How to Keep Small Garden Tools Handy by Customizing a Tote

A bucket can double as a garden tote.

Garden totes provide an organized approach to finding and using your small garden tools quickly and easily. Totes can hold your trowels, hand rake, weed popper, gloves, masks and other small items needed while you work in the garden. Totes store the items and make them readily available each time you go into your garden.

Things You'll Need

• Preferred Tote Option
• Garden Hand Tools

Instructions

1. Place your garden gear in a bucket for a lightweight tote. Temporarily place hand tools on the porch or patio to use the bucket for toting soil mixtures and water. ARinse the bucket, allow it to dry and replace the tools in it. Or to use a heavy bucket with a removable apron that has pockets for your tools. Bucket aprons can be found in home improvement stores.

2. Try a lightweight canvas or fabric tote with outside or inside pockets to hold tools. These may require extra work to get them clean unless they indicate they may be machine washed or are coated to prevent staining. If you have a large, almost worn-out handbag or beach tote that you no longer carry but hate to toss out, make it a temporary or trial tote until it finally breaks down completely. A garden tote does not have to be pretty as long as it is functional.

3. Get a beach tote with solid sides to hold in tools, as one with a basket type weave will eventually break from the weight of tools sticking out of the openings. It they get dirty, you can just rinse the tote and allow it to dry before replacing your tools. To keep a beach tote cleaner longer, clean your tools before putting them in it.

4. Gain space for tools and seeds by using a small toolbox, tackle box or special hobby carrier. Use the big space in the bottom tier for tools and the little cubbies for markers, seeds packets and fertilizer pellets.

5. Keep your hands free by using pocketed belts, tool belts or aprons. You can buy a belt made especially for gardeners or adapt a carpenter's or other type of utility belt.

References

• University of Maryland Extension: Master Gardeners Are the Best Teachers
• University of Vermont Extension: Crafty Holiday Gift Ideas