Garden Plots

Here’s a possible gardener’s wish list for the New Year:

• Nice gardening gloves - especially the flexible kinds that rose thorns don’t penetrate - or nice-fitting leather gloves.

• Knee pads or knee benches for gardeners to make close work less of a pain.

• A well-made spading fork or shovel.

• Cast-aluminum hand tools or specially designed “ergonomic” tools for less muscle strain.

• A greenhouse or a good cold frame (could be homemade).

• High-quality loppers or hand pruners.

• Gift certificates to garden centers.

• A soil thermometer or moisture meters with 12-inch probes.

• Q Knot reusable cable ties for staking tomatoes or trellises.

• Manual or electric water timer. This device can be attached to any faucet, and automatically shuts off water after a set amount of time.

• Water bubbler with flow control, or other interesting sprinklers.

• Corona Quick Tool Sharpener, a pocket-sized tool for sharpening pruners, shears, blades.

• Floating row covers - lightweight blankets to put over vegetables to capture warmth and protect plants. May be available from the Extension office in February/March.

• Heavier row covers for pot protection from cold winter weather. We have some now at the Extension office at a sale price.

• A Hori Hori Knife, a transplant from Japan that’s part trowel and part knife. Also, good for dispatching slugs.

• Folding pruning saws. Fiskers, Barnel or Corona are good brands.

• LED headlamp for gardening or locating slugs at night (if you are so inclined).

• The market has a number of lithium battery-powered chainsaws, pole pruners and weed whackers.

• A good insect, mushroom or weed identification book.

Chip Bubl works at Oregon State University Extension. For more information, call 503-397-3462, or email [email protected].