Gardening tools are an essential aspect of achieving garden prosperity. They are convenient to have and genuinely efficient as we all need the right tools to do a good job! So, gardening tools are every gardener’s best friend.
There are lots of gardening tools available on the market, some of which are not that useful. For beginners, figuring out useful gardening tools might be a challenging task. This article will introduce you to some helpful gardening tools that you should get.
20 Most Useful Gardening Tools For Every Gardener
1. Shovels
Nupla-72-016 Round Point Shovel, 48 in.Handle, 16 ga.
Shovels are used for digging purposes, so gardening can be hard without these since gardening involves a lot of digging. However, there are different types of shovels designed for different gardening needs. The task is to determine first your gardening needs and what you want to do in your garden before buying a shovel.
Shovels are very useful when it comes to digging, and every gardener can attest to that. The different types of shovels are listed below:
• Trench Shovel
• Flat Shovel
• Edging Shovel
• Square Digger
• Pointed Digger
• Round Digger
The shovel you should have is either of these three: square digger pointed digger or round digger.
They have different designs, as the name suggests, but they have one purpose, and that is to dig. The choice is left to the gardener and their preference to choose which of the three shovels they like to work with.
When working with shovels, you have to know that they get dull after several uses, and it can affect their digging capabilities when it happens.
Hence, shovels should be sharpened occasionally. Sharpening shovels is not like sharpening blades but is simply cleaning the edges to have a smooth surface making it easy to penetrate when you strike it on the soil.
*I can see myself opting for the Nupla Round Point Shovel above. The point of the shovel can pierce the hard ground. The actual shovel part has nice ‘shoulders’ to get your foot on to push a little harder and deeper into the soil. It’s sufficiently rounded with depth to hold enough soil, and the handle is long and solid enough to get some good leverage when you need it”.
2. Trowel
[amalinkspro type=”cta-btn-css” ctabtn-id=”0″ asin=”” apilink=”https://amzn.to/3hU0BBy” addtocart=”false” new-window=”true” nofollow=”true” alignment=”aligncenter”]Check Price and Reviews on Amazon[/amalinkspro]
Wilcox All-Pro 202S, 14″ Stainless Steel Garden Trowel, Indestructible, Made in Iowa U.S.A
Trowels are another essential gardening tool – like a shovel but much smaller. They are designed to be used as a hand tool. The primary function of these trowels is to make your life easier when working near plants, and because it’s a hand tool, it’s easily controllable, and you can avoid damaging the plants.
Aside from small diggings, trowels are often used for applying, smoothing, mixing, and moving small amounts of soil in the garden. Below are the types of garden trowels:
• Dixter
• Potting
• Traditional
• Transplanting
• Weeding
Trowels are undoubtedly used in many ways in gardening due to their size and portability.
The best garden trowel to buy is the traditional one because they are intended for broader application in the garden.
So, you can familiarize yourself with the tool and get into your comfort zone when using a trowel.
Like shovels, trowels will be dull after several uses, especially when you keep hitting hard objects like stones that can damage the tool’s edge.
Working with a trowel is more demanding that way, so you have to sharpen the tip of the tool occasionally.
Again, sharpening the trowels should be just cleaning and smoothing the tip of the tool.
*The Willcox All-Pro Garden Trowel looks good to me. It has the right sort off on it for piercing the ground, and notice the little grip on the handle with the useful loop for hanging up in the potting shed.
I’ve had a couple of favorite trowels that have been with me for years. They had a more rounded shape, but I can see the functionality of the design of the Wilcox.
I don’t know how I would have managed in my potting shed without a trusty trowel or two to help with the potting and also in the flower beds to help with the weeding.
A trowel is so useful you cannot be without one. People who easily lose things should have a trowel ‘surgically attached’!!!
3. Garden Fork
True Temper 2812200 4-Tine Spading Digging Fork + 30-inch Hardwood D-Grip Handle
For digging and aerating soil, a gardening fork is a must. They are truly essential, especially when working with heavy clay and compacted soil because their sharp and pointed claws can easily break down the ground.
You can’t go wrong by including a gardening fork in your arsenal.
The beauty of this tool is that it has other uses apart from the specific jobs they are meant for such as digging and soil aeration.
Below is the list of different gardening forks:
• Garden Fork
• Digging Fork
• Border Fork
Each fork has different jobs in the garden.
To determine which fork you need, you first have to decide on the gardening job.
For example, a digging fork is best for harvesting root crops, and this tool might be the perfect one for you if you’re planting potatoes.
A border fork is smaller than the other two, and this tool is perfect for the smaller garden where using a standard garden fork is overkill.
The other type of fork is the pitchfork which is useful because of its curvature that provides scooping ability. They can also be used in the garden when working with hay, straw, compost, or manure.
*I like the look of the True Temper 2812200 4-Tine Spading Digging Fork pictured above. You can see it’s meant for hard work, and the 30-inch Hardwood D-Grip Handle I am familiar with.
It gives the user a good grip offering decent leverage when working, and the four tines are a useful feature regarding capacity. I’ve had a few digging forks similar to this one, and they are invaluable for tough digging jobs in the garden.
4. Garden Pick
TABOR TOOLS Pick Mattock with Fiberglass Handle, Garden Pick. J62A. (Small 15 Inch)
Loosening Soil, Archaeological Projects, Cultivating Vegetable Gardens or Flower Beds.
