My Must-Have Garden Tools for Spiny Succulents

Note: This corresponds to my Make a Mini High Desert Cactus Garden video. For more info on tools for cacti and succulents, go to the Tools page. 

The tools I use when working with spiky, spiny succulents include 12-inch tweezers, kitchen tongs, artist's brush, chopstick, scissors, metal teaspoon, inexpensive garden gloves, and duct tape.

Long-handle tweezers

Long-handled tweezers are useful for removing bits of debris and topdressing from prickly plants and those with tight leaf axils---anyplace for which your fingers are too big or that you prefer not to touch. Amazon sells 12-inch stainless steel tweezers for around $13. Btw, I also own 10-inch tweezers, forceps and "planting tongs," but I seldom use them.

Kitchen tongs

I find kitchen tongs (around $6) handy for grasping and holding cacti, and planting small agaves with sharp tips.

Tongs are essential when potting up cactus and for twisting pads off of opuntias

If you're handling a delicate plant (one with spines that might bend or break), wrap the tips of the tongs with foam rubber or pieces of soft sponge and secure with  rubber bands. (Sun causes rubber bands to deteriorate, so store your modified tongs in shade.)

Gloves wrapped with duct tape

Duct tape wrapped around the fingers of gloves lets you pick up small cacti without getting poked.

Wear the gloves while a friend wraps them (or vice versa).

There are gloves supposedly impervious to thorns and spines, but I'm not eager to spend money on an item likely to end up coated with glochids. These nasty little spines (found only---and almost always---on Opuntia cactus) stick to nearly anything...except the slick side of duct tape. Btw, you can also use the tape's sticky side to remove glochids from your skin, should the unfortunate need arise.

Opuntia microdaysis (bunny ears) is deceptive; its fuzzy tufts are glochids---tiny hooked spines that detach all too easily

I used these tools when doing my high-desert diorama for Garden Design magazine. View the video.

I wouldn't be without a chopstick to settle roots of succulents. It's essential whenever small nursery plants are tucked together so tightly, it's not possible to manipulate their root balls to settle them.

An old metal teaspoon (the one in the photo was mangled by my garbage disposal) is perfect for funneling topdressing into gaps between plants. You can also use a funnel, but anything larger than coarse sand may clog it.

An artist's brush is great for the finishing touch: cleaning dirt off leaves and spines. The tip of its slender handle can serve the same purpose as a chopstick.

Mini Succulent High Desert Garden video (3:51)