Maryland Native Plants: Planting the Right Plant, Using the Right Tool.

Apr 14, 2025 | Blog, Native Plant Spotlight

Gardening with Maryland Native Plants

The Right Plant for that Place, the Right Tool for the Job

Be sure to check The Nursery’s weekly inventory!

Planning and installing your ideal garden can be a little more complex than picking some plants you like and plunking them in the ground. Different plant species grow in different environments, while the design of different tools handle some tasks better than others. For a garden to grow successfully the two most important things to know are how much light the area receives, and how wet the soil is generally. Light is best measured in the growing season when the trees have fully leafed out. As for the soil moisture, keep an eye on if water pools in an area after a rain (a wetter area) or if the planting area is on a slope as the top of the slope will be drier than the bottom. If the soil frequently cracks and crumbles it’s likely a very dry space. Our website has plants separated into different categories to help you find the correct

plants.

As for tools, the right tool for the job can really make taking care of your landscape or vegetable garden easier. Our gift shop, Cultivate Garden and Goods, is excited to carry a larger variety of tools for different needs starting this 2025 growing season! Check the website or pop into the shop often to see what new. We hope to carry tools that makes gardening more accessible for those with arthritis more accessible! Let’s look at a few different tools and garden accessories and how they might be useful.

Hoes

Triangular hoes are great for areas where there is space between plants and along straight edges.

This weeding hoe is great for tight spaces and small corners.

Stirrup hoes are great for covering large areas that need to be weeded.

When it comes to picking the right garden hoe, assess your space and decide if you have a lot of tight spaces or more open spaces. Because the shape and style of the hoe can impact how easy it is to reach those tight areas between buildings, plants, or other permanent fixtures. These tools work by undercutting the foliage of the weed and damaging the top section of the roots. This is not recommended to use for weeds that regrow easily from tap roots or spread via rhizome as they can continue to spread by roots left behind. Some hoes are easier to use while you are standing while others are better to use in a kneeling, or sitting position. Stirrup hoes hose are great for dealing with larger spaces, they allow you to cover a large amount of open space quickly. However, if you have a space that has a lot of tight corners a flat hole with sharp triangular edges is going to be more suited for that space.

This Hori Hori is great for removing deep taproots.

Garden trowel/Hori Hori

The Hori Hori is a perfect tool for digging around plants and removing weeds. You can sink the blade into the dirt and scoop out the roots. Additionally the serrated blade can cut through particularly woody stems and thick roots as well. However, if moving potting soil, compost, or garden soil in smaller quantities a good trowel is the right choice for that.

Hand Rakes

These garden tools are great for weeding plants as they just start to grow and their roots are still fragile. You can rake the top few inches of soil and it will pull out small weeds; additionally you can use this tool to stir in compost or fertilizer. Because this is a small tool, it is easier to get between plants and some of those spaces that larger tools won’t fit easily.

Weeding gloves protect your hands and make easy work for light gardening.

Heavy duty gardening gloves are best for moving lots of stonework or branches from pruning trees and shrubs.

Gloves

Having an appropriate pair of gloves makes tending to the garden much easier since they protect your hands from scrapes and help you grip onto unwanted plant materials and stones when removing them. For cold weather or moving lots of hardscaping materials we recommend leather or canvass gloves . Of course one of our favorites for general upkeep are the brightly colored weeding gloves, their durability makes them able to stand up to a fair bit of use and their bright colors make them easy to find should you set them down somewhere in the garden.

Garden Accessories

From decorative stakes to bird houses there are plenty of garden accessories that you can use to support wildlife, dry garden herbs, or bring year-round interest to your garden. Some of our favorites include the various metal-works and the Xbox birdhouses that are made locally from reclaimed wood, we had recently put one out in the nursery and a bluebird promptly took up residence and built a nest. We have a variety of birdhouses available in the shop. Other things to add into your garden include trellis and arbors. These structures add interest to your garden in winter months as well as provide support for vining plants.

Don’t forget that it’s never too early to inspire the children in your life to love nature! Check out what garden tools we have that are suitable for kids.