"This attractive, sturdy bag has pockets for all my garden essentials," Martha says.

Ribber bag with leather trim, by Florida Coast, from Green Mountain Products, 203-846-9505.

"Debris like dead leaves can harbor diseas and pests," Stephen Orr says. "You can use this small rake in tight spots without damaging nearby foliage."

Metal hand rake, 15 1/2 inches, gardentoolcompany.com.

The spring mechanism makes snipping easy (even if your grip is weak). "These are the absolute best," Martha says.

Pruner, 7 1/8 inches, by Okatsune, from amleo.com.

Before storing tools for the season, sharpen them with this file, which folds closed after use.

Diamond DiaFold Flat File, dmtsharp.com.

A serrated blade cuts right through tough, fibrous roots.

Hori-Hori digging tool, by Grow Tech, from gemplers.com.

"I use these to trim everything, including burlap and thin grasses," gardening editor Tony Bielaczyc says.

Scissors, by Garden Cut, from gardenshoponline.com.

These soft gloves let you feel what you're working on but are tough enough to protect you from thorns.

Gardener's goatskin gloves, womanswork.com.

Handles on all corners make it easy to drag leaves to the compost pile.

Bos-Sheet, by Bosmere, from garden.com.

"They're super comfortable, and I just hose them off when they get muddy," gardening editor Andrea Mason says.

Minbus low-tops, lawngrips.com.

To protect shrubs during winter, tie them to a stake or to each other with jute. The can has a built-in cutter.

Garden twine, by Luster Leaf, from seedandgarden.com.

These rubber tubs are good for housing wayward tools or collecting the last crop of vegetables.

Tubtrugs, us.trubtugs.com.

Give pots the once-over with this heavy-duty walnut-shell pad before storing them. But you don't have to stop there: "I was sure I was going to have to repaint my toolshed door," Stephen says. "But this got the door gleaming white. I got so excited, I started cleaning my metal patio furniture!"

Outdoor scouring pad, by Goodbye Detergent, from reuseit.com.