Gardening Smart (helpful clean up tools)

My recent knee injury sent me in search of products that could make my spring garden clean-up faster and easier.  Why did it take something happening to get my thought process moving in this direction??? 

Anyway, what I found is helping me so much I decided they were "finds" worth sharing.  Maybe you even own one (or all) of them already?? 

I'm totally loving this 30 gallon Kangaroo Garden Bag by Fiskars:

Besides being light weight, it's collapsible!!!!!  Meaning it's absolutely not a storage issue. 

Winner already, right?!!

When it's totally full, it's still not very heavy to carry.  A huge consideration for hard-working gardeners!!  I can't tell you how much easier it is than lugging my yard waste cart around or fighting to keep a garbage bag open.  I won't go back to those methods even when I'm back to 100%.

I'm also really digging the Leaf Loader pictured above too.  I've been raking leaves & debris onto it, folding the opposite sides together then funneling it all into the garden bag or my yard waste container.  So simple and very easy on my knee, since I only have to bend over once to pick it up. It also folds and stores easily.

I bought both the garden bag & the leaf loader from Amazon but I've given you separate links in case you're interested. 

Something else I bought last summer but am only just now using is this 18 volt, rechargeable chain saw by Earthwise:

I purchased it from Improvements but it also looks like it's available from Amazon and many other popular retailers.  This is the first time I've lived in a house long enough for the shrubs and trees I've planted to get big enough they need pruning.  This little chainsaw is perfect for those small jobs I'm fine doing by myself.  I've already cut a few old stems out of my lilacs and a couple of crossed branches from my Hawthorne tree.  It could not have been easier.  Hallelujah!

Just so you know (and I'm fairly certain you do) I'm not a "big name" gardener so I'm not getting any endorsements for recommending these products.   They are just products I've found that have been helping me get my gardening chores done in a more efficient and timely manner.   If they can help someone else, then I'm not gonna be the kind of girl to hold out!!  It is also entirely possible all these products are "old news."  I have a habit of doing things the old fashioned (hard) way until forced to do otherwise.  Could be this is another of those instances???

 

Comments

[PlantPostings]

Thanks for the tips! The leaf loader and the kangaroo garden bag look especially handy! Hope your knee is healing well.

[Dana]

Great tips - I am so glad you found things to make it easier for you. I'm going to have to look into all of those products - especially the chainsaw!

[Lona]

I have really got to get one of those collapsible garden bags. That looks like just the thing for garden bed and leaf cleaning. Thanks for the tips. I like the leaf loader also. I use a tarp to rake my leaves onto. That leaf loader would take off like a kite where we live on the hill when the winds blow. LOL! It looks like just the thing for enclosed gardening. Take it easy on your getting back out into the garden.

[Robin]

I've loved my Kangaroo bag for years, but soon discovered the best way to use it is to put those brown lawn and leaf bag inside of them. It keeps them standing up, and allows to change them out as needed.