she only buys the Craftsman brand from Sears. That way when one of the tines gets bent, she brings it back and they replace it for free. Sneaky lady, huh? I would think this would also be good for those shovels, sharp shooters and other garden tools that sometimes gets damaged.

Every Christmas season I put together a list and many of these items are on it. This year I'm asking for more rocks to finish the edging for my garden beds. But, a truckload of compost would also be a nice gift. I don't know where I would be without my wheel barrel - great for hauling stuff from the back to the front and vice-versa. I also like my hand held pruning saw and pole pruner, especially this time of year when it is about time to do a little trimming of tree branches. My newest favorite tool is the mattock. When it comes to digging out tough roots or tearing out grass, this is the tool of my choice. There is another good book by William Welch, but might be hard to find and that is "Landscaping With Old Garden Roses." I have checked that one out of the library a couple times and realize I need to get my own copy.

My Felco Pruners with holster - one of the best gifts I have every received.

My spading fork and my four-pronged pitch-fork.

Also my pick and rock-bar. But I don't use them as much as when I first started this garden. But I have them for the next one!

Also my skid-loader. I use it to build, and turn my compost piles. Got it almost free. It runs on biodiesel now. Seems happy about it.

I love my wheel-barrow too. It has hauled compost, a stray momma dog and her puppies, and a neighborhood kid or two. Unfortunately I am going to have to retire it. I just can't put any more duct tape on it.

And my shovels. I love my shovels.

And my pocket-knife. Seems like I do everything with it. From stripping wires to squatting down and eating a fresh picked cantaloupe on the spot. It is the true multi-purpose tool.

Oh, I forgot my wheel barrow --- mine has large tires like a bicycle, making it very east to handle.

I second txspice's garden cart. A person can move the world with one of those.

In my case, I think I am reaching the age of hiring a gardener, instead of investing in equipment. (smile)

Of course a shovel and wheelbarrow...couldn't do much without those two! Pruners of all sizes, too!

But the first thing I go for is a pair of flexible (thinner) leather gloves or a leather/cloth combo. I have my "perfect" pair that I'm actually wearing through now and I haven't found the right replacements yet - yikes!
Also, I have a pair of slip-on rubber shoes that are also insulated so I can wear them no matter how cold the weather. Makes it easier to do any gardening chores when everything's wet or squishy.

And...during certain times of the year, insect repellent is as necessary as a shovel and wheelbarrow!

sandradee,
I was in Cabela's yesterday (please, please don't tell DW - the OTHER place I'm not allowed un-chaperoned) and saw some 'shooting gloves' that might be just the ticket.
J.D.

I love my propane weed torch. If you have gravel beds or walkways, it's a must.

Steve

I'll add my Dramm Syphonject to the list. It sucks up fertilizer into the hose. All I have to do is pour some in the bucket next to the spigot. It is much easier to use than a hose end sprayer.

I just repotted two pomegranate trees and was so happy I remembered to get an extra set of chopsticks while I was at the Chinese restaurant yesterday. I've tried screwdrivers, pencils, knives, skewers, etc... nothing works the roots free like a chopstick. Not only is it fast, but it also does it with minimal damage to the roots.

~james

More time away from other chores so you can do some gardening :-)

I'm also crazy about "Quick Connects", and "Y Connectors" Every spring, I go to Wal Mart and buy a bunch of their 10 foot garden hoses. They are cheap and fairly sturdy. Wal Mart also sells 1/2 soaker hose, which is real easy to work with.

I also order drip supplies from Drip Works USA. One advantage of Drip Works is they sell all of their supplies year round.

My most used and cherished tool is my #8 Felco pruners. I actually have two!! Thought I lost the first pair and bought another and the old one showed up. I use one for the in the ground roots and nasty cutting jobs and the other w/ holster is at my side every work day and any time I head out to do Anything on the property. The first one is over 20 years old and the second about 15. Talk about value and all the parts are replacable thru Felco. Show me a pruner that has that kind of craftmanship, durability and stand behind their product and I might buy it for a gardener friend as a gift otherwise I will go with Felco every time.

It is made with surgical steel so it won't hold rust like so many do that use cheap steel. It fits the hand extremely well and even has a wire cutting notch when needed.

I compare it to a gun in the old west. If your life depends on it you get the best. Buy it once and enjoy it for a lifetime of gardening pleasure.

This ad brought to you by a felco rep........ Ok how about a professional horticulturist that can't leave the house without his felco.:)
Happy Growing David

Justintx...Thanks for the tip and I won't tell ANYONE that you were in Cab.....'er, the "grocery store"!

Sandy

Propane weed torch? Is this a "special" torch, or can I use my DH's propane BBQ torch? I have a lot of pathways....and lots of pesky weeds in the cracks!!!! Also along the base of my fence.....what cha' think?

I received a ComposTumbler for my birthday back in early October - I love it!!! Also a B & D Weed Hog electric trimmer...love it too!!!

Geez...I'm ready for spring!!! :-)

Blessings,
Kat

JD!!!!!

You are so awesome!!!! I'm getting hubby and I private gun training and pistol gloves will be the perfect thing to put in his stocking!!!! They will also be a great gift for my best friend who just bought her first gun.

Thank you!!!!
Melvalena

Kate:
here you go (see link below.
My Felco Pruners remain my favorite, but I agree with Steve on the weed torch:
"If you have gravel beds or walkways, it's a must."

That being said,NOTE: Men without good plant identifications skills must be supervised closely when using this tool.
Proper safety precautions are a must.

Here is a link that might be useful: Weed Torch

mel
uh, did I say anything about going to Cab----?
; - )
J.D.

JD,

uhhhh ummmmm

/running away