9 Eco-Friendly Gardening Tools to Help Your Garden Stay Green

I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article including Amazon Affiliates. Full Disclosure

Eco-Friendly Gardening Tools for Your Green Thumb

Gardening provides many benefits, like increasing your exercise quotient and providing your family with fresh, organic produce. However, you need the right tools for the job.

You’ll be more than ready for a fabulous growing season with these essential garden tools that are eco-friendly too.

1.  Best Gardening Hand Tools

Hand tools are a must for any gardener. Opt for a set of gardening tools made from steel and other natural materials, instead of cheap plastic. This 5-piece garden tool set is a great choice:

• Heavy-duty powder coated steel that is resistant to corrosion and rusting
• Cork handles that stay firmly and comfortably in your hands
• Includes a large trowel, hand rake, cultivator tool, hand trowel and transplant tool

2. Best Landscape Tools

Sometimes, you need a bigger rack of rakes and spades to do the heavy hoeing. This 8-piece, long ash-handle garden tools set helps you clear that plot in no time.

• The set includes a 14-gauge square point shovel, 14-gauge round point shovel, 16T level head rake, sidewalk scraper, garden hoe, 15T bow rake, sod lifter and 12’’ blade bush hook. The handles are north wood ash.
• It’s constructed of high-quality steel and ash for longevity and sustainability.

3. Best Kneeling Pad

Digging in the good earth has oodles of health benefits, but it can be hard on your knees. Protect this delicate joint with the right kneeling pad.

If you have arthritis or chronic back pain, you might do best with a bench, like this handy Tomcare version. It features a wide kneeling pad and 4 large pockets to hold your gardening tools.

However, you can also DIY — remember that “reuse” part of the 3R equation. Gather a yard of oilcloth and all those old T-shirts and linens you rescued when you cleaned out your closet. Use a sewing machine to stitch and fill your pad to the perfect cushioning amount.

RELATED: How to Make a Container Garden

4. Best Misting Bottle

Did you know most people overwater their lawns and landscapes, leading to unnecessary frustration when their leaves grow brown? A misting bottle does for plants what rosewater refreshers do for your face — provides a gentle touch of moisture where it’s needed the most without bogging the roots down with overwatering.

This stainless steel plant mister is easy to use and looks beautiful too.

• Its ergonomic design has a vintage look and provides the perfect amount of spritz.
• It’s made of recyclable stainless steel, instead of wasteful plastic.

5. Best Indoor Watering Can

You need to soak the soil of most plant species occasionally — for that, you need a watering can. However, most are problematic because they’re made of plastic. This flimsy material is prone to cracks that render it useless and you can’t recycle most types in many municipalities.

Opt for a stainless steel watering can instead of plastic. While it may cost more in terms of energy used in production, it is more durable and recyclable. This stainless steel watering can is both practical and pretty.

Many people forget about the “reduce and reuse” part of the sustainability equation. Honor it by repurposing an old laundry detergent bottle into a watering can. You’ll keep more green in your wallet through this method, too.

6. Best Indoor Long-Term Watering Solutions

You’re heading out of town for two weeks and don’t have someone to care for your precious plants in your absence. What should you do?

Remember, glass is nearly infinitely recyclable and manufacturers have caught onto this nifty trick for saving money when producing new materials. You can find commercial indoor plant watering globes that look like decorative stones, letting you travel without worry.

Of course, it’s also a snap to make repurposed water globes from plastic bottles you would otherwise recycle — a helpful tip if your trip ate through your budget. All you need is a plastic bottle for each plant, a nail, a match and a candle:

• Light the candle to heat the tip of the nail.
• Use the heated nail to poke numerous small air holes around the neck of the bottle.
• Fill the bottle with water.
• Screw on the cap .
• Turn the bottle over and place the bottle cap first into the soil.

7. Best “Alternative Energy” Watering Solutions

Save money and water by harvesting water that nature provides. Invest in a rainwater collection barrel to gather rainwater to use when you need it. Why use the municipal supply when it isn’t necessary?

If you live in an arid region like the desert southwest, overhead misting lines can cool the outdoor air by as much as 20° Fahrenheit while providing a gentle mist for any species growing beneath. Add a few ceiling fans to amplify the cooling effect and spread the spray.

8. Best Compost Bin

Why spend a small fortune on plant food at the nursery when there’s a world of countertop compost bins that are affordable and easy to use in any home. Turn your food scraps into nutrient rich compost with this countertop compost bin that locks in odors and is easy to clean.

9. Best Pest Deterrent Spray

Pesticides can contribute to climate change and have unintended side effects on your health. What’s the best natural solution? Here are a couple of non-toxic pest deterrents you’ll love.

For small gardeners, neem oil is a great pest deterrent that kills bugs by smothering their exoskeleton with an oily coat. However, it’s nontoxic to the gardener’s best buddies — the bees — as well as humans and other mammals. A bottle of this Neem Bliss will keep your houseplants or small outdoor garden pest-free all season long.

What about burrowing bugs that destroy your plant’s roots? You can’t do better than diatomaceous earth, which absorbs the oils and fats in a bug’s exoskeleton to leave them belly-up while keeping your crops safe for consumption.

What are your favorite eco-friendly gardening tools?