Travel & Lifestyle: The Hori Hori Gardening Knife Has A Devoted Following

“With age (I am 77), my gardening has evolved into how can I best garden,” says Facebook follower Patsy Emery. “I have rheumatoid arthritis. I found wearing fingerless compression gloves under my gardening gloves works really well.”

These come in four colors in sizes XS-XL.

65-year-old Maggie Flynn-Fleet, 67-year-old Leigh Anne Jasheway and 77-year-old Patsy Emery all recommend a versatile kneeling bench. “The handrails are great for making it easier to get up. And when you flip it over and sit on it, it’s the perfect height for berry picking and deadheading,” Flynn-Fleet said. Emery, who has spinal stenosis and struggles with bending, added: “I do most of my gardening sitting and scooting when working in my beds.”

This versatile garden bench made with a solid steel frame can be adjusted between various kneeling and seated positions, and the ultra-thick kneeling pad is made from a supportive EVA foam. There are also plenty of pockets to keep tools and seeds within arm’s reach, and it compactly folds flat when not in use. (Make sure to “clip” the coupon for $5 off.)

Promising Amazon review: “This makes gardening so much easier. Ability to use it as kneeling or bench allows for multiple gardening projects. Light enough to carry, folds up for easy storage. The tool bags are like having extra hands. No more problems getting up.” — Karen NH

“I am a 68-year-old avid gardener and I use a pair of small needle-nose pliers to pull weeds fully up with all their roots with my little arthritic hands,” says Lee Debeauchamp.

This highly-rated option lets you choose a single set of needle-nose pliers, or you can purchase a set with a bent-nose pair and a four-pack of different pliers with a carrying case.

Mary AndKathleen Houghton, 68, adds that “a hand-held ‘claw’ tool loosens soil for planting,” and is “easier than a shovel.”

Weighing 7.4 ounces, this five-prong rake has a 5.5-inch wood handle for easy grabbing.

Per Houghton, tools with a longer handle can also keep you from bending. “Weed Puller is simple and easy to operate standing up,” she said. With well over 36,000 5-star ratings, this standing weeder is made specifically to effectively remove weeds without kneeling or causing strain on necks or backs. The simple design features a metal claw that grabs weeds from the root with just a tilt of the weeder and the leverage of your foot.

Promising Amazon review: “I cleared a whole garden full of fleabane, amongst perennials i didn’t want disturbed. It worked perfectly. The dream. You don’t even need to bend down to pick it up after it’s been pulled. Just bring a bucket. It’s the only weeder that is easy to use. Requires no bending. Can quickly do plant after plant. Doesn’t hurt any other plants. And gets the whole root of bulb out quickly and easily. It seems be stable and well designed and made. Couldn’t be happier.” — Amazon customer

Houghton also suggested getting an expandable hose that grows as it’s dispensing water. “Hoses that shrink up are lighter and easier to move around,” she said.

This expanding pocket hose grows up to 25 feet, then shrinks back to a smaller size when not in use. It weighs ‎2.29 pounds and is designed to be kink-free and not get tangled.

Soon-to-be-51-year-old Denise Vyse calls a foam mat a “MUST HAVE!!!!” Made from a high-density and shock-absorbing foam, this pad (available in 10 colors) claims to offer a superior level of cushioning for knees, even when placed over gravel, dirt or concrete. Measuring over an inch thick, the pad is slip- and water-resistant.

Promising Amazon review: “This is a great product!! I had a knee replacement and still have issues with the knee area. This pad has made it so much easier and more comfortable doing gardening. The Mrs. loves it and we have gotten a second she uses for cleaning and such.” — John J.

Per long-term gardener Sue Mazer (who gave more helpful information than we could fit here, but please check out her comment in full on Facebook), shorter-handed tools work better for women or folks who don’t have a ton of upper body strength. “Get ones with the D-shaped handles, this allows women, especially those who are shorter, to get better leverage, reducing the impact to the body. Condition the wood every year with oil,” she said.

This 28-inch digging shovel weighs under two pounds and has a D-ring handle for help with leverage.

“Gel knee pads are a must for saving knees,” Mazer says. “And they can be used with a kneeling pad to keep the knee pads clean and add extra fluff.”

To take the cushion with you as you travel around your garden, we love these highly-rated knee pads that are made from EVA foam padding and a thick gel cushion. These come in two sizes.

“Latex-coated garden gloves are a must to save your hands from feeling like pumice stone,” Mazer said, adding the importance of keeping your skin hydrated before and after spending a ton of time outside and in the elements. She says she uses Alba Botanical lotion before and after shifts in the garden.

