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Growing Things: Helpful tool ideas to make gardening easier

Lee Valley Tools is a place that gives me inspiration and has for many years. No, I don't work for or get paid by Lee Valley, nor do I get any free products, I just like to pass along ideas that I think have merit, so let's take a look at some tools that can make gardening easier.

Jun 29, 2018 • July 3, 2018 • 3 minute read • Join the conversation

The seeding square from Lee Valley Tools is a handy seed planting helper that lets you maximize growth in a limited space. Photo by Supplied

Sometimes e-mails cross my desk that contain some great ideas. For those of you who are regular readers, you will know that Lee Valley Tools is a place that gives me inspiration and has for many years. No, I don't work for or get paid by Lee Valley, nor do I get any free products. I just like to pass along ideas that I think have merit and could make gardening easier for my readers. So here we go:

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– Seeding square, $34.50: I love this idea, because it will make life easier for those of you who plant seeds. The principle behind this product is based on one of my favourite gardening techniques: the square foot gardening method. In the square foot gardening method, seeds are sown in specific positions within one square foot, allowing enough room for each to grow to maturity without wasting space. Made from durable ABS and polypropylene plastic, the seeding square offers a square foot template that helps you maximize growth in a limited space.

Simple to use, the template shows correct seed spacing, with colour-coded holes matched to a planting chart of 46 vegetables, allowing you to quickly know where to drop seed. A graduated dibber takes the guesswork out of setting the right planting depth. The dibber also functions as a seed spoon, which can be used with the included funnel to deposit tiny seeds accurately. When you're done seeding one section, the template can be moved over to plant the adjacent square foot, letting you use it to plant your entire garden.

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– Mini row seeder, $39.50: For those of you, like me, who end up with sore backs or pulled muscles from trying to reach into a row to drop seeds, this product is a brilliant idea. Sized for smaller-scale plantings such as backyard gardens, this lightweight seeder opens a trench, plants seeds, then replaces the soil again as you push it along. For use in tilled soil only, it lets you plant quickly and without stooping. It's especially helpful with smaller seeds, as it spaces seeds evenly, eliminating the need for thinning afterwards.

Made of sturdy plastic, the hopper holds enough seeds to plant large beds without having to refill frequently, yet the seeder is compact and maneuverable enough to work in raised beds as well. Each of the six included seed plates has a different hole size, covering a range of seed types from cabbage to beans. It also comes with spacing templates that let you plant at two-inch, five-inch or 10-inch intervals.

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– Mid-length garden tools, five for $164: A convenient length for working in raised beds, or from a seated or kneeling position, these medium-length garden tools are very well made and designed to last a lifetime. About 23 inches long overall, they let you reach farther than typical hand tools, while still being easy to maneuver. Besides the beech handles, all components are stainless steel for durability and corrosion resistance. The blades and tines are well formed, and secured to the tangs with strong, smooth welds. Shaped for comfort, the handles are lacquered and have stainless-steel ferrules that cap the end grain to prevent swelling or splitting.

The trenching hoe has a four-inch wide, five-inch long spearpoint blade that's equally useful for weeding, furrowing or breaking up soil. It has beveled edges to slice under soil to sever roots and remove shallow-rooted weeds. The three-prong cultivator has rounded tines that move through soil easily, aerating it while uprooting weeds. The bulb planter has a long blade with a beveled spearpoint tip to penetrate soil easily. The crack weeder has a sharp slicing blade and hook for weeding between walkway and patio stones. The bed rake is four inches wide overall and has seven closely spaced tines, making it convenient for tidying up waste and debris as you work. All the tools are well balanced and surprisingly lightweight for their size. They're available individually, as a set of three tools (hoe, cultivator, weeder) or as a set of all five.

Gerald Filipski is a member of the Garden Writers Association of America. He is the author of Just Ask Jerry. E-mail your questions to filipskigerald@gmail.com. To read previous columns, go to edmontonjournal.com/filipski

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