Whether you're an experienced gardener or new to the practice, having a solid roster of tools is crucial for successful planting. Luckily, Martha Stewart has provided some of her favorite tools in a clip surfaced from The Martha Stewart Show – and her picks are as timeless as ever.
Joined by gardening expert Barbara Damrosch, they run through the gardening tools every gardener needs, and even though it's an archival clip, their teaching rings just as true today.
'It is time to actually think about ordering your tools, ordering your seeds, getting everything in order for your outdoor gardening,' Martha states in the clip.
Shop Martha Stewart's gardening essentials
This 12-inch trowel has non-rusting aluminium and is durable. The red handle has ridges for comfort while working.
This garden hand hoe is heavy duty, made from steel. It is durable and can be used for weeding, planting and more. This tool is powder-coated to prevent rust.
This innovative rake has a clog-free design which will scoop up your leaves without clogging. It also has an oversized grip on the handle to keep your hands comfortable.
First and foremost, Barbara says that a rake is required for any garden, as you prepare to sow seeds.
'This is a bed preparation rake,' she explains. 'And I like this tool so much that I will often make beds just to fit the size of this rake. This is a 29-inch rake, and I build my beds 30 inches wide. This thing is wonderful for smoothing a bed, forming a bed when you're getting ready.'
She and Martha also demonstrate how to attach row markers to the rake, so that planting seeds can be made simple and efficient (and they can be spaced out neatly).
Her next essential is a trowel, which is an absolute must for digging the perfect hole.
'This is the right angle trowel because you know you're working your wrist, but see what she's doing? It just goes right in there,' Barbara says as she and Martha dig into the soil.
'It just makes the perfect hole,' Martha says. 'It's all clearly marked, no guessing.'
Finally, Barbara says that an essential tool for weeding is a solid hoe (preferably with a metal hook).
'You know what's even better to get them before they even start,' Barbara says of weeds. 'That's the collinear hoe. And you just sort of drag that through the surface, and you cultivate this way. This takes every little weed that's just starting to grow right out. It's like a surgical instrument. If you do this at least once a week, your weeds are kept to a minimum.'
Martha's tips, although 15 years old, remain as helpful today as they were then. It's another sign of the timelessness of her influence.
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