Tool Caddy Ideas for Your Garden

As we move through spring, it’s time to get out into the garden and prepare our garden beds and growing areas. Do you have what you need to get the work done? Gloves, check. Clippers, check. Rake and hoe, check.

With supplies in hand, you head out to the garden. At first, you have everything you need. But then, you can’t find your gloves. And where did you put the clippers? This is often a problem for an avid gardener. As you move from area to area, your tools slowly disappear. You set things down but forget to pick them up as you move on.

I’ve tried to combat this problem by keeping a stash of garden supplies in each area of my garden. I have some tools for my herb garden, some tools in the cutting garden, and a stash in my vegetable patch.

Having multiple sets of tools makes it easier to ensure I always have what I need. But eventually the supplies go missing. Maybe my husband took them to use. Or in the colder months, I put the clippers in my coat pocket. Or I set them down somewhere and still can’t find them.

Tool Caddy Solution…

I finally came up with a simple solution to this problem. I carry a set of tools with me as I go about my gardening. Instead of setting a tool down, I quickly return it to my tool carrier. And while I continue to keep a set of basic tools in each garden area, this one habit of carrying my tools as I go has kept me better organized.

Now when I go out to work in the garden, I grab my tool caddy. It contains my gloves, clippers, spade, twine, wire twists, and a note tablet and pencil. I always carry these basic supplies with me as I go to work in the garden. For larger jobs, I continue to store tools such as a rake, hoe, and shovel in the various garden areas for quick access.

Before I started this habit, I would just rely on what was in each garden area. Now I have backups. My tool caddy is always ready to go. This simplifies getting out to the garden.

I still maintain a stash of small tools in easy to access places for those quick trips to the garden. That way, when I’m not in garden mode but I see something that needs to be done, I can easily complete the job.

Tool Caddy Ideas for Your Garden…

Your tool caddy doesn’t have to be a traditional caddy. There are many options for creating your tool caddy. Here are some easy ways to carry your tools with you as you move about your garden.

Classic Tool Caddy

This is the carrier that we typically think about. Most often it’s a bag or wooden carrier that has compartments for storing your tools. There are many choices available for this type of caddy.

Bucket

Grabbing a bucket for your tools is inexpensive and easily accessible. Buckets come in all sizes, so find the size that best fits your needs. Your bucket could be metal, plastic, or even made of wood. A decorative bucket would be nice for this job. Be sure that your bucket has a handle to make grabbing and going easier.

You can also purchase inserts and wraps that can partition the bucket for easier access to your tools. You can find outside wraps or inside compartment holders. If you want to make your own, check out this design: Convert a plastic bucket into this.

The benefit of a bucket with outside compartments is that you can use the bucket to hold plant matter that needs to be discarded, while tools are stored in pockets around the outside.

Basket

I love a good basket, and it’s perfect for this task. Whatever size and shape you desire, it’s out there. Choose a sturdy basket with a handle for this job. Your basket could be wicker, metal, or even plastic.

Apron

A multi-pocketed apron is perfect for working in the garden. Just tie it around your waist when heading to the garden, and your tools will be right there. Easy to grab a tool and then replace when you’re finished with a task.

You can purchase an apron specifically for the garden or make your own. You can also repurpose a kitchen apron for this task. Choose an apron that is made from sturdy fabric. It would help to re-enforce the pockets so any sharp tools don’t poke holes in them. Full-size or half-size could all work as your tool caddy. Just choose what you’re more comfortable with.

Repurposed Items

Use your imagination to create your tool caddy. Repurpose regular household items for carrying your tools. For example, do you have an old backpack that could hold your tools? How about a cleaning caddy? What about a fishing tackle box? Or a garage toolbox? Or what about using a wicker handbag?

You could also use some of your vintage items as carriers for your tools. How about a vintage wire basket? If the holes are too large, just line the basket with a piece of fabric, such as burlap. A vintage milk bottle carrier could work. Line each bottle compartment with a cardboard container to hold your supplies. Do you have a metal bread box? Look for the type that has two fold-down handles. Or hot-glue a fabric strip to each side to make a simple handle, and you’ll have a perfect carrier.

What to Store in your Tool Caddy…

Here is a basic list of the things that are most helpful to carry in your tool caddy. How many of these items you carry will depend on the size of your carrier and the extent of the job.

• Sturdy pair of garden gloves
• Clippers for heavy stalks and small branches
• Snips for cutting flower stems
• Scissors for cutting herbs and twine
• Spade or Hori Hori knife for digging up plants and weeds
• Twine
• Twist ties
• Plant markers and a Sharpie or wax pencil
• Note Tablet and pens
• Packet of Kleenex
• Water bottle

Other Uses for Tool Caddies…

I couldn’t talk about garden tool caddies without sharing some other ways to use a classic tool caddy. If you have extra tool caddies available, there are many other ways you can use them in your home. Here are a few tool caddy ideas for other ways to use them in your garden or home.

1. Outdoor Eating Carrier to use for carrying napkins, plates, silverware, and seasoning to your tables.

2. Stationery/Card Carrier. Use this to organize your favorite note cards, gift cards, and blank stationery. Also include an address book, stamps, and pens for quick access.

3. Store frequently used spices and herbs. A small tool caddy can work on your table or kitchen counter to keep your most frequently used herbs and spices ready to use.

4. Display seasonal decor. Use a caddy to display your holiday decor, spring garden items, or any seasonal decorations.

5. Tea bag storage. Use a small caddy to arrange your most frequently used tea bags.

6. Store your garden seeds. While you won’t want to keep your seed packets out all year, during the growing season, a tool caddy is a good place to hold all your seeds, labels, pens, etc. This easy to grab and go caddy makes spring planting a cinch.

7. Grow an herb garden or flowers in your caddy. You can actually plant in a larger caddy. Be sure to line it with plastic to prevent leaks.

8. Use a vintage caddy to display your favorite collections, such as old milk bottles, vintage thermoses, milk glass, blue Ball Mason jars, glass soda bottles. So many options.

9. Fill your caddy with snacks and treats.

10. Organize your crafting supplies.

11. Display your favorite books by season.

Once you create a tool caddy to carry your garden supplies, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do this sooner. This one habit will save you hours during the growing season. So choose one of these tool caddy holders and finally create a way to always have your garden tools at your fingertips.