Every Gardener Needs These Supplies In Their Shed

As tempting as it may be to spend your whole landscaping budget kitting out the shed, there comes a point when you have to ask yourself, “What do I actually need to maintain my garden?”

If you’re new to gardening, or just want to update your arsenal, these are the essential tools of the trade every gardener needs.

Gear to dig and move

It might seem obvious, but a solid shovel, wheelbarrow and rake should be your first additions. You don’t need to spend big money. A shovel is a shovel. Likewise, a basic steel or poly tray wheelbarrow is essential for moving gear, dirt, mulch, mixing concrete, demolition work and all forms of construction. Look for quality brands with at least an 80L capacity, welded joints, solid nuts and bolts, front stays, timber handles and a wide air-filled wheel for all terrain.

For more serious garden maintenance, a mattock (half axe, half hoe, half sledgehammer!), digging spade (sharp flat blade useful for cutting into firm ground), shifting shovel (long-handled shovel to give more leverage) and breaker bar (long steel bar with spiked and tapered ends for breaking concrete and clay) will save your back and make short work of most heavy duty garden digging situations.

Gear to snip and cut

Once your gardens are planted out and growing beautifully, you’ll need to maintain order. The options are endless, but keep it simple with a quality set of secateurs, hedge shears and a sharp pruning hand saw. Fine pruning up to 2cm branches will be taken care of with your secateurs, hedges kept in line with your sheers, and heavy-duty trimming and pruning with your hand saw.

Gear to encourage healthy growth

Once you’ve planted your gardens (or acquired them), you’ll need to ensure you’re equipped to feed and nurture your plants on an ongoing basis.

All-purpose organic fertiliser such as Organic Life. What you’re looking for is a general-purpose multi-ingredient fertiliser useful in a multitude of applications. Something you can throw by the handful around a new planting, under some new turf, or over the gardens when mulching. Choosing an organic-based palletised product will mean it can be used on all but the pickiest plants, and you’re less likely to burn them if you apply a little too liberally!

Slow-release turf and garden fertiliser such as UltraGrow Revitaliser. Every avid greenskeeper will have a nitrogen-rich slow-release fertiliser on the ready just in case that summer shower rolls in. Make the most of the rain events by getting it out there, even at 10 PM at night!

Liquid plant food such as UltraGrow Dyna-MAXX or UltraGrow Pure Kelp. These can be applied year-round and stimulate healthy and vigorous growth. It can be applied to plants and grass as regularly as every fortnight. Keep an easy refillable ready-to-use hose clip-on variety in the shed for easy application. Spray on the foliage, the soil and your grass regularly.

Heavy soil treatment such as Earth-Ease Ground Breaker to help break down the heavy clay soils located all around SEQ. Spray it over soil and water-in and reapply every 6-8 weeks. The result will be a balanced fertile environment that supports vibrant, resilient plants and healthier lawns.

These are by no means the only soil additives or fertilisers you will need, but are a basic collection that will keep you out of trouble. Always consult with your nursery or garden professional for specific additives for other circumstances.