Have you made a list of garden supplies? If you have, then it's a good start. But is everything you need to start the garden season on that list? Here are some kid-friendly garden supplies that should be on every kid gardener's list.
Pruners
Garden pruners are like scissors. They are needed to cut branches back and even harvest fruit and produce. There are different sizes from the smallest to the largest branch pruners, often called shears.
A sturdy set of garden pruners is best. You also might want to consider the grip. Have the kids check out the grip before buying to make sure it fits their hands.
Garden rake
A garden rake is a great clean-up tool. It can also be great for sifting out rocks in a freshly tilled garden bed.
Not all garden rakes are created alike. You have to find one you like and one that you can grip and use. There are several different types of rakes. There is a stiff rake, the kind used mostly in the garden. This usually has a horizontal set of teeth that aren't retractable and flexible. This makes them strong and gives them the ability to be used to scrape the surface of the garden bed to remove rocks and other debris. A lawn and leaf rake is usually a flexible rake that can be retractable. It is used mainly for cleaning up leaves in the fall.
Trowel
Sometimes called a shovel, this little dandy of an item makes a child's gardening experience a little easier. It has many uses from transplanting to weeding to harvest time.
Garden gloves
A good pair of garden gloves is good for those tough-to-tackle jobs such as rose handling, thorn-bush picking and other jobs that could require covering the hands in some sort of protection.
Certain plants give off chemicals that could be irritating to the skin. These could include the nightshade family (tomatoes, peppers and potatoes), onions and some herbs. Wearing garden gloves can help protect a child from these irritations.
While some home and garden stores may carry kid-sized gloves, more likely they only have adult size. Women's garden gloves are more likely to be the right size and some come in neutral colors if necessary.
Find gloves that fit snugly but do not constrict movement too much. You want the hand to be able to move freely and breathe correctly.
Seeds
You can't have a garden without the plants, and you can't have plants without seeds. Sure, you can buy plants ready to transplant, but starting with seeds can be more rewarding and cost efficient.
Soil
The right soil makes the difference between a mediocre garden harvest and a great harvest. There are many types of soil, from germinating mixes to start seeds to topsoil. Choosing the right soil can be daunting. Just read the instructions on each type to see what is best for your garden.
Garden journal
While a garden journal isn't an absolute necessity, it can help the kid gardener in future gardening endeavors. A child can put down his or her thoughts on the garden, note experiences and even make the garden supply list in the journal.
You can either make the garden journal or buy it. It's a must for long-term kid gardeners.
Time and patience
You can't buy time or patience, but they are a necessary part of the garden. It takes time to grow fruit. It takes time to watch tomatoes go from sprout to plant to setting those beautiful red fruits we love to harvest and eat. With a little patience, we can have a wonderful garden experience with our children.
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