These are my “can’t live without” favorite garden tools & supplies. If it’s listed here, it’s because I own it, use it, and love it. Below you’ll find my most-used garden, outdoor, and preserving items.
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Top 4 Favorite Garden Tools & Supplies I Won't Garden Without
Felco Pruning Shears
This is the one tool I always carry with me in the garden. It’s either in my hand or back pocket, and perfect for pruning, harvesting, and just about everything else.
These garden watering grids from Garden in Minutes water evenly AND divide my beds into squares for Square Foot Gardening. I’ve added them to all my raised beds. Use code ANGELA10 to save $10 off $100.
Growing in the Garden Raised Bed Soil
Based on Mel’s Mix from Square Foot Gardening, but adapted for Arizona gardening, it’s the soil I use in all my beds and containers. It’s available at Arizona Worm Farm.
Ollas are my favorite way to water containers. I wouldn’t garden in containers here in the low desert during the summer without them.
Summer Gardening Supplies
Once temperatures are consistently above 100°F I add shade to the full-sun parts of my garden. I use this white 50% shade cloth. Learn more in this blog post.
Seed Storing Supplies
I fill these photo storage boxes with different types of seeds and store them in a drawer in my hall closet. Learn more in this blogpost.
Individual seed storage boxes fix inside this seed storage container. Store it someplace cool and dark to encourage your seeds to last longer.
Seed Starting Supplies
Bootstrap Farmer 1020 Trays
I finally upgraded to these trays and I’m so glad I did – they will last season after season.
Bootstrap Farmer 32 Cell Tray and Inserts
Built to last and just the right size with plenty of room for deep roots.
Botanical Interest seeds are a favorite for sure. I also like Renee’s Garden Seeds, Baker Creek Seeds, and SeedsNow.
Potting Up Container
When it is time to move seedlings to a larger container these are the containers I use these 5.5″ nursery pots.
Wooden Dibber
I’ve had the same one for over 10 years and use it whenever I’m planting seeds.
I attach one of these lights below each shelf of the wire shelving rack with zip ties. The bright, even light makes for strong seedlings.
Seed Starting Fan
Circulating air creates stronger, healthier seedlings. I clip these fans onto the wire shelving rack on each shelf.
Seed Starting Labels
I use a sharpie to write on these labels. They fit easily in the seed starting trays and the writing doesn’t come off or bleed.
Watering Can
This watering can makes it easier to water seedling trays from the bottom when you are starting seeds indoors.
I use this wire shelving rack for starting my seeds. (I don’t install one of the shelves so that there is enough room between shelves).
Power Strip with Timer
I plug in all the lights on the side with the timer, and the fans on the other side of the timer. Love having the lights on a timer – makes my job easier.
Favorite Gardening Tools & Supplies
Felco Pruning Shears
This is the one tool I always carry with me in the garden. It’s either in my hand or back pocket, and perfect for pruning, harvesting, and just about everything else.
Corona Transplanter
I’ve had this transplanter for years. It is sturdy, strong, and doesn’t rust.
This pruning saw comes in handy for removing larger branches and limbs from trees.
These are my favorite clips for attaching plants to trellises. They are easy to use and reusable. I use them all throughout the garden.
Bootstrap Farmer Melon Hammock
I love growing vertically, and these hammocks keep my watermelons from crashing to the ground.
Melon Cradle
Melon cradles keep pumpkins, cantaloupes, and other watermelons up off the soil and away from bugs.
I love knowing what’s growing and these markers last all season long. At the end of the season, I paint over them and reuse them year after year.
I use these Sharpie paint pens on my garden markers and they last all season.
Pest Control Essentials
Bt is a great organic option when dealing with grape leaf skeletonizers. Use a light hand with any types of pest control (even organic options).
I use these to mix up just a little bit of whatever I’m using – that way I’m not tempted to spray more than needed.
We get mosquitos, fruit flies, and fungus gnats indoors and this zapper helps get rid of them.
Tulle helps keep birds away from fruit and young seedlings. I like this brown tulle because it blends in with the soil and is less visable.
Rat Trap
When I have issues with rats, consistently using these rat traps usually takes care of the problem.
Sticky traps are a great option for keeping populations of white flies under control. Always hang them up to avoid catching lizards.
Yard Favorites
We’ve had these Adirondack chairs in our yard since 2016, and they look just as good as when we bought them. They sit in full Arizona sun all year long.
