France embraces modern garden tools: retractable hose reels and Japanese 2‑in‑1 serfouette

New garden‑care equipment is marketed as a way to make outdoor maintenance easier and less physically demanding. Retractable hose reels automatically wind the hose, preventing tangles and reducing the effort required to water plants. The devices typically use a spring‑assisted mechanism, UV‑resistant housing and optional wall‑mount or portable versions, keeping pathways clear and protecting the hose from damage.

Hybrid garden hoses combine thermoplastic material with textile reinforcement, offering a lightweight yet robust conduit that stays flexible in cold weather and resists abrasion. Together, these innovations aim to speed up watering tasks while preserving the garden’s appearance.

A separate Japanese 2‑in‑1 hand tool, often called a serfouette, features a dual‑face head with a sharp hoe blade on one side and cultivator teeth on the other. Gardeners report that the single 40‑cm wooden handle can replace several traditional tools—such as a hoe, fork and transplanting trowel—when working in raised beds or small plots. The tool is praised for reducing back strain and speeding up weeding, soil loosening and planting, though it is not suited for heavy digging in rocky soil.