Buying guide for Best garden tool organizers
If gardening is your pastime, then you have a diverse range of tools to help you plant, weed, seed, and trim, just to name a few. As your collection continues to grow (pun intended), it’s a good idea to invest in a garden tool organizer to keep each item visible and readily accessible.
Garden tool organizers are available in a number of convenient designs, including wall-mounted and portable, as well as rolling or tote organizers. Besides keeping tools neatly arranged, these organizers are a safe way to keep them in one place. These organizers keep them from being stepped on by people as well as pets.
Key considerations
Organizers vs. other storage
Garden tool organizers are focused on one task: holding your gardening tools. They’re specially designed to accommodate common tools, such as spades, hoes, or rakes. While you can place some gardening tools inside a tool box or workbench, it won’t work for all of them.
Another reason gardeners invest in organizers is to preserve the handles of their tools. Many tools have silicone or ergonomic grips, which are softer and more susceptible to damage. When storing garden tools with other tools, such as screwdrivers or saws, it’s easy for handles to get nicked. Garden tool organizers, on the other hand, usually keep the tools as well as the handles separate to protect them.
Hand tools vs. full-length tools
To choose the right garden tool organizer, first assess the types of tools you use. If your main concern is easy portability for hand tools, invest in a tote or wheeled organizer. For full-length tools, both manual and electric, it’s a good idea to choose a wall-mounted organizer.
Some people have a vast collection of both hand tools and full-length tools that require storage. In this case, they can either buy more than one type of organizer or choose one with extensive storage options to accommodate all types of tools.
Types of garden tool organizers
There are two main categories of garden tool organizers: portable and wall-mounted. With that said, there are several subdivisions of these categories, so read on to see which one might suit your needs best.
Wall-mounted: These organizers consist of racks and pegboards, which can be hung on the indoor or outdoor walls of a shed or garage. While they’re most often associated with storing full-length gardening tools, like hoes and rakes, you’ll find a broad range of mounted organizers with dedicated spaces for hand tools, too.
Caddy: These organizers, made of canvas, weatherproof fabrics, or plastic, are ideal for carrying hand tools. They have a series of pockets, usually on the outside, making it easy to see and reach for each tool. Many tote organizers also have an oversize inner pocket, which can hold larger tools, gloves, or water bottles.
Wheeled: If you’d rather not carry your collection of garden tools around the yard, consider a wheeled organizer. These garden tool organizers resemble trolleys and are easily pulled around your yard by a folding or telescopic handle. In lieu of pockets, they have oversize compartments or pegs to store tools. The wheels usually have deep treads to effortlessly traverse uneven terrain as well as dirt, mud, and grass. Some styles even come with a hose reel or have attached bins for weeds and trimmings.
Kneeling: These organizers are equipped with a soft platform upon which you can rest your knees or sit. These usually U-shaped organizers store small tools on the sides inside removable pockets or compartments. Larger kneeling organizers may have wheels because their shape and weight make them awkward to carry.
Features
Materials
Soft garden tool organizers, such as caddies and some wheeled organizers, are made of canvas or water-resistant fabrics like nylon. There are also some organizers that are made of dense, weather-resistant plastic, which are easily hosed down for cleaning. Many mounted garden tool organizers have a metal frame with high-quality plastic pegs or clips. If you have gardening tools with a cutting edge, like saws or pickaxes, a soft organizer won't be the safest choice.
Customization
It’s common for garden tool organizers to offer some degree of storage customization. This can be in the form of movable pegs or clips, removable pockets, or detachable bins and compartments. While you can change the arrangement of these organizers, keep in mind that their original configuration usually offers the most in the way of storage.
For your safety
Be sure to store your garden tool organizer out of the reach of curious kids and pets, especially since sharper tools, such as weeders and pruners, can be dangerous for them to touch.
STAFF
BestReviews
Accessories
Gardening gloves: Pine Tree Tools Gardening Gloves
Look no further for soft and breathable gardening gloves. These bamboo gloves resist abrasions and offer protection between the fingers, plus they fit like a second skin to stay put as you work.
Gardening shoes: Sloggers Rain and Garden Shoes
Wear these comfortable waterproof shoes while you work in the garden. Available in over 20 fun patterns, they’re made from 100% recycled materials.
Garden tool organizer prices
Garden tool organizers start at $10 and go all the way up to $100. The price mostly depends on the storage capacity, as well as the overall quality of construction.
Inexpensive
Budget-friendly organizers cost $25 and less. You’ll find a wide variety of caddy, wheeled, and kneeling designs in this bracket, but they won’t last as long as their more expensive counterparts.
Mid-range
For $30 to $50, there are better-quality organizers that come with customizable storage features. These are usually more resistant to weather and moisture and will last through considerable use.
Expensive
Most mounted garden tool organizers cost $50 and more. Depending on the design, they can hold up to ten hand or full-length garden tools.
Tips
- Clean your garden tool organizer. Keep your organizer clean by wiping it down, spot cleaning, or hosing it off every now and then. This keeps pollen, clippings, trimmings, and critters at bay.
- Place hand tools with handles down in caddy organizers. When using a soft caddy organizer, make sure you place hand tools with the handles down for storage. Otherwise, the sharp edges of the tools could puncture the caddy’s material.
- Check for mounting hardware. Mounted organizers usually come with hardware, though the screws might be a bit too short. If you prefer longer ones for a more secure installation, be prepared to buy them separately.
- Invest in an all-in-one organizer. Those new to gardening may wish to invest in an all-in-one organizer. They come with a modest assortment of basic hand tools as well as a caddy organizer.
FAQ
Q. Will the garden tool organizer’s product information list which types of tools it can hold?
A. Sometimes, but you might get a better idea of which tools the organizer holds from looking at the pictures. Certain garden tool organizers offer an estimate in terms of the number of hand or full-length gardening tools they hold.
Q. Won’t a canvas caddy get saturated in my yard when I’m gardening?
A. Canvas is absorbent, so it might be a good idea to invest in a more water-resistant option. While it can dry overnight, or sooner if left in direct sunlight, there’s still the issue of ending up with saturated tools. As a result, many gardeners choose to use a canvas organizer in dry conditions and switch to a plastic or nylon organizer when watering or working in the garden after it rains.
Q. How high should I hang a garden tool organizer?
A. It’s recommended that you mount the organizer with enough clearance from the ground that the tools won’t get wet even if the shed or garage floor gets wet. With that said, be sure to hang it at a height that’s easy to access. You don’t want to have to struggle to remove or return gardening tools to the organizer.