We went through several hammocks before we discovered this brand. It looks just like it did when we bought it in 2018, and it gets full Arizona sun.
These lights are bright and look great. Solar lights are simple to install, no wires. I love the warm light they add to the landscape at night.
Favorite Garden Tools & Supplies: Container Gardening
Ollas are my favorite way to water containers. I wouldn’t garden in containers here in the low desert during the summer without them.
I’ve used other types but I always come back to this one. It makes watering containers and filling ollas simple. It connects easily to your hose.
Favorite Garden Tools & Supplies: Watering Essentials
Being able to turn on and off my watering system from my phone is a game changer. Love it!
These garden grids from Garden in Minuteswater evenly AND divide my beds into squares for Square Foot Gardening. I’ve added them to all my raised beds.
Ollas are my favorite way to water containers. I wouldn’t garden in containers here in the low desert during the summer without them.
I’ve used other types but I always come back to this one. This timer is easy to use and reliable. It connects easily to your hose.
Preserving & Storing Essentials
This is a fairly new addition, but I’ve used it almost non-stop. I love preserving food through freeze drying.
I bought this one in 2012 and we’ve juiced thousands of oranges, lemons, and grapefruits with it. Love it!
An abundance of fresh produce lasts so much longer when I store it in the fridge in these containers. It’s like magic!
2 Qt. Juice Storage Bottles
Citrus season means I fill 20 or more of these up with juice. Their shape lets them take up less room in the fridge and freezer (and my cupboard when they are empty).
Pressure Cannner
Pressure canning can be tricky, but it is a great option for preserving if you know how to do it.
Favorite Garden Tools & Supplies: Fertilizing Favorites
Stinky and thick – this stuff is the best. The concentrate lasts a long time. (5-1-1)
It’s important to test your soil at the beginning of the season. These kits make it easy.
Plant-Tone Fertilzer
Good balanced organic fertilizer for flowers, vegetables, perennials, trees, and shrubs. (5-3-3)
Favorite Garden Tools & Supplies: Compost and Soil Essentials
Growing in the Garden Raised Bed Soil
Based on Mel’s Mix from Square Foot Gardening, but adapted for Arizona gardening, it’s the soil I use in all my beds and containers. It’s available at Arizona Worm Farm.
I shred my own cardboard with this 24 sheet heavy duty shredder. The worms love shredded cardboard as bedding.
In-bed vermicomposting has been a game changer for my garden. These plant supports work well to house my in bed worm composting stations.
Red Wiggler Worms
Red wigglers are the best type of worms to use for in-bed vermicomposting. Look for a local supplier or buy them online. I get mine from Arizona Worm Farm.
This scooping shovel handles large amounts at a time – makes work go faster.
I’ve had mine since 2016. I added no flat tires and use this cart for all sorts of garden jobs.
Favorite Garden Tools & Supplies: Kitchen Supplies
My kids love this for making hot chocolate, but I love using the included “My K-Cup” for making single servings of hot / iced roselle tea.
I love making larger batches of roselle tea all summer long in this pitcher. Dried roselle goes in the center infuser.
These scissors make using fresh herbs so simple. The 5 blades slice the herbs easily and quickly. They are also easy to clean.
Favorite Garden Tools & Supplies: Chicken Supplies
These worked great and were inexpensive. Baby chicks don’t use this size for long. They grow up so fast!
I hang this up in my run – works great. It’s big enough for all my chickens to use.
During hot weather, this mister keeps my chickens cool. I use this filter to keep it from getting clogged.
I use a layer of the lime when I clean out the chicken coop before putting down fresh pine shavings or wood chips.
Amanda Walker
Friday 26th of November 2021
This list rocks! We are just wrapping up our beds and I have never seen the grid water system and would love to give them a go!
Diana
Thursday 2nd of September 2021
Such a great post. There were lots of tools I'd like to try in this list. I'm trying to keep my costs down this year because it is easy to go overboard on gadgets. Got more grow lights this year to hopefully increase my yield. I never seem to make the long trek to Arizona worm farm to get compost. I have my own worms and outdoor composter though. I did notice it was nearly impossible to find vermiculite this year. I do have some left over from last year though. This year I had a lot more bugs to deal with! I have run out of Neem oil twice. Anyway, grateful for your website. I bought your book and it is wonderful.
Angela Judd
Friday 3rd of September 2021
Best of luck to you. I agree, there sure are a lot of bugs this year for sure!