I’ve been busy in the greenhouse this week and I’m finding the Sophie Conran trowel (£14.95) from Burgon & Ball is a very handy combination of trowel and scoop. I’m quite a messy gardener, so anything that means the compost goes where intended – rather than down my boot – is very welcome.
I’ve been sent a very neat, safe and easy-to-use tool sharpener called the Anysharp Edge 
It isn’t so good for secateurs unless you are good at taking them apart (I’m not). I shall stick to sending my Felco’s for an annual service. (£14.50)
B&Q’s 7 function metal spray gun for the garden hose is brilliant. With a simple twist you can get every variation you could wish for when doing your watering – from fine mist for your seedlings to a powerful jet which comes close to transforming your hose into a power washer. £14.98 or £16.98 with 3 connectors. Use water butts wherever you can, but if you do need to use as hose, this head means you are far less wasteful as it directs the water to precisely where it is needed.
I have a sturdy old trestle table which comes out of storage at this time of year and is erected in a shady corner of the garden. It is invaluable as a cool place to prick out seedlings and allow them to recover before moving them to a sunnier spot. It is also a good spot to germinate pot sown seeds that can be inhibited by too much heat.
My Showa Floreo gardening gloves are invaluable at this time of year when heavier gloves tend to get discarded. Cool, comfortable and machine washable they come in a range of colours. I buy the bright ones as I’m less likely to lose them that way.
