20 Great Garden & Harvest Tools

West County Gardener’s landscape gloves ($32) are supple enough for planting, and reinforced with Kevlar for tougher chores too.

Muddy clay soil sticks to most shovels. But it slides right off this perforated one ($66.17), which makes big digging tasks a cinch.

The Slim & Light hose ($65.17 for 50-ft.) is lead-free, so you don’t have to worry if people or pets drink from it.

We use the flexible Tubtrug ($16.35 for 3.5 gallon bucket) for everything, from carrying tools and soil to carting clippings to the compost pile.

These essentials (from $10) come in bright colors that are as easy on the eyes as the tools are on your muscles.

In addition to the basics, The Essential Urban Farmer (Penguin, $19), by Novella Carpenter and Willow Rosenthal, tackles topics like beekeeping. Backyard orchard­ists will find help in Colby Eierman’s Fruit Trees in Small Spaces (Timber Press, $17). Willi Galloway’s Grow Cook Eat (Sasquatch Books, $21) gives a recipe for each crop, for those who like to eat as much as you like to garden.

At last, some good-looking self-watering pots ($20) for not-quite-green-thumbs. The pots come in a variety of bright colors to add punch to your yard or entry.

This mobile planter ($159)―ideal for decks and balconies―is made from recycled plastic milk jugs.

Let this tiny modern planter ($51) stand alone as a sculpture―or add some greenery to create a living roof.

Alessi translates an old standby ($58) into a punchy marriage of form and function, sturdy metal spout and all.

This portable spout ($6) and inspired space saver converts a used two-liter plastic bottle into a watering can.

Inspired by 1960s Buckminster Fuller buildings, this geodesic-dome birdhouse (8 in., $95) designed by Kelly Lamb has a backdoor for cleanout.

The galvanized mesh wire basket ($40) from Peaceful Valley lets you hose off your produce right inside before carrying it, soil-free, indoors.

Reusable ceramic replicas (from $13) of traditional farmers’-market baskets provide good air flow to keep your harvest fresh.

This foldaway rack ($20) is so useful. Before you make tea or sachets out of your lemon verbena or lavender, you’ll need to dry the herbs, of course.

Herbs such as basil, mint, parsley, and sage dry well in single layers on a mesh rack ($19); clean window screens also work. When fully dry, store in airtight containers.

When your crops just won’t quit, set up this wooden stand—with sliding drawers—to handle the overflow (available in 6-drawer version, $179).

These willow baskets ($50 for set of 2) are the perfect place to store your harvested potatoes, which like to breathe; let them do so in a nice cool spot.

This bin ($40) is perfect for beets, carrots, or turnips. Fill it with alternating layers of damp sawdust and root veggies, and store in a cool, dark place.

These airtight, BPA-free baby-food freezer trays ($15) are perfect for freezing portions of homemade pesto.