Great Gardening Tools, Tips & Hacks

April 17, 2023

Spring is here – the time of year when gardening enthusiasts roll up their sleeves and dig in, literally. Whether you’re planning on enhancing your home’s curb appeal or keeping things simple with a few potted plants, here are some useful tools, tips, and hacks to help you get started.

Must-Have Gardening Tools

Before planting your garden, take time to pick up any winter debris. If you have a lot of cleaning and pruning to do, a great tool to have onhand is a collapsible gardening bag container. This nifty space-saving device springs into a 30-gallon container for collecting leaves, weeds, branches, grass clippings, and other green waste. It makes taking everything to the compost bin easy (check here for composting eligibility in Kitsap County). Once you’re done, you’ll have a clean gardening “canvas” to work with.

Now it’s time to start adding color by planting flowers! Gardening is more fun with fabulous tools that make your life easier. A trowel with measurements takes the guesswork out of digging. Good pruning shears are a must for keeping plants in check and healthy. To save your back, it’s best to have loppers as well, which are long-handled shears for hard-to-reach places.

If you’re planning on planting lots of dahlia bulbs, which are perfect here in the Pacific Northwest, then invest in a power planter. This handy implement makes digging six to eight inch holes easy and works with most electric and cordless drills. And last but not least, make sure you have an excellent pair of gardening gloves. Your hands and skin will thank you! If you're missing any of these must-have tools, stop by one of Kitsap's wonderful local spots like Valley Nursery in Poulsbo or Bremerton City Nursery.

Helpful Tips

Gardening here in zone 8b can bring its own unique challenges, especially unwelcome visitors. To combat pesky slugs that enjoy our wet weather, use Sluggo, which contains iron phosphate and spinosad. This product has proven successful but can be troublesome if eaten by dogs in large quantities. So, store it in a safe location!

Another option is to use beer. That’s right, offer slugs a drink. According to The Seattle Times, placing containers filled with a half-inch of beer will do the trick. Apparently, slugs aren’t satisfied with just one sip and drink themselves silly, until they reach slug heaven, so to speak.

If you’re struggling with a much bigger unwelcome creature, such as deer, you may want to consider deer-resistant plants. Better Homes and Gardens put together a great list of top choices for the Pacific Northwest. As noted in the article, it’s not foolproof, but overall these plants have proven to help keep deer at bay.

Gardening Hacks

A great way to make sure all of your seeds are spaced evenly is to use a muffin tin when planting. Simply press the muffin tin into the dirt and place a seed in the center of each depression. Depending on the spacing needed, you can use a large or mini muffin tin.

For aspiring gardeners working with small yards, porches, or doorsteps, container gardening is a great way to go. With containers, you can grow everything from the traditional potted flowering plants to delicious fruits and vegetables. The Spruce has put together a detailed list of what to consider when growing vegetables in containers. And Gardening Know How has excellent suggestions on which vegetables grow best in a Pacific Northwest container garden.

Additionally, compostable pots are an easy and eco-friendly way to get your garden started. Some compostable pots are even plantable! All you have to do is put the pot in the ground and voila, your garden has begun. The Old Farmer’s Almanac does a great job of explaining the nuances of these pots including plantable, biodegradable, and compostable. Regardless of what you choose, these options are earth-friendly and reduce waste by avoiding plastic pots.

For those in Kitsap County who have more gardening questions, Bremerton City Nursery is hosting an “Ask A Gardner” event on April 22, 2023 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

If you’re looking for other fun ways to spruce up your outdoor space, then consider these outdoor decor suggestions.

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