Trendy tools for hassle-free gardening

With home remodeling projects spiraling due to investments in the great outdoors, majority of tool buyers want lawn and garden equipment. To help importers source easy-to-use lawn and garden tool variants, here's a list of hot products to look out for.

• Smart gardening sensors: Small devices integrating environment sensors that can be placed on soil are emerging. One example is Edyn's Wi-Fi-capable smart gardening system, unveiled at CES 2015, which can water plants based on detected environment conditions. It has sensors that measure temperature, humidity and light intensity. The device then works with an app to send recommendations to users. It runs on a Li-polymer battery and solar energy.

• Twine Trellises: Backyard gardening is becoming more popular in urban areas. According to an October 2014 garden trend survey conducted by the Garden Writers Association Foundation, edible gardening remained strong in 2014, with more than 44 percent of US consumer respondents growing plants in the ground or in containers. With trellises using strings instead of wood or metal as vine rails, yard or garden space can be maximized. Vegetables such as beans and cucumbers can grow on compact vertical stands. Installation time is also shorter because there's no need to hammer many nails or drill screws.

• Wheeled tool caddies, portable planters: A tool case rack with bi- or multidirectional wheels makes the cumbersome task of lugging heavy tools around easier. It is better if all the tools are displayed, saving users' time rifling through crowded toolboxes. For green thumbs on the go, even the garden itself can be movable. Available in the market are lightweight wheeled plant carts. Maree Gaetani, spokeswoman for Vermont-based Gardener's Supply Co. said in a Yahoo report that millennials, age 18 to 35 in particular, have a growing interest in portable gardening (roof, deck, patio gardening).

• Portable outdoor sinks: No plumbing is required for installation. Integrating legs or can be hooked into walls and attached with a garden hose, new models are compact and lightweight. These allow users to clean up equipment and wash hands withinthe lawn or garden.

• No-kink hoses: Hoses that do not get tangled make water flow properly. Many releases have expandable or extendable bodies or come with coil organizers. Some are flat when not in use for easy storage. With segments not intertwining with another, breaking that causes leaks are prevented.

• Pickup rakes: With pincer-type heads, gardeners need not bend when picking up fallen leaves or garden debris. These help avoid back problems after long hours of work at the yard.