Mavis’ Favorite Things: All Things Gardening

You know what one of the hardest things on the planet is? Narrowing down your list of favorite things about your very favorite thing! I could fill post after post about my favorite gardening tools and supplies and, oh wait, I totally already do that! So trying to narrow that list down and cram it in one post is so dang hard.

But for all you gardeners out there, novice or expert, it’s always nice to know what tools, seed, products, etc. have been tried and loved by a fellow gardener. I’ve been your guinea pig and here’s my big fat list of all things gardening that I love love love:

Gardening books hold kind of a special place in my heart. I wouldn’t be the gardener I am today {or maybe not a gardener at all} if it weren’t for a few gardening books I picked up years ago. I spent almost the entire winter of 2008/2009 reading up on gardening. I found some incredible reads that taught me so much and made me realize how much I didn’t know. So I’ve never stopped reading gardening books.

Here are just a few of my favorites, although if we’re being honest, narrowing this list down was virtually impossible. Gardening books are right up there with the bible {okay, not quite, but you get the idea!}.

Garden Books:

• Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting
• The Complete Compost Gardening Guide
• Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre
• Sugar Snaps and Strawberries 
• The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food
• The Kitchen Gardener’s Handbook

Garden tools:

• Three Tined Garden Rake by Tuli Fisher {I visit him every year at the home and garden show like a total stalker}. He makes the best tools I’ve ever used and they are worth every penny.  ♥ ♥ ♥ His tools make great gifts too. 
• Luster Leaf Rapiclip Natural Twine in Dispenser Can – I love the dispenser!
• Fiskars Traditional Bypass Pruning Shears – Hands down my favorite pruning shears.
• Gorilla Carts Garden Dump Cart – I will never harvest loads of pumpkins, squash or potatoes without this again!
• Good Ideas 7-Cubic-Foot Compost Wizard Jr – This compost tumbler gets excellent reviews and it turns like a champ!
• Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix – This is what I use every year and love it.
• Hydrofarm 2-Foot Jump Start T5 Grow Light System – I have the larger version of this system and it’s awesome.
• Flexrake Classic Flower and Vegetable Tiller – I’ve had mine for about 2 years and can’t believe I didn’t buy one sooner.
• Fiskars Composite Trowel – It’s durable, rust-proof and it cleans easy peasy.

Garden Wear:

• Hunter Original Tall Boots – I’ve owned these boots for over 13 years and they are my favorite boots ever!
• Sloggers Rain and Garden Shoes – If you’re just out for a quick trip to the garden and don’t want to throw on your boots, these work great!
• Atlas Gloves– I use these everyday in the garden. They are very durable and I really like the palm grip.
• Fiskars Ultra Light Kneelers Knee Pads  – Your knees will thank you.
• Sloggers Wide Brimmed Sun Hats – My old neighbor Mrs. HB and I both have these and use them all summer long.

Garden Planters/Greenhouses:

• Adams Manufacturing 36-Inch Garden Planter– Want a garden but without all the hassle? This planter is perfect for entryways and decks!
• 720 Cells Seedling Starter Trays for Seed Germination +5 Plant Labels – These are perfect for all your starts.
• Rion Grand Gardener 2 Clear Greenhouse, 8′ x 8′ – My friend owns one of these and she LOVES it!
• Flower House SpringHouse Greenhouse – I loved this greenhouse because it is movable and you can set it up over existing plants!
• Gardman 4-Tier Mini Greenhouse – This is the perfect little greenhouse, and the shelves are super sturdy.
• Four-Season Harvest – I used used this book at our last house as a greenhouse growing guide. I visited Four Seasons Farm a few years ago and and got to not only meet Elliot, but check out his gardens too. 

Garden Tools for Kids:

• Toysmith 3-Piece Garden Tool Set for kids – The reviews on these pint sized tools are excellent.
• Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Bibi Bee Watering Can – You’ll gain a little watering buddy in no time!
• Little Garden Tools 9-Piece Gardening Set for Kids – They’ll learn how to garden right alongside you {but mostly play in the dirt}.
• Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Tootle Turtle Tote Set – The little frog bag this set comes in is totally adorable.
• Little Tikes Garden Table – The little plant basin actually holds water, so I’m sure any kid will go to town watering away!
• Radio Flyer Kid’s Wheelbarrow – A perfect way for pint sized peeps to help out in the garden.

Now that you have tons of info on all the best gardening tools check out these helpful posts:

• How to Care for Garden Tools
• Growing Guides
• Container Gardening
• Square Foot Gardening
• Pallet Gardening

And check out these amazing garden tours!

Happy Gardening!

~Mavis