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Get Growing: 10 Must-Haves For A Gorgeous Garden

Anything but garden-variety: these cutting-edge gadgets, cool tools and hard-wearing helpers are designed to make your horticultural hobby even more enjoyable

By Purnima Shrinivas

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With spring in full bloom and summer approaching, it’s the perfect time to get your garden growing. However, as every horticulturist knows, tending a green space is no easy task. Seeds fail to sprout, plants get parched, weeds take over, and yields decrease. But it doesn’t have to be that way: from self-watering stakes and weed robots to innovative pots and pollinating wands, our hand-picked selection of tools and accessories can help you level up in the game of gardening.

Paper Potting Pro

This handy paper pot maker is simple, sustainable and functional – a must during sowing season when you need a limitless supply of starter pots for seedlings. With this easy-to-use contraption, you can fashion sturdy pots in three sizes using nothing more than strips of newspaper. To make a pot, simply roll the paper around the dowel, fold and press into the base. Then fill with seeds and soil, and once it’s time for planting out, put the entire thing in the ground. No more disruption to the fragile seedlings and new roots, and no messy transfers. The pots themselves will biodegrade beautifully over time.

Watering Wonder

Feeling anxious that your plants will dehydrate and die when you’re on holiday? These terracotta plant stakes by Modern Innovations might just be the solution. Designed to deliver the correct amount of water to indoor and outdoor container plants, a single stake will supply at least a litre of water over the course of a week. Just immerse the stake in water prior to use, moisten the soil, and insert it with the pointy tip facing down, along with an upside-down, long-neck water bottle. (Take note, however, that not all plants are candidates for self-watering.)

De-Weeding Delight

Horticulture enthusiasts will delight in seeing their gardens thrive when this solar-powered weeding robot takes charge. Its specially designed wheels churn the top layer of soil, preventing weeds from taking root, while its string trimmer hacks any that are already sprouting. Built in sensors help it differentiate desired plants from weeds, and the kit also includes plant collars that can be positioned around seedlings to keep them safe. The weeder works for one to two hours each day, roaming around the garden for short intervals before pausing to recharge in the sun during longer jobs.

Moisture Monitor

There is perhaps no greater frustration, particularly for beginner gardeners, than not knowing when to water the plants. Enter this ingenious moisture monitor that takes the guesswork out of gardening: developed by Japanese product designer Tetsutaro Nakabayashi in collaboration with the Tokyo University of Agriculture, the Sustee Aquameter detects potential force (pF) values, or soil moisture tension, via a biodegradable sensor. When you water a plant, the sensor turns blue, meaning that the plant is well within the Goldilocks range of good hydration. If the sensor turns white, it’s an indication that your plant is thirsty and needs more water.

Glam Gear

While most gardening tools emphasise function over form, Scandinavian garden accessories designer Linda Brattlöf attempts to go above and beyond with her Garden Glory collection, comprising pretty jewel-themed hoses, hose holders, sprinkler heads, flower sticks, gardening gloves and trowels. In a departure from the usual greens and browns, these delightful accoutrements are available in a variety of colours including gold, rose, aquamarine, grey, eucalyptus and white, adding a touch of sparkle to ordinary gardening routines.

Airy Abode

A favourite among gardening professionals and horticultural institutions alike, Air-Pots – highly durable root-pruning containers made from recycled plastic – will find favour with home gardeners, too. The unique open-cone design encourages root aeration, dehydration of root tips, lateral branching and efficient drainage, while eliminating root circling – and ultimately contributing to faster growth, hardier plants and higher yields. What’s more, the flat, easy-to-assemble construction makes removing and potting plants (and end-of-season storage) a breeze. All in all, a new approach to container gardening that allows literally anything, from fruit-bearing plants to trees, to flourish. Genius.

Cool Can

Ask any gardening geek, and they’ll likely agree that a good watering can is hard to find. Here, we’ve discovered one with a high-quality construction, comfortable hold, generous capacity, excellent pour quality and nice upright spray head that’s not only removable, but also fine enough to water young plants without battering them. In addition, the narrow design ensures it can be easily put away without occupying too much space in the shed. Perfect in so many ways.

Pollinating Partner

Not a newie but a goodie, nonetheless. When your plants are struggling without enough bees or wind in your home garden, or you have a greenhouse, hydroponic or aquaponic garden, then the VegiBee Garden Pollinator is the tool you need. This handy device uses sonic vibrations to collect and pollinate self-pollinating plants such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, beans and peas; simply hold the vibrating wand against the stem to release and collect pollen, and then use it to physically pollinate another flower. Repeat the process three times a week to increase yield.

Compact Composter

This clever urban composter can generate nutrient-rich, ready-to-use compost from kitchen waste within 24 hours. Featuring a three-layer filtration system that keeps messes and odours at bay, the 14-litre electric composter is designed for indoor use; it’s also easy to set up, super silent, energy efficient and low on maintenance. While a starter microbe subscription is available, it isn’t a necessity after the first round of composting – the composter will operate just as efficiently and prepare the next batch of garden fertiliser within a day if there’s some compost left in the bin when new kitchen scraps are added.

Bird Buddy

Build a biodiverse garden and feed feathered friends with this tech-forward feeder and its built-in weather-proof camera. Equipped with a wide-angle lens, a smart portrait zoom lens and an app packed with features, the feeder delivers crystal-clear videos and photos of your backyard buddies straight to your phone, along with automatic AI-powered identification of each visiting species. A built-in solar panel means you’ll never have to worry about charging it.