A lush green lawn, happy garden, and healthy shrubbery all add something special to a home.

We live in an increasingly advanced age of technology, but the appeal of nature never truly goes away. Maintaining your own slice of homegrown goodness is a weekly task that reaps subtle rewards. When you bring flowers or vegetables into your life you can expect to enjoy improved mental health, better physical health, and a higher home value. A devoted gardener is a flexible homeowner, after all, and you’re already taking the essential first step. Before you purchase that garden hose or consider fertilizer…

…read below to learn about the five essential pieces of equipment no gardener should be without.

A Flexible Garden Hose For All Occasions

Where would a healthy garden or lawn be without water? A key ingredient for any successful gardening excursion is access to drinking water safe garden hoses. A good garden hose should last between five to 10 years with minimal upkeep, even if you use it frequently. For those that want to use a hose nozzle (or sprinkler) should look for a hose with a burst pressure above 350 psi. Optimal lawn watering with a sprinkler system usually takes between an hour and an hour and a half, depending on the size you’re working with.

Sumptuous Fertilizer To Keep Your Plants Growing

Alongside your flexible water hose you should have more than enough fertilizer to keep your plants growing. There are different types of soil to choose from in your new hobby, though only some have the right ingredients to encourage growth. Fertilizer is composed of not just dirt, but key minerals, organic plant matter, and even shells for maximum effect. You can check the pH value of your fertilizer by using test strips. If this is even a little off you’ll be left with a frustrating lack of flower buds!

Sturdy Gloves To Protect You From The Elements

You have commercial garden hoses and a few extra bags of fertilizer. What’s next? Make sure you’re never caught without a thick pair of gardening gloves. Gardening involves handling a lot of tools, some very sharp and others extremely dirty — these should fit snugly at all times, as it’s easy to get an infected cut when you’re digging deep in the dirt. Double-check the insides before putting them on, too, so you’re not accidentally sticking your fingers somewhere filthy.

A Wide Brim Hat To Shield Your Skin

All weather durability doesn’t just have to be for your heavy duty hose. Gardening is outside work (with the exception of windowsill gardens) and this means sun protection. Alongside plenty of zinc oxide sunscreen you should also have a wide brim hat to protect your face, neck, and shoulders. Consider buying one with chin ties, if you’re the kind of gardener that’s always on the move and doesn’t want to constantly readjust your gear. Just like adding a little more organic matter to your potted plant, it’s the little details that go a long way!

A Good Book To Refer To

Last, but not least, you should also look up a useful gardening book. These can be great resources in a pinch when you’re not sure how much soil to use or whether you’re overwatering your plant. While the Internet remains a fantastic tool, old-fashioned gardening books can provide a wealth of classic knowledge in one place. Pair this with your flexible garden hose and gear and you’ve got a match made in heaven. A 2014 study found the number of people who did gardening within the last year amounting to $115 million in the United States.

Invite nature to your home. Help your gardening days flourish with a little help from good tools.