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At the end of each year, the Gardening Products Review takes a close look at all of the products we’ve reviewed. We then award up to five products with the Golden Shovel Award for outstanding garden product.
In 2018, we had more great products than ever to choose from, as we reviewed over 80 new gardening tools and accessories! We revisited the products that we reviewed earlier in the year, checked how well everything was holding up after extended use, and looked at which items got the most use from our testers and home gardeners. We then evaluated the top-rated items against an a detailed list of criteria to choose those that truly stood out from the pack.
After weighing the pros and cons of all of the gardening products, we’re proud to announce the 2018 winners of the Golden Shovel Awards! Congratulations to all the winners!
2018 Golden Shovel Award Winners
Vegepod Raised Garden Bed Kit
This is one of our favorite gardening containers. It produces bountiful crops, is self-watering, protects plants from birds and other pests, and takes up limited space – great for patio gardening. With the optional stand (with or without casters), you can garden at waist height. The cover keeps pesky critters away, is easy to open and close, and has an integrated watering system. It does take patience to assemble all the parts but the instructions are very clear. It comes in 3 sizes and has a 10 year warranty. (Note: Prices for the kit start around $160.)
Redback 120vRX Lithium-Ion Cordless String Trimmer
Redback does it again with a lightweight yet powerful offering with its new 120vRX Lithium-Ion Cordless String Trimmer. It’s simple to use, runs non-stop for about 70 minutes (the weeds will run out before it does!), operates at 6,000 RPM to easily tackle even tall, shrubby weeds, and is highly maneuverable. Plus, it’s very competitively priced. Of all the string trimmers we’ve reviewed, this is the one we most recommend.
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Allsop Premium Grow Stake
The Allsop Premium Grow Stake is a strong, sleek, aluminum stake with several unique features that make it a worthwhile purchase for staking larger, heavier plants. Unlike bamboo or plastic stakes, this plant stake is built to last. We like the adjustable telescoping pole that you can extend as the plant grows, as well as the 'foot' that stabilizes the stake in the ground. The adjustable tie-down cleats make it easy to secure tree trunks, stalks and other plantings without tying a lot of knots. And the 2-½ foot wire atop the stake is an excellent retaining system (although it can be tricky to adjust). We loved this so much we bought six more!
Watex Urban Farming Green Wall Kit
This vertical garden kit from Watex lets you create an outdoor green wall in minutes. It’s simple to install, gives you multiple design options, and keeps plants nicely irrigated with minimal effort on your part (even through the extreme heat of a Tucson summer!). It’s the best vertical garden system we’ve used to date.
Congratulations to all of the 2018 winners!
See Past Golden Shovel Award Winners
Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API