Which garden tool organizer is best?

Whether you care for lush acres of fruits and vegetables or tend a small herb garden on a balcony, time in the garden is well spent. Because most people lead busy lives with other demands, the last thing you want to do is waste your precious time searching for the tools you need scattered across your garage or elsewhere. The best garden tool organizer keeps everything neat, tidy and close at hand.

For a garden tool organizer that will last a lifetime, consider the StoreYourBoard Tool Storage Rack. Wall-mounted and made from stainless steel, it holds every type of garden tool you can throw at it.

What to know before you buy a garden tool organizer

Portable vs. fixed tool organizer

A garden tool organizer can be either portable or fixed. Portable organizers that hold long-handled tools come with large wheels that are nimble on varied terrain. For hand tools, it’s easy to bring what you need to the garden in a canvas bag or tote with multiple pockets and lots of storage for seeds, vegetable labels and other gardening paraphernalia.

If you don’t need to transport tools to the garden itself, a fixed tool organizer might be the best choice. These sturdy racks stand on their own or attach securely to a wall.

Type of tool

Another important consideration is the type of tool you need to organize.

Short-handled tools: Balcony container gardens don’t generally require long-handled tools, so a small caddy or canvas tote might work best.
Long-handled-tools: Long-handled tools need a different type of organization to protect padded handles from damage.
Hybrid: Some organizers also accommodate short-handled tools with small hooks or slots plus wells for larger tools.

Overall need

For gardeners with just one or two tools, it may not make sense to purchase a garden tool organizer. A few tools may be safely stowed in a closet or leaned against the interior wall of a garage.

If your tools are piling up and wearing down from improper storage, a dedicated space can keep them in better shape.

What to look for in a quality garden tool organizer

Adaptability

As your garden grows, your garden tool needs may change. Organizers with movable clips or mounts or multiple pockets let your organizer grow with you.

Ease of assembly and use

Totes and caddies are generally usable right out of the box, but other garden tool organizers require some assembly. They should not, however, require an advanced degree to put together. Look for detailed instructions and organizers that don’t require tools beyond a screwdriver or Allen wrench.

Durability

You’ll need something to stand up to the elements and vigorous use. Durable organizers can take a lot of use and abuse without cracking or breaking.

How much you can expect to spend on a garden tool organizer

The price varies depending on the size, type and material of the organizer you select. Expect to spend $25-$100.

Garden tool organizer FAQ

How do garden tool organizers preserve the life of tools?

A. Purchasing a full set of gardening tools can be an expensive endeavor. The last thing you want is to watch them rust slowly into the dirt or receive splinters from their weatherworn, cracked handles.

Garden tool organizers keep tools off the ground, away from not just the elements but also from pests that like to munch on padded handles. Properly storing your tools means they won’t bang against each other, too, which can cause nicks and cracks in blades and handles.

Finally, garden tool organizers keep tools clean. This prevents any pests or diseases from spreading to other tools or a different area of your garden.

Where do you hang a wall-mounted organizer?

A. A garden tool organizer should come with a specific set of instructions for that particular model. Generally, hanging wall-mounted organizers with enough space between the bottom of the tool on the ground so that if there is flooding in the storage area the tools will not be wet.

However, be certain that you don’t hang them so high that it’s difficult to access the tools or put them away. Have an assistant help you decide which height is best.

What’s the best garden tool organizer to buy?

Top garden tool organizer

StoreYourBoard Tool Storage Rack

What you need to know: If you need a heavy-duty organizer for every garden tool — including power tools — this one’s for you.

What you’ll love: Its four large and two small attachments hold up to 300 pounds of garden and yard tools. It’s made of heavy-duty steel and mounts to the wall to free up storage space on the floor.

What you should consider: It’s expensive and heavy (over 10 pounds).

Top garden tool organizer for the money

Picnic at Ascot Garden Tote With Tools

What you need to know: This is the perfect solution for people who need both tools and organizer.

What you’ll love: The 600-denier canvas resists rips and tears. Plenty of pockets hold multiple tools. The base is sturdy and supports the sides when they are loaded up. This comes with three stainless steel hand tools. It also has a lifetime warranty.

What you should consider: There are no pockets on one side, and you’ll need to find another place to store long-handled tools.

Worth checking out

Rubbermaid Garage Tool Tower Rack

What you need to know: This works best for avid gardeners who need storage space for up to 40 long-handled tools.

What you’ll love: It assembles easily without tools. Even though it’s not technically portable, casters make moving it around on a smooth surface easier. Tools nestle into a grid at the base of the organizer, and it can also hold short-handled tools.

