What Tools do you need?

The great thing about gardening is that you do not need a lot of complicated tools or equipment, and anything you do need is usually inexpensive. In fact the best tools that you have are your hands!

There are a few basic tools though that you will find useful and if you put the call out to parents and the local community you may find that you get some donations.

• Rake – to level off raised beds and spread compost or manure in the autumn.
• Hoe – move a hoe gently backwards and forwards under the soil to cut emerging weeds off at the root.
• Hand forks and trowels – you will probably use these more than anything else for weeding, harvesting and planting out crops.
• Large digging fork – to remove perennial weeds and break up new ground.
• Spade – to break up clumps in heavy ground.
• Gloves – to keep hands and nails somewhat clean.
• Plastic trugs which are incredibly useful to put crops in, weeds, compost and more.
• Plant labels and a waterproof marker (or you can make labels in class).
• Watering can or hose for watering in dry weather.
• Secateurs (for cutting hardy herbs) and scissors for harvesting salad leaves.
• Selection of pots and trays (recycle and reuse where possible – washed yoghurt pots and food containers are good so long as you put some drainage holes in the bottom).
• A wheelbarrow – for compostable material, moving soil or compost and gathering leaves in the autumn to make leaf mould.