Each year, my company, along with a vast team of testers composed of gardeners of all levels, selects the best new gardening products for the year. The chosen items beat out scores of competitors and the top 10 products are given the distinction as a joe gardener certified Best of the Must-haves.

No money is taken to review a product so you can't pay to play. Accordingly, we maintain complete objectivity as we seek out products we feel are a good value and worthy of a place in your already crowded garden shed.

Here are four of the 10 selections for 2008:

With the increasing popularity of container gardening, improved soils, plants and even the containers themselves are being offered to address this demand. But with more and larger containers showing up on our decks, patios and in our gardens, the volume of soil and the sheer weight becomes more of an issue than ever. But it doesn't have to be.

Ups-A-Daisy Planter Inserts by Kianga Inc. (ups-a-daisy.com) are essentially round disks made of a high-grade plastic that are designed to fit about halfway down into any round container from 10 inches to 18 inches. In essence, the benefit of raising the bottom eliminates the need for cumbersome filler, excess container mix and lightens the load, literally. They promote better air circulation, improve drainage and they're reusable season after season.

How do you take the classic trowel and make it better? Add more functionality, that's how. Ames True Temper did it with this garden staple. Working from the standard trowel model, designers followed landscapers around for several weeks, and then incorporated aids to some of their most commonly observed tasks, right into the tool. Although the 7 in 1 Planters Buddy (amestruetemper.com) was created as seven tools in one (trowel, weeder, bag opener, sod cutter, twine cutter, measuring tool and tamper), we've identified several other useful functions. So far, we're up to "13 in 1." This is a handsome, stainless steel tool and a good value under $20.

Ahhh ... simple and functional. The Unifork by Union Jack (unionjackstable.com) is part spading fork, part shovel. Besides the great design, it's made of a high grade plastic. Normally we prefer stainless steel or hardwood for gardening tools, but this is a welcome exception because a metal fork will quickly rust and a stainless fork is expensive.

As an avid composter, I need a spading fork-like tool to turn my compost every few days. Since convenience is key to getting the job done, having the appropriate tool handy is important. Because it's plastic, the Unifork lives in my compost pile, with no concern over rusting, and never a frozen hand from grabbing a cold metal handle. The slightly upward curving sides make scooping up spilled compost or mulch a snap. It's available in four attractive colors.

For the remaining products named as a Best of the Must-haves for 2008, go to www.joegardener.com.