Many people choose to put gardening on hold during the frosty winter months for their own health and because plants tend not to grow as well in colder climates. However, there is no reason why you can’t continue to garden into the winter months to accessorize your garden and create a relaxing oasis.
To stay warm and safe while you’re outside gardening, you’ll need to take extra precautions. You may also need to pay closer attention to your plants to ensure they are still growing properly despite the cooler temperatures.
Investing in helpful tools can make winter gardening safer, easier, and more enjoyable. Here are some essential planting tools you need to own for winter gardening.
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Thick Gloves
Gardening gloves are essential at all times of the year, but they’re particularly important during winter. Thick gloves protect your hands from thorns, dirt, and diseases.
Choosing gloves made from thermal material also reduces the risk of frostbite as the temperature drops below freezing. Find a pair of gloves that comes up to wrist or forearm level for maximum protection.
Wheelbarrow
You’ll need a wheelbarrow to move large volumes of plant material and soil around your garden. Although you probably won’t use it every time you go outside into your garden over winter, it’s a handy tool to own in case you decide to rearrange your garden or switch existing plants for new ones.
You can get wheelbarrows in various styles, including ones with a single handle, double handle, single wheel, and two wheels. If you struggle with stability and strength, a double-handled, two-wheeled wheelbarrow may be the best option for maximum safety and functionality.
Hand Trowel
A hand trowel is a versatile planting tool that you can use in most small jobs in your garden. Whether you’re removing weeds or dead plant material, potting new plants, or adjusting soil, you can use your hand trowel to complete these tasks quickly and easily.
Even the most affordable hand trowels are great, meaning you won’t need to spend a significant amount of money to get your winter gardening done. Consider getting a couple of hand trowels in various sizes and shapes, so you have an option for every gardening task.
Spade
Flat-bladed spades are ideal for a variety of winter garden tasks, including:
- Digging soil to create holes for new plants
- Safely transporting plants from one place to another without causing damage to the roots
- Creating clean edges around the borders of your garden and flower beds
- Removing soil or a section of grass to build a new flower bed
- Mixing soil to prepare the perfect soil mix for your chosen plants
- Creating trenches for rows of seeds and bulbs
- Moving gravel or compost from one place to another
Hoe
There are various kinds of hoes available, and each one has unique functions and benefits. The main types of garden hoes include Dutch or push hoes, draw hoes, stirrup hoes, and warren hoes.
You can use hoes for pulling up weeds, adjusting soil for optimal plant growth, creating holes for new plants, digging shallow trenches for flower beds, and removing old plant roots. With a high-quality hoe, you can complete garden tasks quickly to avoid spending too much time outside in the cold winter weather.