Rita Falcon, 57, says she’s an avid gardener and landscaper. “My recycled plastic wheel barrel is a must! It’s light to lift, empty, move, and roll but strong enough for the dirt, weeds, tools, and bricks that I haul from one garden to the next. (I have 6 gardens!)”

While Falcon wrote that she got her wheelbarrow over a decade ago from Menards, how stinking cute is this budget-friendly option that comes in a bunch of fun colors? It has two inflatable, 14-inch rubber wheels and a padded handlebar that’s easy to push and pull.

Owning one of these attachments could allow you to transform any number of your existing gardening or yard tools into something that’s more ergonomic and less straining to use. The universal and adjusting base slides down and secures to the middle of any long-handled stick to offset a load and reduce back bending by 30%, according to the brand. (It also comes in yellow.)

Promising Amazon review: “So simple. Yet so helpful. Makes a big difference when you use this on a straight-handled shovel. This is intended and marketed for snow but it could go onto any shovel, I imagine, and be used for lots of stuff so long as it’s not extremely heavy. This could likely be used for yard work, too. I’m happy with it.” — random person

Available in three sizes and several colors, these elbow-length gloves are designed to protect skin from thorns and other pokey plants, while also promising breathable wear that won’t have hands feeling sweaty and uncomfortable.

Promising Amazon review: “I love these! I misplaced my old rose bush gloves and was desperate! They are still a little stiff and the size runs a little large. I purchased the medium and will probably get another pair in small. The leather/[suede] is excellent quality and will probably last a long time. The material will soften with use. I’ve already used them to prune rose bushes and they are perfect for protecting my arms. No snagging or scratches from thorns!” — Rita

Another strain-reducing tool is this full-standing garden shovel. It features a spring-loaded assist handle to add leverage and make shoveling heavy loads of dirt much easier compared to traditional shovel designs. Available in a few different handle lengths and versions specifically designed for snow shoveling, the brand claims that using this tool can improve posture and prevent extra back-bending.

Promising Amazon review: “I bought this to scoop live oak leaves on my 1-acre in Florida. The original that migrated back home with me from Kansas did the job, but this new one with the lower handle causes far less back strain from the repetitive motion of scooping the leaves. It’s sturdy, reliable, and makes the job 10x easier. Highly recommended.” — TCH

If you have limited dexterity or lack the hand strength required to cut through fibrous stems, branches or vines, this pair of ergonomic clippers might be worth the $22. The clippers have a lever-ratchet design for easy cutting and precision steel blades that are extra sharp. And to ensure safe storage, there’s a slider safety lock. These clippers are available in a few different colors and several different styles, like pruners and Japanese-style shears.

Note: Clip the on-page $3 coupon to get a little extra savings at checkout.

Promising Amazon review: “I like the ratchet type mechanism for … thick branches. Made it easy to cut and they’re sharp. Wiped up easy when I was done and ready for next job. Handle is different from most pruners and was comfortable in my small hands that I often get cramps or pain in. They are easy to lock shut when not in use.” — Kem

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Tilling and prepping soil manually is incredibly labor-intensive, but this Sun Joe electric rototiller is equipped with a robust 12-amp motor to power through and aerate soil with little to no effort on your part. It features six durable steel blades and a three-position wheel to make maneuvering easier, and covers up to 16 inches of ground in seconds. It’s also available in 2.5-amp and 13.5-amp options.

Promising Amazon review: “This motor is sooo powerful and nothing short of impressive. It effortlessly breaks through tough soil, weeds, roots and whatever else is in the ground, saving me considerable time and effort with my gardening tasks. Whether I’m cultivating a new area or preparing the soil for planting, this tiller handles the job with the absolute best efficiency. The tilling width covers a substantial area in each pass. This not only expedites the tilling process but also ensures even coverage, creating a well-prepared planting bed. It’s also surprisingly easy to maneuver. The rear wheels facilitate smooth movement, allowing me to navigate around obstacles and tight spaces effortlessly. This feature is particularly handy in my compact garden layout. Operating the tiller is a breeze, thanks to its user-friendly controls. The instant start button eliminates the hassle of dealing with pull cords, and the adjustable handlebar height accommodates users of varying heights, ensuring comfortable operation.” — Erica M (This review has been edited for length. Read full review.)

Another genius tip? “I use pencils to make holes for seeds,” says Ellen S. Winner, 75, who’s been gardening for over 50 years. According to Winner, pencils, a hoe and a spade make the perfect kit for gardening. Another innovative tip she shared: “This year we laid cardboard in between rows to keep weeds down, worked pretty well.”

Rather than straining your fingers to pull up stubborn and deep-lying roots and weeds, these gardening gloves feature securely attached claw tips that can do the tedious work for you. The gloves are made with a breathable and puncture-resistant material and come in a few color options.

