My Favorite Gardening Tools

Being an engineer, I’m very particular about my tools. They have to work extremely well and last a long time. And being a designer, I’m very particular about how my tools look and feel. Functionality, durability, and beauty are what I look for.
Here are my favorites. Top row, Hermes Garden set in stainless and cherry ($330 at usa.hermes.com). I know that’s pretty extreme in price, but my last trowel failed at the weld between the handle and scooping blade, and I’ve lost the one-piece cast aluminum trowel I had. And, the handle feels so smooth and sculptural it takes some of the sting out of weeding.

My other tools (click on the picture for a larger image) are Japanese.

Bottom row (L to R):

• Pull weeder Mont Blanc Brand Kusatori Ichiban Weeder ($11 at hidatool.com)
• OK101 Okatsune Clippers ($39 at amleo.com or mnsinc.cc)
• Super sharp folding saw ARS G-18 ($26 at amleo.com or mnsinc.cc )
• Okatsune Double Pouch Scabbard, which I’m putting in a nail apron until I find a belt I like ($21 at mnsinc.cc)
• Finally, the fabulous Nejiri Weeder / Scraper #211 (not pictured), is a small super sharp hand hoe but the blade is a little soft ($9 at hidatool.com). I had to order a new one since the last one accidentally met with bed edging and bent the sharp tip back.

Happy Gardening from BigSlider!