Frequently Asked Questions
No, I don’t. I recommend products I own (and like) or would purchase for myself. My recommendations may not fit your situation at all, but at least they provide you a sorted starting point. I do not seek, nor will not make, recommendations from paid endorsements. In addition to my recommendations, I highly suggest you watch any videos presented on Amazon’s listing page. You will intuitively know which one is right for you.
The tiers are nothing more than price points. Tier 1 always represents the least expensive of the five items I’m recommending and flows higher. Obviously, there are less and more expensive items on the market. The tiers only apply to the specific products I research and recommend.
In some categories, the tiers will feel like apples-to-apples comparisons, others will be an array of options within the category and their price points.
If a price is not listed on the single product card, it means it’s currently out of stock at Amazon. You can always save it to a list, drop it in your cart, or create a reminder on the product page. The prices are fetched automatically and subject to change – higher or lower – and might alter where a product customarily ranks on the tier table.
The listing has nothing to do with any political stance. With ever changing supply chains, geopolitics, and weather interruptions, it’s always good to know how far a product has to travel before it gets in our hands. I assume most of Smooth Gardening’s readers live in the United States, so American manufacturers are listed whenever possible.
Ergonomic/adaptive/accessible gardening products are rarely made in the US. Many garden tool manufacturers are headquarted in the US but all production is elsewhere. As I research, it is interesting to see the “Buy American” versus “Made in America” advertising. Whether this changes with ‘re-shoring’, ‘friend-shoring’, or ‘near-shoring’ remains to be seen.
Regardless of where a tool is made, pick the best one for you and dismiss the rest. It’s your body, your garden, and your peace of mind that ultimately counts.
We are all familiar with the “The Top 3” and “The Top 10” headlines and listicles seeking our attention.
Gardeners know that grouping a particular plant variety in odd numbers is naturally eye-pleasing. Five products offer a good balance, providing enough variety without overwhelming the viewer or making them forget the initial ones in a longer list.
Check the price, follow your gut, and you’re likely going to be satisfied.
