“What three things would you give to a new professional gardener” was the question posed earlier in the month to a social media group of pro gardeners and thank you to all for the suggestions – very grateful – however, sorry, not all made it the final list and we did some consult some other sources for their thoughts.
So… drum roll… below we have 21 things that might be worth giving a new (or possibly experienced?) professional gardener. Oh and congratulations on making through the year – phew! – Merry Christmas!
Watson Gloves – Tinker & Fix
The Flextime Workshop gloves (made by Canadian folk) look like many other offerings but are quite different. Those with smaller paws are also well accommodated and unlike a lot of the pretenders these leather gloves have a good deal of water repellence. The big bonus though is, unlike a lot of other similar gloves, weed seeds (so your Forget-me-nots, Cleavers etc.) just don’t stick to the fabric portion. In the essential toolkit these definitely are.
https://tinkerandfix.co.uk/products/watson-gloves-flextime-leather-workshop-glove
Moisture Meter
If you are serious about improving your chances of success, then moisture meters will help keep things on track. These days with more rapid changes in rainfall and temperature making sure those moisture levels are where you want is a way to head off problems later down the line. They are also a good way to start to understand how moisture levels change over the year, the effects or watering or not.
Available from numerous places!
Broadfork
How about a fork that breaks up the sub-soil without disturbing the topsoil? There is a fork for that – the broadfork – an old school tool that really does the job. Essentially three forks worth of prongs and two handles – you bang it in the ground, wiggle it back and forth a bit and hey presto the sub-soil is broken up a bit allowing the topsoil to mingle in and getting your more topsoil depth – simples.
https://reagtools.co.uk/collections/broadfork
Weather Station
A small weather station isn’t going to cost the earth (something to think about there) but it does mean you can see what the weather is like around you at that moment and compare it with the forecast. Useful for helping you work out the microclimate you are working with in a client’s garden, and you can then adjust the local forecasts accordingly.
Available from numerous places!
Inkbird Digital Temperature Controller 220V Thermostat
Keeping the client’s greenhouse cool in the summer or warm in the winter is a doddle using this digital thermometer which will switch devices on or off depending on the ambient soil temperature. Let the tech do the work.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inkbird-Temperature-Controller/s?k=Inkbird+Temperature+Controller
Carhartt Workwear
Incredibly good and long-lasting workwear with everyone catered for including the dog! Pretty much every different type of outdoor clothing you might need and with a good price range to suit any budget – oh and plenty of pockets!
https://www.carhartt.com/en-gb/
Niwaki Tool Roll
Keep your backup/specialist pruning tools, sharpening stones, grafting knives and other bits safe and sound in this lovely tool roll.
https://www.niwaki.com/tool-roll/?country=GB
Multizone Thermometer
See the temperature in various parts of the greenhouse or garden in one place. Of course, you can get those which you can view on the phone but these are a quick, simple and cheap way to see what things are like when you arrive and leave.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Geevon-Thermometer-Wireless-Hygrometer-Temperature/dp/B0BQ6H28GV
Kent & Stowe Mini-Loppers
I have two pairs, a backup pair just in case one set goes AWOL. This is always an indication of how useful a tool is. I recommend this to all my clients of an older persuasion who struggle with the grip strength needed for secateurs. For me, these are great where you need a bit more power but are working in a confined space.
https://www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk/product/kent-stowe-garden-life-bypass-loppers-cutting-dia-25mm/
The Self-Employed Gardener: How to be a successful Self-Employed
No prizes for guessing where this recommendation came from! However, for anyone new to the game you can’t go wrong with this choice and those who have bought it agree – the Amazon review rating is an almost perfect 4.9 out of 5!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Employed-Gardener-How-successful-ebook/dp/B013TELGJW
Pocket Guide to the Edible Garden
Rarely ever meet a client that isn’t interested in growing fruit and veg and this is the one book that is concise, straight to the point, packed full of wisdom and super diagrams. Buy two because it will be worn out with use in no time.
Decathlon Outdoor Clothing
For one pair of Genus 3-season trousers you can buy 3 pairs of Decathalon all season outdoor trousers (add the underlay). They are tough, hard wearing, plenty of choices for men and women but some could do with a few more pockets. They also have actual shops where you can go and try things on – amazing!
Daisy Grubber
A tried and trusted weeding tool… “You will have to pry mine from my cold, dead hands”. Great for those pesky hard to get to weeds and all manner of other jobs around the garden. An essential bit of kit.
https://www.robertdyas.co.uk/wilkinson-sword-stainless-steel-weed-grubber
Biostretch Soft Green Garden Plant String
This stuff is just great and should be in every gardener’s box of tricks. Stretchy, soft, strong and bio-degradable (falls off after 18-24 months). I recommend this to all my clients.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B087TST6T9
A Bright Plastic Bucket
How to transport your kit and caboodle around the garden? You could buy some expensive fancy thing with pockets galore, or perhaps just lug massive 42L Garden tub around or you could just get yourself a lovely, cheap, bright and perfect for the job plastic bucket for a couple of pounds. One handle to use, watertight, not too big, not too small so all your essential kit will fit nicely in there.
Available from numerous places!
Patio Knife
Anyone who says a Daisy Grubber is the best weeding tool ever is a person who has never had the joy and pleasure of a proper weeding tool. Forget the rest, this is the best. Cuts through roots, hooks out plants and dances along the top of the soil chopping weedlings in its way – there is NO BETTER tool for weeding – period.
https://bulldoghandtools.co.uk/bulldog-patio-knife-pgpk
RHS Subscription
Everyone should have an RHS Subscription. Not for garden visits which are all lovely but for access to the one-to-one support gardening support. Their gardening advisors are backed by in-house experts in plant identification, plant pests and diseases, providing tailored assistance for each garden. Take it a step further as your RHS membership card allows you to borrow up to five books or DVDs (assuming your player still works!) for up to four weeks (by post) from the RHS Library.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/membership/rhs-gardening-advice
Single Hole Punch
This is a simple concept, take the label that came with the plant, pop a hole in the top and then the bottom. Pop it on half a pea stick and you have proper plant label in a jiffy.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BN1C5NZX
Sheen X300 Flamegun
With a flame that reaches 1000˚C you can forget all that nonsense of the patio weeders and daisy grubbers. If you are going to do a job properly you need to go in all flameguns blazing. £245+fuel + £25,000 excess on your insurance policy. Worth every penny, bags of fun and you have to love that roar when you crank it up!
https://reagtools.co.uk/products/sheen-x300-professional-flame-weeder
Releasable Resealable Cable Ties
There is nothing more frustrating than trying to remove someone else’s (aka the owner’s) previous efforts to tie in a plant. Fiddly bits of wire that have cut into the plant, twine that you can’t unpick and cable ties you must cut to remove. Releasable Resealable Cable Ties means you can quickly fasten something and whenever you need to, you can easily remove the tie or adjust it. Just the thing for training espaliers or wrangling vines. They can be reused again and again so should last many years and are available in various colours including green. An essential.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pack-Heavy-Black-Releasable-Cable/dp/B07855X6CR
The Contact Details for a good Physiotherapist
If you are changing careers, especially from a heavily desk-based job, you are going to be using your body in a completely different way and you will soon feel it. Having the contact details for a Physiotherapist is worth getting sooner rather than later. On the plus side you can cancel the Gym membership – you are going to be getting a good workout pretty much every day and as a bonus getting paid at the same time!
Ask any other pro gardener and they will be happy to share!
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