THE TOOLS EVERY GARDENER NEEDS

Chef and green thumb STEPHANIE ALEXANDER reveals what to pack inside your kit

TROWELS & FORKS “It’s “important to have strong hand trowels and forks to clear away a weeds, and a pair of pruners for tidying up your plants or o cutting back rampant summer growth,” Stephanie says. “I “also have a rake-like tool in my range that enables the raised-bed r gardener to break up the soil prior to planting.” GARDEN CLOCHE Stephanie S recommends all gardeners have a durable garden cloche c in their collection. “[They] protect early basil seedlings, soft s lettuces or baby brassica plants from snails and fluttering white w cabbage moths,” she says. “A young gardener will also like l plant markers and a ball of string for tying up tomato bushes.” STORAGE BAG “These tools need to be kept somewhere. A canvas garden bag with outside pockets keeps everything neatly stowed, and the kneeling pad is a great help when weeding those borders. A small and pretty vacuum flask can hold iced tea, water or hot beverages for when the gardener needs a break.”