While it is tempting to buy every gardening tool on display at the garden center, a few key tools are essential for starting a garden. A hand trowel is great for digging holes, breaking up soil clumps, and transplanting plants. A hand cultivator, similar to a hand rake, can help remove weeds.
Hand Trowel
A trowel is a new gardener’s best friend since it makes smaller digging tasks easier. They’re great for making seed furrows, digging small holes, relocating plants and pulling up weeds with shallow roots.
Look for a durable trowel with a comfortable handle that fits your hand. Some even have depth markers printed on their blades, which helps with measuring when planting.
Also consider a gardening set that includes a trowel, hori-hori knife, twist cultivator, weeder and rake, for all your digging needs. This will save you from buying these tools separately and make it easy to complete your garden starter kit in one go.
Spade
A spade’s flat edge makes it the best tool for digging holes and trenches. It’s also ideal for edging garden beds and cutting away long-rooted weeds.
A gardening knife (or hori-hori) is a hybrid between a shovel and a trowel that helps with digging, loosening soil, and weeding. Look for a comfortable handle and a sharp, durable blade that can cut through tough ground.
If you’re a beginner, consider a gardening set that comes with a hand trowel, garden fork, and cultivator. Choose a tool with an aluminum shaft and head that resists rust.
Garden Shears
A pair of gardening shears allows you to cut branches, stems and leaves. Look for a pair that’s durable and comfortable to hold. Look for a shear with anvil blades, bypass pruning shears or garden snips.
To keep your shears in good working condition, clean them after each use with warm water and rubbing alcohol to remove sap or other sticky residue. Also, regularly clean the handles with a cloth that’s been dipped in boiled linseed oil. You can purchase a tool caddy or stainless steel trug to store your shears and other tools.
Hand Cultivator
A hand cultivator is a handy tool for turning and loosening soil. Also known as a digging fork, this garden tool has the strength to break up clods of dirt and can be used for digging holes or transplanting plants. Many models are rust-resistant and ergonomically designed for gardeners of all levels.
For snipping flowers for a bouquet or veggies for a meal, you’ll need a pair of garden shears that make clean cuts. Look for shears made of sharpened, durable stainless steel that’s coated for rust protection.
Garden Gloves
A pair of sturdy garden gloves protects hands from prickles and prickly plants, as well as wet dirt and poison ivy. Choose gloves that fit snugly and can be used in cold weather, too.
A hand trowel is a great tool for digging in tight spaces, transplanting seedlings and planting containers. A pair of hand forks helps to take out weeds and is handy to have around when handling larger root crops or perennials.
A watering wand has a long shaft to help with reaching over, between and under closely spaced plants. Brushing off dirt from your gloves each time you use them maintains usual wear and keeps them from hardening post usage.
Watering Can
A watering can is a must-have for any gardener. Aim for a can that holds at least 2 gallons and has handles that are easy to carry when full.
A trowel is a useful tool for digging small planting holes, measuring soil depth, and loosening tough weeds. Many trowels are designed with a handle for comfort and a rust-proof finish.
Garden shears and snips are similar to scissors but have thicker blades for cutting back overgrowth in gardens. They also provide a cleaner cut than scissors and are often coated for rust protection.
Wheelbarrow
Gardening is rewarding, but can be physically challenging. Using the right tools can make the job easier and help prevent back injuries.
Start with a good-quality garden trowel. Look for one with a contoured, comfortable-grip handle and metal that’s solidly joined to the blade to resist rusting.
A hand cultivator (also called a three-tine cultivator) is like a hand rake, but it’s more versatile and great for mixing compost, breaking up hard soil or uprooting long-rooted weeds. A garden fork is another useful tool for rearing and digging.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://diygardeningtips.com/garden-tips/which-plants-are-easiest-for-beginners-to-grow/