The Tamper – A Great Gift for the Georgia Gardener

The Garden Tamper

It is gift-giving season and we want to share a useful gift that is easy to construct with scrap wood.

We have mentioned using a tamper in several other blog posts.  It is a very useful tool to ensure good seed-to-soil contact when working with small seeds like spinach, lettuce, carrots, and collards.  The weight of the tamper is all that is needed to compress the soil slightly.

I was first introduced to this tool by Jim Hall, a Cherokee County Master Gardener.  He guaranteed a higher germination rate of small seeds by just using the tamper!

Building Instructions

The tamper is easy to construct and makes a great gift for a gardening friend or for yourself!  You will need a 2X4 wood piece, a 1X2  (or 2X2) wood piece, and a wood screw.

Step One:  Measure and cut 1 foot off of a 2X4.  This will be the base.

The Tamper - A Great Gift for the Georgia Gardener

Step Two:  Measure and cut 4 feet off of a 1X2 (or a 2X2).  This is the handle.

The Tamper - A Great Gift for the Georgia Gardener

Step Three:  Choose a wood screw that is at least three inches long so it will go through the 2X4 piece and into your 1X2.

The Tamper - A Great Gift for the Georgia Gardener

Step Four:  Drill a pilot hole in the middle of the 2X4.

The Tamper - A Great Gift for the Georgia Gardener

And into the end of the 1X2.

The Tamper - A Great Gift for the Georgia Gardener

Step Five:  Using your wood screw attach the pieces:

The Tamper - A Great Gift for the Georgia Gardener

Your final product:

The Tamper - A Great Gift for the Georgia Gardener

The tamper can be creatively painted or left bare.  Using the tool is easy.  Place small seeds on top of garden soil.  Sprinkle about 1/4th inch of soil on top of the seeds.  Gently tamp the soil with tool.  The weight of the tamper is enough pressure to ensure seed-to-soil contact.  No need to press down.

Happy Gardening!

Becky Griffin
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