There might be some gardening tools on your property, whether you’ve gardened or just done yard work, and so you might think you’ve saved yourself some trouble and can just use them for your greenhouse.
Sadly, you need to make some new purchases for your greenhouse. Typically, outdoor gardening tools are just too much for greenhouse use. For example, a spade is great for outside work because it can get through the rocks and roots in the ground. But you’re working with loose soil that’s free of rocks and foreign roots, so there isn’t much need for that when you can dig with your hands or a plastic scoop.
While you might run into a need that requires a specific tool, later on, these are the tools that no greenhouse should lack:
- Pruners:
They are a necessity for your greenhouse. You are always going to find dead leaves and flowers, and these need to be removed to promote healthy plant growth. Sometimes, you can simply use your hands. But if they can’t be removed easily, you will need pruners to ensure you aren’t damaging the plant.
You want pruners that fit well in your hands but buy more than just one set. While most will work for soft foliage plants, you need something stronger for woody stems. Remember, you don’t want to damage your plants, so your pruners always need to be sharp.
- Bucket:
You don’t want to just leave dead leaves and other plant matters on the floor of your greenhouse. You might also want to move fertilized water or tools easily around. Get one that is comfortable for you to carry, but remember, larger greenhouses are going to require a bigger bucket if you don’t want to make frequent trips.
- Watering wand:
There might be plants that are a bit out of reach, especially hanging plants. You don’t want to get a stepladder just to take the plant down for watering. You can get an extension wand that will get into those out-of-reach plants. It will be helpful to find one that has different spray settings so you can use it for multiple purposes.
- Broom:
You won’t get all the dead plant pieces into your bucket, and you will probably have loose soil on your walking paths. Remember that a dirty floor becomes a dangerous floor to walk on. It might be wise to invest in a heavy-duty push broom and a regular household broom. The smaller broom can clean up those little spots and keep your greenhouse tidy. The larger push broom will be better after you’ve repotted or moved larger plants and during your annual cleaning.
- Dustpan:
You don’t want to just try to sweep all of the dirt right outside the door, especially when you want dead pieces of plants away from your healthy plants. A dustpan will help you get those swept piles into your bucket and away from your greenhouse. You can even use your dustpan when cleaning off your shelves and work table.
- Pot brush:
It can be extremely helpful when you need to scrub old potting soil out of containers. It fits perfectly in pots, and you can even use it to sweep off loose soil on your shelves and work table.
- Scissors:
You don’t want to use your pruners for opening bags and other packages. They tend to not work as well, and it will only dull them out so this is where you will need scissors.
- Storage tubs:
Things are going to pile up quickly in your greenhouse, which will look unsightly and make it harder to get around. Even if you have shelves for storage, you should still get tubs to keep everything organized. You can even get a large outdoor storage container for storing your largest items.
- Tool holders:
They can be wall mounts; hooks for things like your broom, rakes, and shovels; and just a simple slotted organizer for your cups, pruners, scissors, and other things. This keeps your tools on hand and out of your way.
- Measuring cups:
You are going to have to provide your own fertilizer for your greenhouse plants. This means that you need to measure everything to keep from overfertilizing and burning your plants. Because measurements change by plant and by your fertilizer of choice, you should have various sizes of measuring cups. It might also be helpful to get a set of measuring spoons.
- Markers:
You want markers, labels, and a journal; loose sheets of paper will work, too. You want to keep track of when you planted or propagated your plants, when they bloom, and even if they have gotten bugs. Your labels will be helpful for keeping track of what plants are where, and you can leave helpful information like how much water your plants will need.
- Trowels:
You will want to get various sizes of trowels. A long, narrow trowel can dig out a plant without damaging the root system. A short, fat trowel is good for digging into the soil before planting, and a trowel with a serrated edge can help dig out plants with a tougher root system.
- Sharp knife:
Much like pruners, this can help you get dead plant matter off without damaging the healthy plant. This is more of a preference, but it doesn’t hurt to have a knife in your greenhouse.
YOUR GREENHOUSE IS READY
All of your greenhouse’s planning, construction, and maintenance are now complete. You have even prepared yourself more by having all the important tools that your greenhouse needs.
Now that everything is in its place, all you need to do is start growing plants.