Promising Amazon review: “One of the first things to go on my gardening gloves is always the fingertips because I tend to dig with them, but these are perfect for that! Surprisingly, they don’t even get much in the way of doing regular stuff with them on, except for maybe picking up small things. Very useful, especially for planting seeds or annuals.” — advocatus leonibus

If you want to elevate your garden beds to prevent excessive kneeling and bending, we found this weather- and water-resistant planter box with nearly 6,800 5-star ratings that stands at the ideal ergonomic height. Available in three sizes and finishes, the garden bed is made from cedar and has proper drainage to prevent plants from becoming over-watered.

Promising Amazon review: “Lots of screws but good instructions. I can see a lot of thought went into the making of this planter box. Very sturdy. I am pleased with this wood planter box. It’s high off the ground so I don’t have to bend down while planting or tending to my small vegetable garden.” — Rosalie

This trowel features an ergonomic handle and a patented blade to make breaking and digging soil easier on hands and wrists. Especially beneficial for anyone who deals with arthritis, carpel tunnel or limited hand strength, this trowel also comes in different blade types like a scooper, cultivator and transplanter.

Promising Amazon review: “This thing actually feels nice in your hand so the way you can hold the tool isn’t completely horizontal. The curved grip is bigger than expected, so I could choose how/where I wanted to hold it. Then I tried to dig up a large weed, in super dry/dense soil. Oh my gosh, this thing went into the ground WAY easier than I thought, since I can only use one hand to dig and the other on a cane for balance, [and] this is where I also really noticed the ergonomics of the tool. Not only does it cut into the ground without a ton of force, but the handle lets you bend it back pretty [easily], which raises it up. Some weeds were large and I had to dig around it in about 3 places. The roots come out as well. It was so easy and fascinating that my mom laughed [at] me as I kept saying “wow,” moving from weed to weed quickly.” — A.A. (This review has been edited for length. Read the full review.)

If gardening in the hot sun is keeping you from reaching your yard goals, this wide-brimmed hat is designed to make you more comfortable. It has a vented and cooling design, a moisture-wicking sweatband and is made with UPF50+ material for extra sun-blocking protection. Although this hat is only available in one size, the headband and under-chin strap are fully adjustable, and you can find it in seven colors.

Promising Amazon review: “This hat has a very large brim which provides the much-needed protection from the Florida sun. We work in our yard a lot. Great product for the price. And most of all, it is functional.” — Melvin Tate

If you’re someone who’s struggling to find the perfect amount of water for your plants or can’t be bothered standing for manual watering sessions, these terracotta spikes can come in handy. They work by slowly releasing water into the soil based on the specific need of your plant. A one-liter bottle of water placed upside down in the spike could keep your plants sufficiently watered for up to 10 days.

Promising Amazon review: “I bought these last year and used them throughout the growing season in planters on my patio and in spots through my garden. They worked well, and I live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast where summers are torrid and plants dry out fast. That didn’t happen with these devices.” — Starr.Light

Susan Boeggeman, 67, likes to mow her lawn. “We finally bought a battery-operated lawn mower, and it’s been the best investment ever. I also would rather spend my retirement dollars on perennials as opposed to annuals.”

This Greenworks electric lawn mower works up to 45 minutes between charges and uses no gas or oil. It’s made for small- to medium-sized yards and weighs 37.5 pounds.

This multi-purpose electric tool can easily trim the edges of unruly lawns and then seamlessly convert to a traditional weed trimmer — no bending or manual weed pulling required. The 90-degree tilting head also means this trimmer can tackle hard-to-reach areas and sloped terrains while the ergonomic handle can make it less straining to hold and operate.

Promising Amazon review: “I am a single female who has an unfortunate amount of yard work. I gave up on the gas-powered weed trimmer that was a leftover from my former marriage. I spent more time figuring out the line than trimming. It killed my back and shoulders. Last but not least, with gas-powered yard machines I never know how much oil to mix, what kind of gas to put in, and so forth. I am not mechanical. So, my quest for an easier and lighter weed trimmer began. I landed on this Worx Trimmer due to Amazon reviews and popularity, along with other marketplace reviews. I have used the weed trimmer after three mowing cycles. So far: no regrets. It is economical. So how does it perform? I love it. A friend stopped by the other day and complimented me on how nice the yard looked. The trimmer is lightweight, and I have a health issue that causes chronic pain at forty-something. The weight, or lack thereof, is a huge relief compared to the gas trimmer collecting dust and spider webs in the garage. ” — Kimber (This review has been edited for length. Read the full review.)