Tools For Beginners

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Gardening can be done on the cheap. But it’s easy to browse a few catalogues and end up with a wish list as long as your arm. There’s nothing wrong with splashing out on tools and accessories, but we don’t recommend starting out like that. Instead, start small and stick to the basics. There’s plenty of time for fancy equipment later.

Here you’ll find a list of what we consider to be the “must haves” for getting started. These are the basics that you’ll struggle without. Next you’ll see our “nice to haves” list which, as you might have guessed, aren’t necessary but are still nice to have. Start with the basics and build your gardening arsenal as time goes by. And hey, when you become known as “the gardener” in your family or friend group, you can probably expect a few garden-themed gifts coming your way!

Must Haves

Seeds:

Seeds are alive. Or at least they should be! Source your seeds from a reputable supplier so you can be sure they are viable. Saving your own seeds or buying from someone who does is great too. However, it can result in plants not growing true to type. Just one of the many surprises Mother Nature will be happy to throw at you.

Pots/Containers/Raised Beds:

Whatever you choose, there must be holes in the bottom for proper drainage. It is not recommended to grow vegetable plants in less than 8 inches of soil depth. Try to source pots or containers with closer to 12 inches of soil depth, especially those destined to house larger plants.

Soil:

Head to a reputable garden centre in your area and ask about their selection. There are plenty of ways to cut costs in the garden but this is one area where you want to spend on quality. We like this one! Low-quality soils may lack proper composition and nutrition, house pests, disease, weed seed, and bring many problems into your space.

Trowel:

A little garden trowel will come in handy for filling pots, transplanting, and digging. However, a small pot will often do the job if you’re really trying to keep startup costs down.

Pruners:

You’ll need these for thinning seedlings, harvesting herbs, and pruning mature plants. Pruning shears (or scissors!) are fine for lighter work like seedlings and harvesting herbs. For heavier work like trimming thicker stems or small branches, you’ll want bypass pruners.

Watering can:

Choose the biggest watering can that you’ll be able to lift and carry around when full.

Seed Starting Gear:

Just like any newborn, the first stages of life for seedlings require special care and attention. This can be tricky for beginners. If it feels like too much to take on all at once, skip this step and buy seedlings from a reputable plant nursery in your area. If you’re up for the challenge of starting seeds indoors, head to your local garden centre with the following shopping list: All-Purpose Planting Tray & Clear Plastic Dome to match, Cell Pak inserts or Jiffy Strips, Seed Starting Mix, and a Spray Mister.

Nice-To-Haves

Grow Lights - You can go big or small with these. They now have grow bulbs that fit in a desktop lamp! Even if you have your seedlings in a south-facing window, grow lights provide the extra light your plants need on cloudy days or during winter when days are short and the sun is weak. If you don’t have a south-facing window, grow lights might be necessary for you, depending on what you’re growing.

Soil Thermometer - Using a soil thermometer is one of the simplest ways to improve your results. Use it to check the temperature of your growing medium when germinating seeds and again to check the ground temperature when transplanting your seedlings into the garden.

Seed Starting Mat - Some seed varieties require very warm soils for optimal germination and you’ll need to supplement heat. Having a seed starting mat on hand is convenient.

Gardening Gloves - Not only will these come in handy for keeping your hands clean, but they’ll also protect your hands from blisters, thorns, and bugs too. This is a fun purchase for new gardeners. Pick a pair of gardening gloves with a snug fit and good grip. You’ll be wearing them for years to come.

Garden Markers - These are little wooden or plastic tags you can write on and stick into the soil to keep track of your plants. You can always label the pots with masking tape etc, but wooden garden markers are cute and nice to have around.

Rain Gauge - A rain gauge is a handy tool for tracking how much water your garden has received thanks to Mother Nature so you can better track how much to water it yourself. However, this only really applies to in-ground gardens. If you’ll be working exclusively in containers or pots, rainfall might not affect your watering schedule. That’s because rain will likely roll off your plants rather than fall into the pot, especially as plants mature.

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