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The nature of gardening today has changed dramatically as have the demographics of the folks who participate. Based on various garden statistics, the Boomer generation now makes up less that 10 per cent of the gardening community, while Gens X, Y and Z are the vast majority.

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The size of today’s gardens has also diminished as so many of our younger generations live in apartments, condos and townhouses, where outdoor space is limited. A few years ago, it was estimated that 54 per cent of gardening was done in containers. I expect that number has increased over the past few years. Even the traditional in-ground garden patches have given way to raised beds and narrow strips along fence lines.

Our changing climate, with more and longer periods of extreme heat, is a reality and the growing adoption of regenerative gardening is creating a new approach to our gardening practices as well.

The one issue we seldom talk about, but one which is at the heart of everything we do in our gardens, is the tools we use. I had the opportunity to speak with Ashley Towers of Hornwood Agencies, which distributes garden tools to the horticultural retail sector, and he pointed out that the tools we use in the garden today are significantly different from past models. He said that with so much container gardening, there is little or no need for traditional tools, and that with smaller outdoor spaces, there is also little room for traditional garden storage sheds.

In addition, he pointed out that in an aging Boomer generation, more lightweight garden tools are in demand. For instance, traditional D-handled forks and shovels are now available in smaller, lighter, but equally efficient sizes, and are well suited to raised beds and containers.

According to Towers, hand tools are far more appropriate for today’s gardens and demographics and are much easier to store. When I asked him if there was a new favourite tool, he said the Japanese Hori Hori knife was the winner. It’s a traditional Japanese garden tool that has become a favourite for gardeners around the world. The curved stainless-steel blade is a combination knife and narrow trowel so the tip can be used as a shovel, making it ideal for weeding and digging in many types of soil. The blade is marked with measurements which is perfect for transplanting. One side of the blade is smooth while the other side is serrated so it’s practical for both cutting and edging.

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I was also able to speak with Trudy Hurley, assistant manager of the Lee Valley Tools Vancouver store. Lee Valley, founded in Ottawa in 1978 and now with 20 stores across Canada, is innovative and supplies tools and equipment for many disciplines including gardening. Hurley was well aware of the demographic change in gardening and the shift from ground beds to containers.

Lee Valley has a full line of lightweight spades, forks, rakes, bulb planters and other practical tools for both traditional gardens and raised beds and containers. Hurley said they have been monitoring changing garden trends for some time and, in fact, have developed their own line of more appropriate tools, including rakes, forks, spades and hoes, which are about half the size of traditional tools and are very easy to use, especially for older folks. Hurley said these mid-length tools are well priced, in the $45-50 range, and have become increasingly popular. They are just the right size for container work, whether you need to turn over all the soil, or just work in some compost.

Many gardeners today have physical challenges to navigate, which can make garden preparation especially daunting. Hurley mentioned that Lee Valley offers a good range of ergonomic hand tools, making it much easier to manage many garden chores. Many of these tools have uniquely shaped circular or curved handles, allowing them to be held sideways. They are also light weight, making them easier to use. This is an enormous help to folks with arthritis and other debilitating health issues.

Hurley also mentioned that watering is becoming an issue, involving dragging hoses, possibly several times a day, during hot weather. With water use also of greater concern, she said drip watering systems have also become more popular. These systems use far less water and put the moisture directly where it’s needed most- right at the root zone.

The heavy, hard lifting of garden soil preparation can truly be made a great deal easier with today’s smaller and more efficient garden tools. I have been using them for many years, for greater efficiency and a lighter workload. A smaller, D-handled shovel is one of the most practical garden tools I have ever used, and I highly recommend it.

Thanks to the changing garden environment, it’s nice to know these tools are available in many garden and hardware stores and great places like Lee Valley Tools.