Handy, Unusual Garden Tools and Toys

Who out there has an uncommon little tool or gadget that really comes in handy in the garden? I'll start.

I get packs of those 12" bamboo shish kabob skewers. They're awesome for all kinds of stuff. Some of which are:

- they're 12" long, just the length/width of a square.

- you can mark lines on them for measuring spacing.

- you can mark lines on them for planting depths, and make seed holes.

- you can pry and pull up a stubborn weed.

- you can add a piece of packing tape to the top, write on it, and fold it back on itself for a quick and handy plant/row/whatever flag/marker.

- you can use them as an early stake support for plants.


And the list goes on and on.


Next to the basics of a shovel and water, probably the one item I use most in the garden.

At 73 I hate bending down to do any weeding.  My absolute favorite tool I take with me when checking the garden.  I use it as a walking stick with the handle down to the ground or as a tool.  It gets into the tiniest spots to weed out a culprit.

This photo above gives you a general idea of its size.  The business end is only 2"wide  by 5" long and it has a 4 1/2 foot long handle.
Its named a Telesco Weeder and you can turn the midsection to make it shorter-handled if you like, but I never do.  I keep it full length.


It roots out the smallest of weeds just as they get started.  Here I'm working in my flower garden around the tomatoes.


Above:  I can push it right under a plant to get at a weed.  Give it a press and a pull and its defeated another weed.


As you can see above, it gets right into the tightest spaces.

Its similar to a stirrup hoe but much smaller and it doesn't wiggle back and forth.  Its stationery.  I thought I bought mine a Johnny Seeds but can't find it in their latest catalog.

They sell the Telesco Weeder on Amazon.  I did not search to see if that was the cheapest place to buy the weeder.
http://www.amazon.ca/Garden-Bandit-Telesco-Weeder/dp/B002SV1BS4

Well this year it's the insect barrier my DH bought. Was kind of costly and truthfully I  I wondered how it it could really keep insects out. Turns out, I've had to use it as a shade barrier to save my plants this year ( especially the tomatoes) from wilting away entirely. The tomatoes don't get full sun until 10:15 AM and by 11:45 they are drooping terribly even though the soil is plenty moist.
It claims to allow 90% of the UV rays through, so they still get sun without the scorch.