What you should consider: The long handles can still become tangled.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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Today is Friday, March 14, the 73rd day of 2025. There are 292 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On March 14, 1973, future U.S. senator and presidential candidate John McCain was released from North Vietnamese captivity after being held as a prisoner of war for over five years.

Also on this date:

In 1794, Eli Whitney received a patent for his cotton gin, an invention that revolutionized the American cotton industry.

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In 1879, Albert Einstein, who would revolutionize physics and the human understanding of the universe, was born in Ulm, Germany.

In 1964, a jury in Dallas found Jack Ruby guilty of murdering Lee Harvey Oswald, the accused assassin of President John F. Kennedy, and sentenced Ruby to death. (Both the conviction and death sentence were overturned, but Ruby died before he could be retried.)

In 1967, the body of President John F. Kennedy was moved from a temporary grave to a permanent memorial site at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

In 1980, a LOT Polish Airlines jet crashed while attempting to land in Warsaw, killing all 87 people aboard, including 22 athletes and staff members of the U.S. boxing team.

In 2015, Robert Durst, a wealthy eccentric linked to two killings and his wife’s disappearance, was arrested by the FBI in New Orleans on a murder warrant a day before HBO aired the final episode of a serial documentary about his life. (Durst would be convicted in the shooting death of his friend, Susan Berman; he died in January 2022 while serving a life sentence in California.)

In 2018, Stephen Hawking, the best-known theoretical physicist of his time, died at his home in Cambridge, England, at the age of 76 after living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for 55 years.

Today’s Birthdays:

Actor Michael Caine is 92.
Country musician Michael Martin Murphey is 80.
Actor-comedian Billy Crystal is 77.
Country singer Kristian Bush is 55.
Actor Betsy Brandt is 52.
Actor Grace Park is 51.
Actor Corey Stoll is 49.
Actor Chris Klein is 46.
Actor Jamie Bell is 39.
NBA star Stephen Curry is 37.
Actor Ansel Elgort is 31.
Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Simone Biles is 28.

Eastview played well for large segments of Thursday’s Class 4A semifinal at Williams Arena. But the beginning and end of the game? Well, those two segments belonged to the Royals.

A scintillating start and strong finish powered the third-seeded Royals to a 68-48 victory.

“I just thought the kids fought hard,” Hopkins coach Tara Starks said. “I told them before the game, I knew Eastview was going to fight, and fight hard, and we just couldn’t let them want it more than we did.”

Hopkins will meet top-seeded Maple Grove in the state final at 8 p.m. Saturday at Williams Arena. The Royals have now qualified for the state title game in 13 of the past 15 seasons.

Thursday’s semifinal was tied 8-8 early, only to have Hopkins go on a 14-0 run to seize control. Eastview trailed by as many as 20 points in the first half. Lightning coach Molly Kasper said Eastview used Hopkins’ fast pace and physicality against the Royals in Eastview’s regular-season victory in the game between the two teams.

Thursday played out a little differently.

“We just bobbled some stuff here and there, which we hadn’t been accustomed to,” Kasper said. “And then felt like we couldn’t be as physical back, which can be a little bit frustrating, and also hard to keep the same pace.”

But the Lightning didn’t fold. Instead, they found their footing and rallied. A layup from Jayda Wilson-Oden brought Eastview to within 11 points at the break. Eastview then scored six of the first eight second-half points to get within seven.

“I knew they’d respond because they do it together. We focus on our controllables so much — coachability, attitude, preparation and effort. We say it all the time, we cannot control our playing time, we cannot control the refs, we cannot control the other team. That really challenged us tonight, even myself,” Kasper said.

“They do it for each other. … Lot of love in our locker room, and we continue to just say, ‘You have to keep your head up. Because we would rather represent our team and Eastview than any other program at this place.’”

Then the offense dried up at an ill-opportune time and, as Eastview scored just four points over a six-and-a-half-minute span that saw the Hopkins lead balloon back to 15. The Royals were led by 16 points from Erma Walker and 15 from London Harris, while Jaliyah Diggs tallied 12 assists.

“Tough battle for us,” Starks said. “I’m happy that we stayed focused, stayed composed and we just continued to grind it out.”

Eastview will play for third place in its first state tournament appearance since 2019, which was the final year of an eight-year run of consecutive trips. This is the group that got the Lightning back.

“It took a lot of rebuilding,” said Eastview star Myah Maull, who had 15 points and four steals. “It literally took every person to do what they were supposed to do, no matter if it was for 30 seconds or the whole game. Every person wanted it for each other, just as much as they wanted it for themselves.”

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Everything is a little tighter come playoff time. Mistakes are more magnified, and goals are more celebrated. And penalty killing can be the difference between a tee time and a trophy. That’s something playoff-bound teams need to prepare to handle.

