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Shop the 9 Products Martha Always Keeps in Her Gardening Bag

In Martha's gardening bag, you'll find tools for weeding, planting, digging, and other tasks.

Martha has been an avid gardener for decades, tending to the acres of healthy vegetables, flowers, and herbs growing on her farm in Bedford, New York. Throughout her years of experience, she has curated the ultimate gardening bag. In it, you'll find the essentials our founder uses for pruning, weeding, planting, and everything in between. To ensure you're keeping only the necessities on hand, we're sharing the gardening must-haves you'll always find in Martha's bag.

01 of 09

Pruners

Pruners

Courtesy of Amazon

Martha always keeps these Okatsune pruners in her gardening bag. "These are the best," she says. "Sharp as can be." Made from the finest Japanese steel, these pruners effortlessly cut through branches up to 25 millimeters thick, including the branches of shrubs, roses, fruit trees, and creepers.

02 of 09

Herb Cutters

Herb cutters

Courtesy of Amazon

For cutting herbs and trimming dying or dead leaves, Martha uses these Clauss bonsai shears. With sharp tips and a long shank, these trimmers are great for hard-to-reach areas. The blades are made from rust-resistant stainless steel, which makes cuts easy and precise.

03 of 09

Japanese Weeder

Japanese Weeder

Courtesy of Amazon

Martha discovered this tool in the 1970s and still considers it the best weeder to this day. "This digs, it makes holes nicely, and it also scrapes weeds from the surface," she says. If you want to add one to your gardening bag, try this option from Miraise, which features a sharp edge that will make quick work of weeding.

04 of 09

Mallet

Mallet

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You'll always find a mallet in Martha's gardening bag, as it's useful for knocking stakes into the ground. She often uses bamboo for staking cucumbers, tomatoes, and other vegetables, which a hammer would split—a mallet will keep the bamboo intact. This option from Edward Tools has a durable rubber head for a soft strike that won't inflict damage.

05 of 09

Hori Hori Knife

Hori Hori Knife

Courtesy of Amazon

One of Martha's favorite gardening tools is a hori hori knife, which can be used as a digger and has a serrated edge that can cut through thick stems. Many hori hori knives, like the one pictured here, have measurements on them so you know how deep you're planting. For example, Galanthus bulbs should be planted 3 inches deep, Martha says, so you just put the hori hori knife into the soil at that depth and plant the bulb.

06 of 09

Japanese Pull Saw

Japanese Pull Saw

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Unlike push saws, Japanese saws only make cuts by pulling the tool. "This is so great for small branches," Martha says. "It's so sharp and so nice. I love this tool." This option from Suizan is made in Japan by craftspeople in a town known for its history of craft-making.

07 of 09

Scissors

Kitchen Aid Scissors

Courtesy of Amazon

Martha says to always have scissors in your gardening bag, which she uses for cutting string and other miscellaneous tasks. You can use regular kitchen scissors, like these all-purpose shears from KitchenAid. The micro-serrations on the edges of each blade provide a sharp cut.

08 of 09

Gloves

Cooljob garden gloves

Courtesy of Amazon

Of course, Martha's gardening bag wouldn't be complete without a pair of gloves. If you're looking for your own pair, try these—they have a flexible rubber coating designed to keep your hands cool and dry. The non-slip grip allows you to easily perform gardening tasks, like weeding and harvesting, while the long and flexible cuff keeps dirt and debris out.

09 of 09

Markers

Garden Markers

Courtesy of Amazon

To easily identify her plantings, Martha uses wood markers similar to the ones featured here. These plant labels are made from 100 percent natural wood and use waterproof ink, so you don't have to worry about the names washing away.

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