If you are planning to garden the easy way, then you have considered mulching. Especially if you are just starting out, you want to know what tools actually add value to your garden work, and which to pass by in the garden store.
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The high mulch system was first written about by Ruth Stout. Just add 6-8 inches of mulch. Add plants. There. Your garden is ready. I have written more about this method here.
It's also a very affordable gardening system, because you need so few tools to get started and maintain your garden. Three, to be exact.
This list is a simple one, and reviews reliable tools which I use regularly in my high-mulch garden, and what I look for when purchasing those items.
You don't need to spend a lot of money on your tools, but look for modestly priced ones that are well constructed.
Hand Trowel
The hand trowel would be used for getting your plants or seeds into the ground. It can also be used for applying amendments to your soil.
I have had a number of these bend backwards at the handle attachment point over the years, so I look for a trowel with a sturdy transition between the spade and the handle.
Recommendation: The trowel which I am currently using is the Fiskars Hand Trowel. It is a sturdy little trowel with an easy grip rubber handle and aluminum head to prevent rusting.
Spading Fork
Use the fork for moving mulch around, as well as working with the soil beneath. I prefer the fork to the spade, as I find it is much easier to move around most materials, especially with clay soils that are quite sticky.
For soil that glides off the hand, such as sand, a shovel may be more useful.
Look for a tool that works for your height, depending on how you intend to use it. Smaller ones can cause awkward bending for taller folks.
Recommendation: Here is an example of the type that has worked well for me.
Buckets
Buckets are really nice to have around, of course, for transporting anything, really.
One way to get these is to ask around at bakeries for free-food safe buckets. My sister-in-law has acquired a number of these for her pantry this way. However, you can also find such buckets on Amazon.
Recommendation: ePackageSupply food grade 5 gallon buckets. These buckets are made in the USA and have a great price point on Amazon.
Recommendation: ePackageSupply food grade 5 gallon buckets. These buckets are made in the USA and have a great price point on Amazon.
And there you have it. The only three tools you will need in your high-mulch, low maintenance garden.
Tools You May Want for Your High-Mulch Garden
There might be some circumstances where you may want to expand your tool set. I discuss my favorite tool for digging in clay soil. I also discuss tools for watering and mulch collection.
Root Slayer for Clay Soil
The root slayer was a gift to me from a lady who wanted the taller version to accommodate her height. She handed the one with the shorter handle to me.
I have to say it really is a lovely instrument. It cuts through clay really well, so it is very good for digging tree holes or splitting perennials. If you don't happen to get enough mulch on your garden, this tool makes removing pernicious weeds, like dock, easy.
I actually prefer this to the trowel for planting transplants because it allows me to stand while making holes.
You can get your Root Slayer here on Amazon.
The root slayer was a gift to me from a lady who wanted the taller version to accommodate her height. She handed the one with the shorter handle to me.
I have to say it really is a lovely instrument. It cuts through clay really well, so it is very good for digging tree holes or splitting perennials. If you don't happen to get enough mulch on your garden, this tool makes removing pernicious weeds, like dock, easy.
I actually prefer this to the trowel for planting transplants because it allows me to stand while making holes.
You can get your Root Slayer here on Amazon.
Mulch Gathering Equipment
You can buy your hay bales, but if you want to collect your own mulch, such as your grass and leaves, these items will help you get the job done.
Lazy Susan or Wheelbarrow
You can carry your hale bales around to your garden, but you might want some help with a wheelbarrow. Our family uses our wheelbarrow all the time to carry mulch to and from the garden, as well as other supplies.
Consider what you primarily plan on carrying. A wagon might be preferable if you are also working with seedling trays. A dolly would be great if you only want to carry bales to and from the garden.
Recommendation: The True Temper 6 Cubit Foot Steel Tray Wheel Barrow. Its large steel tray has enough capacity to carry around all your mulch, and it has a tire designed to never go flat.
Rake
For a large yard, using the dual-tined rake with a wide-angled claw really makes a difference. It picks up at least twice as many leaves as a regular rake.
This has become clearer as I witness my kids working beside me, as I have four regular rakes and a larger, double-tined claw rake. Of course, the kids call the big rake when they can!
Recommendation: Craftsman 2 piece rake set, including dual-tined rake.
Leaf Scoops
Get the whole family involved with these leaf scoops. The older kids can rake and the little ones can scoop the leaves into a wheelbarrow or tarp.
As a mom, I like to have all the kids work together on projects like this. The kids don't always get the job done efficiently, but they do all have ability to help out in some way toward our end goal.
Hedge Clippers
I use comfrey as a chop and drop crop. Comfrey is a plant which produces a lot of foliage for the compost or mulch.
For chop and drop crops, I use loppers. I am not sure if this is the "proper" tool to use for this job. I think I have seen you-tube videos of permaculture gardeners using the machete, but for me, loppers work just fine.
Recommendation: 28" Bypass Lopper with steel blade from Twocorn. These are affordable and well-liked by Amazon customers.
Watering
Heavy mulch prevents water evaporation from your soil. However, if you have a dry spell and a large garden, you may find that you want some more help.
Sprinkler
Sprinklers that have a lot of moving parts, I have found, tend to get broken.
I recently purchased a very affordable and impressive little sprinkler. It needs to be kept in place using a tent spike or garden staple, but it is easy to maneuver and has a wide sprinkling reach.
Also, the one-piece metal construction is basically impervious to the rompings of children! Children love sprinklers, and, trust me, this one is a big win for little kids.
Recommendation: This simple Metal Garden Sprinkler is worth every penny.
Garden Hose
Be sure to get one that stretches from your water spout to the end of your garden.
There are all sorts of hoses you can use to get the job done. Many like the convenience of the flat hoses for storage. With the usual rubber hoses, be sure you have a way to store them to prevent kinks which can create holes in your hose, such as a simple rack.
Recommendation: I have gone through a lot of hoses in the past, but this Scott's 4-ply Garden Hose has surprised me by its durability. It has lasted four years already, despite the abuse my children have exposed to it.
There you have it! All the tools you'll need or want to work in your garden using the high-mulch system.
The ideas for this list are credited to Mel Bartholomew in Square Foot Gardening, a book dedicated to making gardening simpler for the home grower.
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