Growing cannabis outdoors requires certain gardening tools and equipment to properly cultivate healthy plants and maximize yields. The ideal outdoor cannabis garden has the right instruments for preparing beds, planting, maintenance, and harvest. Here we will look at the most important gardening implements that all outdoor cannabis growers should have on hand.
Primary Tillage Tools
When first establishing an outdoor garden, soil preparation is key. The right primary tillage tools make developing planting beds much easier:
- Shovel – A standard shovel allows digging and moving soil for creating rows, holes, and raised beds. A rounded point is best for scooping and lifting.
- Garden fork – Forks aerate and loosen soil efficiently. The tines break up compacted layers and improve drainage better than shovels.
- Hoe – A long-handled hoe efficiently removes weeds and shapes wide beds. Choose either a grubbing or slicing hoe depending on needs.
- Bow rake – Use a bow rake to level out soil, remove debris, and smooth seedbeds. The curved tines glide through topsoil easily.
- Tiller – Gas- or electric-powered tillers effortlessly churn up soil. They mix amendments deeply through the root zone. Roto-tillers offer power and versatility for establishing new gardens.
Preparing proper soil texture, fertility, and drainage with these basic tools makes for ideal outdoor growing conditions.
Planting Tools
Once beds are prepped, the right planting tools enable growers to get their starts off to a strong start:
- Trowel – A hand trowel suits digging holes for transplanting seedlings or cuttings. Ergonomic handles reduce fatigue for larger plantings.
- Dibble – This stick-like tool pokes uniform seed holes at the right depth and spacing when sowing direct.
- Garden line – Straight lines ensure even spacing between plants. Stretch a line taut and use it as a planting guide.
- Transplanting shovel – For transplanting larger starts, a shovel with a stepped lip carefully cradles and lifts plants with roots intact.
- Tree planting bar – For planting directly into unworked ground, a planting bar makes a pilot hole to drop seeds or seedlings into.
- Row cover – Cover newly planted beds with horticultural fabric to conserve warmth and moisture while preventing insect damage. Secure the edges well.
- The correct planting tools help cannabis get established quickly by reducing transplant shock and giving them what they need from the start.
Cultivation and Care Tools
Tending to growing cannabis plants through the season requires a few key cultivation tools:
- Hoe – Keep beds free of competing weeds with routine hoeing. A scuffle hoe is great for navigating closely spaced plants.
- Hand trowel – Use a trowel for digging around plants to prune roots or bury stretching stems for added support.
- Pruning shears – Pruning shears cut away old growth and shape plants, promoting favored growth and airflow. Clean cuts prevent disease.
- Loppers – Bypass loppers allow pruning of thicker secondary branches with the same precision as hand pruners.
- Watering can – Deliver water directly to the soil around plants using a watering can with a long spout. Avoid wetting foliage, which can encourage mold.
- Garden stakes – Stakes provide physical support to anchor top-heavy colas upright against wind and rain.
A few basic tools like these make tending, pruning, and training cannabis much simpler during the grow season.
Harvesting Tools
As plants mature and flower, another set of tools is needed when harvest time arrives:
- Pruning snips – Snips quickly cut down whole plants or individual branches right when trichomes are fully ripe.
- Drying racks – Hang drying cannabis branches upside down on specially designed drying racks to slowly cure for best flavor.
- Jeweler’s loupe – A loupe lets growers closely inspect trichomes to determine peak ripeness for cutting. Look for bulbous, milky-colored heads.
- Mesh bags – Store trimmed buds in breathable mesh bags, which allow airflow for continued curing and prevent mold.
- Humidity gauge – Clip-on meters track humidity levels during drying and curing to avoid potential bud rot.
- Hygrometer – Hygrometers monitor relative humidity inside curing jars. The ideal RH level for curing is 62-70%.
Quality harvesting and curing tools help maximize cannabis’ flavor and potency potential after all the hard work of raising the plants.
While elaborate systems exist for growing cannabis, starting with good soil and this toolkit of basic hand tools can set any outdoor garden up for success. Leveraging the right equipment makes every task easier and more efficient throughout the outdoor cannabis growing season. No need to overcomplicate things – a simple, reliable set of gardening implements is all most growers need to achieve great results.
Focus on fundamentals before accessories – the most essential tools for planting, care, and harvest go a long way. With this checklist met, the foundation is laid for thriving plants and stand-out outdoor cannabis.
For practical tips and advice on homegrown Cannabis, check out our posts on How Long Does It Take To Fully Grow A Cannabis Plant?, Advantages of Growing Cannabis Clones Vs Seeds, and How Much Cannabis Can I legally Carry In The Canada.