The Minnesota Wild’s 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday still got them an important point as they push for the playoffs, but it may have been some vital prep work for games in — they hope — late April and beyond.

“The last couple of games have been playoff-like games, so, that’s what you see,” said Wild captain Jared Spurgeon, referencing his team’s 2-1 shootout win over Colorado on Tuesday. “Everything tightens up and there’s a lot less space out there. So it’s not a bad thing to be playing this way.”

Defenseman Braden Schneider’s backhander in overtime beat Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson, snapping New York’s four-game winless streak, after the Rangers held 1-0 and 2-1 leads in the third period only to see Minnesota twice forge a tie on goals by Marcus Johansson and Freddie Gaudreau.

Igor Shesterkin had 26 saves for the Rangers, who were making their only visit to St. Paul this season. Gustavsson had 29 saves in the loss. It goes in the books as a defeat, but for a Wild team that had been struggling to kill penalties and score goals, there were myriad positive signs. For example, Minnesota killed a trio of Rangers power plays in the game and the penalty kill is 5-for-5 in the past two games. Just don’t ask coach John Hynes what’s working with a Wild player in the penalty box. He doesn’t want to jinx anything.

“Not talking about the penalty kill. Let’s just keep it rolling,” Hynes said with a smile. “I love the question but we’re just going to let it ride.”

Each team had a fruitless power play in the scoreless first period, with the goalies stealing the show.

It took nearly seven minutes in the second period for New York to break the scoreless deadlock, when Vincent Trocheck fanned on a shot, but regathered the puck and zipped a rising missile into the upper corner. It snapped a drought of 11 consecutive games without a goal for Trocheck, who centered the Rangers’ top line on Thursday.

The Wild lost defenseman Jon Merrill early in the second period after a high-speed collision with a Rangers forward. Merrill headed down the tunnel and did not return until the start of the third period, forcing Minnesota to play more than half of the middle frame with just five defensemen.

Minnesota’s penalty kill, which has been among the league’s worst for much of the season, got a workout late in the second period, killing off a Vinnie Hinostroza slashing penalty only to have Johansson head to the box for slashing a short time later. The Wild killed that one off too, then forged a tie shortly after a Rangers penalty expired.

After a set-up pass from Gustav Nyquist, Johansson used Schneider as a screen, then fired a rising wrist shot that found the upper corner behind Shesterkin. The assist was Nyquist’s first point for Minnesota since coming over in a March 1 trade with Nashville

The deadlock was temporary at best, as Jonny Brodzinski pulled off a similar play less than three minutes later, using a Wild defender to obstruct Gustavsson’s view, then putting a shot just beyond the goalie’s glove. It was the seventh goal of the season for Brodzinski, who played prep hockey for Blaine and was a collegiate standout at St. Cloud State. He admitted later that it had been a long, long time since his last goal at Xcel Energy Center.

“My senior year of high school,” said Brodzinski, who had a good contingent of family on hand Thursday. “My dad sent me a clip the other day, they were just pre-high school games, they were showing a bunch of old highlights and I was in one of them. It’s like a half-ice windmill all the way down. Just something crazy from the high school. But yeah, it’s a blast.”

On the next shift, a Zac Jones high stick caught Johansson in the face, drawing a double minor penalty, and Gaudreau made a deft move at the top of the crease for a power play goal to pull the Wild even again.

“I give our guys a lot of credit. I think we’re playing extremely hard and strong attention to detail, playing the way you really need to win this time of year there. They’re highly competitive games. Everyone’s kind of jockeying for position. And it’s the most intense time of year, you know, probably other than the playoffs,” Hynes said. “I think our guys have anted up for a while here now. So it was good. I’m glad. Two come-from-behind goals in the third period. Obviously you’d like to have two points, but at this time of year, every point matters.”

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Thursday was Minnesota’s annual Pride Night celebration, with proceeds from the team’s in-game raffle going to benefit Twin Cities Pride. Merrill and his wife Jessica have been outspoken advocates for the LGBTQ+ community, and in 2024 were named Allies of the Year by Twin Cities Pride. Minnesota Lynx WNBA coach Cheryl Reeve, along with her wife Carley Knox and their son Oliver, led the traditional “Let’s Play Hockey” cheer before the opening faceoff.

On Saturday, the Wild hosts the last of four regular season games with the St. Louis Blues, who will come to St. Paul in desperate need of points if they are to get back in a playoff position. Minnesota has won the first three meetings with St. Louis this season, including a 4-1 victory in the Blues’ home rink on Oct. 15 where Gustavsson scored the clinching empty net goal with a shot from the far end of the rink.