Enabling Garden Tools and Other Cool Gadgets

Pot lifter

Master gardener Paul James shows off a variety of garden tools designed to ease the burdens of gardening:

Pot lifter. This rather simple-looking tool is a two-person contraption that makes lifting heavy pots – those weighing up to 200 pounds – a breeze. It also adjusts to accommodate just about anything you need to haul, from boulders and heavy trash cans to bags of mulch. When you're finished, it goes right back into a convenient carrying case.

Ergonomic hand tools

Ergonomic hand tools. This trowel and weeder have a natural radius grip designed to maximize power and comfort while minimizing stress on the hands and wrists. These glare-free tools are made of a lightweight aluminum-magnesium alloy.

Ratchet-driving pruning tools

Ratchet-driving pruning tools. If you have a tough time using conventional loppers, pruners and shears because of a lack of strength, you'll love these ratchet-driven pruning tools. They cut three times easier, requiring only one-third the strength of their more familiar counterparts. As a result, these tools have been awarded an ease-of-use commendation by the Arthritis Foundation. The loppers and shears take advantage of a ratchet-driven mechanism that makes cutting through branches quite easy. The secret to the pruners' ease of use is in the handle, which rolls in your hand as you squeeze.

Garden knife

Garden knife. This new type of garden knife serves a variety of functions, including knife, weeder and trowel. Its serrated edge is great for opening bags. The curved blade makes a terrific trowel, while the beveled end makes a great weeder. The knife edge is ideal for cutting just about anything, as the sharpened side slot cuts twine. The blunt end of the handle serves as a tamper. You have all of this in just one tool, and it has a comfortable, non-slip grip.

Grip tape

Grip tape. Here's a solution for what to do if your favorite tool lacks the ideal grip. This tape can make even the most uncomfortable, slippery tool a lot easier to use. Wrap the closed-cell foam material around the handle of any tool, and in no time, you have a secure, blister-free grip.

Neoprene grip

Neoprene grip. Along the same lines as the grip tape is this comfortable tape. Simply wrap it around the tool handle, and in a matter of seconds, it creates a comfortable grip on tools. Since it's made of neoprene, it absorbs shock and vibrations.

Corrosion preventative spray. This spray was developed by an aerospace company to protect aircraft components from rust and corrosion. Apply a light coating to your gardening tools and gently wipe it off, or apply a heavy coating and allow the material to dry. Either way, your metal tools are protected from rust and corrosion. The spray dries to a thin, waxy film that doesn't collect dust the way other oil-based products can.

Gardener's pouch

Gardener's pouch. Designed and developed by a gardener, this oversized fanny pack features a large, zippered pouch in front, easy-access pockets on the sides and a holster for your pruners or cell phone. But, according to Paul, it's the pouch that makes this thing so perfect. Once you fill up the open pouch with sticks, spent flowers or weeds, simply unzip the flap and dump the contents right into the compost pile or trash.

Adjustable nozzle

Adjustable nozzle. This nozzle is perhaps one of the easiest hose attachments to use. To adjust the spray – both the force and, to a lesser extent, the pattern – simply bend the rubber nozzle. Returning the nozzle to its original position shuts off the water flow. With no moving parts, there's nothing to break. The gadget has remained unchanged since the 1940s, when it was used to fill radiators at gas stations.

Multi-purpose nozzle

Multi-purpose nozzle. This nozzle comes with several solid-brass tips that quickly connect and disconnect to the handle, which includes a thumb-operated flow controller. The tips include those for misting, gentle rain and flat spray as well as a variable one that adjusts from a soft spray to a hard blast.

Faux wasp nest

Faux wasp nest. At first glance, this looks like a real wasp nest, which is a good thing. Wasps, including yellow jackets, are very territorial. Rarely will they build a nest within 200 feet of another nest. By hanging these fake nests wherever real wasps are a problem, you'll greatly reduce the likelihood that they'll build nests nearby. Ideally, the nest should be hung in a tree or under the eaves of your house, roughly six to eight feet high, for maximum effectiveness. However, keep in mind that these fake nests aren't waterproof, so you'll need to bring them in when it rains or place them in a protected area.

Mole and gopher deterrent

Mole and gopher deterrent. Moles and gophers can't stand the smell of garlic, which is why this pugently scented product works so well. To use, identify a mole or gopher tunnel. Usually that's fairly easy in the case of moles, but for gophers, you may want to focus on an area where they've already done some damage. Next, use a stick or screwdriver to probe the area to a depth of 10 or 12 inches. When you feel a sudden lack of resistance, you'll know you've penetrated the top of the tunnel. Remove the rubber stopper from the tube, drop the tube into the tunnel and cover the hole with dirt. Do this in several places along the length of the tunnel. In no time, the critters should move elsewhere, and they should stay there for up to a year, at which time you'll have to use fresh tubes and start the process over again. Note: the tubes will biodegrade in the soil within two years.