There are a number of tools designed to help the gardener to sow seeds, bulbs and seedlings accurately and evenly. The major styles are listed below.

Seed Shakers

Hand held devices which allows the gardener to sow seed accurately in prepared drills.

Plungers

Inserts a seed to a fixed depth.

Wheeled Seed Sowers

Dispenses seeds evenly in outdoor drills. May be attached to a long handle so that sowing may be carried out without stooping.

Seed Tray Sowers

Thin plastic or wooden boards with a number of pegs across one side. The board is pressed onto the compost (peg side down) to create a number of evenly spaced holes for sowing seeds.

Bulb Planters

This tool consists of a conical-shaped cutting blade made of stainless steel and a solid wooden handle that fastens to the blade. The device should be positioned where the bulb needs to be planted and then pushed into the ground with a slight twisting motion. The smaller end of the cutting cone allows the soil to enter the hole and is pushed upwards as the tool is pushed downwards. When the planter is pulled out of the ground, it removes the soil and leaves behind a neat hole for the bulb. Make sure that the blade is marked with a gauge to ensure the bulbs are planted at the correct depth.

Dibbers

Also known as a 'dibble' or 'dibbler', a dibber is a handy pencil-sized stick with a rounded end used to make planting holes for seeds and seedlings. Larger versions are available to create larger wider and deeper holes for bulbs and bedding plants.

Widgers

A widger is a long, narrow plastic or stainless steel tool with a small spatula shaped end. It is invaluable for pricking out and transplanting seedlings and cuttings and may also be used to loosen hardened soil in seed trays.