Another useful gardening tool is the garden pick, whose primary purpose is to dig but oftentimes used to break down compacted soil. The tool has two sharp faces, one is pointed, and the other one is chisel flat. These options gave this tool its popularity among other gardening tools.
The pointed part of this tool is useful for striking compacted soil that the shovels cannot penetrate. Once the soil has broken down, it is easier for you to dig it using the shovel.
The chiseled flat part of the pick is used for cutting roots in the garden. Sometimes, roots are very hard to cut when using ordinary bolo but not with a garden pick. This is why a garden pick is commonly used for digging trenches in the garden.
*When you want to break up some soil to start a new planting bed, a garden pick is a ‘gotta have’. I’m not one for bashing into the ground, but if I had to, the Tabor Tools Pick Mattock Garden Pick with the Fibreglass handle looks like the tool that will get the job done!
The fibre Glass handle makes it lighter in your hand; it has a super firm grip and looks like it could do some real damage to any resistant ground.
5. Garden Hoe
Corona GT 3244 Extended Reach Hoe and Cultivator
The partner of a garden pick is the garden hoe that is used for removing weeds, soil cultivation, and breaking down large clumps of soil.
After using a garden pick, it is not guaranteed that the soil is properly broken down into pieces, and a lot of grass is scattered all over the area.
The garden hoe is the perfect tool for adequately breaking down soil clumps and remove weeds due to its wide-flattened tip.
They can be used to scatter the soil evenly and even for creating trenches in the garden if the soil is soft enough. This is the type of tool that will help you clean design the surface of your soil.
*The Corona Extended Reach Hoe and Cultivator is perfect in its design for the job it’s been created to do. When I was gardening, I didn’t have the luxury of the combined tools, so having the hoe and cultivator together must be a real plus for gardeners. I would look for something like this if I was still in my garden business.
6. Post Hole Puncher
This is a digging tool made up of two small shovels connected by a top hinge. The two long handles control the two shovels below for digging. The purpose of this tool is for quick digging, especially during the planting process.
To use this tool, you will stand in the soil and strike the tool towards the soil. Once the tool has penetrated the soil, split the two handles to make an opening. Remove the tool and place the plant in the hole.
This tool is proven helpful, especially to those gardeners who have an acre of land to cover. This tool will surely improve the efficiency and production rate of the garden.
*After years of improvising and using gloved fingers, screwdrivers or whatever to do this work, I close business, and this gets invented! I would buy a couple of these for my potting shed. It’s clear that this Stainless Steel Hand Dibber Garden Tools Wood Dibbers Dibbler Bulb Planter means business. They’re nicely weighted and feel comfortable in the hand.
7. Edging Knife
Keyfit Tools SOD Knife Stainless Steel Blade Sod Cutter Trim
An edging knife is a handy tool for edging and this is useful when working in small spaces where using a traditional edger is overkill.
This tool is also used for cutting weeds, loosen soil, and remove plants from growing in different places.
However, you have to maintain the sharpness of the blade so that you can use it without problems. The curved top of this tool can also be used for little digging around the plants just to keep the area clean. But careful enough not to cut the plant as the blade is very sharp.
Another essential thing to remember when using this tool is to be wary of hard objects. You don’t want any damage to the blade of your edging knife or else it will affect the performance of this tool making it hard to cut.
*I never needed one of these as I was working in smallish gardens. However, this is a fairly sophisticated tool that certainly has its uses. If I was still in business, I might buy one. The two stainless steel cutting edges of the knife do two different jobs, and it seems to have a good grip on the handle.
8. Lawn Mower
American Lawn Mower Company 1204-14 14-Inch 4-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower, Red
A lawnmower is a necessity and not a luxury. For those gardeners who have a lawn to take care of, a lawn mower is an excellent addition to your gardening tool collection. They are essential and efficient when trimming your lawn.
There are different types of the lawnmower, each of which has its specific job in the lawn as well. Choosing a lawnmower depends on the area and the type of grass you have on your lawn. Nevertheless, there are only two kinds of lawnmower which are: electric/battery-operated mowers and gas-powered mowers.
*When I first saw the American Lawn Mower Company’s 4-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower, my first thought was, ‘where’s the grass catcher?’. However, when you handle it, it’s light and nifty, and I would have gotten plenty of use out of it on my smallish gardens.
Better yet, I would have enjoyed using this to get the grass cut and make clean edges in a fairly short space of time. This lawnmower can get into angular spaces because it’s versatile and light on the ground. Just what is needed in smaller gardens!
9. Sprinklers
Sprinklers should not be left in the dark when it comes to gardening. This tool is quite helpful to keep the plants hydrated even without your supervision. Once installed, you can set the timer for irrigation, and your lawn and other plants will get enough water.
Watering plants is indeed an exhausting job as a gardener, especially if you have many plants to water. Investing in a sprinkler is the best move to save you a lot of time and use it for other essential tasks. With the help of sprinklers, you don’t have to worry about the watering cycle of your plants.
*This Melnor Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler is a lovely addition to your garden arsenal. For the smaller garden, it isn’t essential but, it’s still a nice gadget to have in any sized garden, and I would certainly get one.
10. Hose
You will not see a garden without the presence of a hose in it. Every garden has a hose because this tool is essential for channelling water. Even sprinklers need a hose that connects them to the water source.
Most gardens that do not have sprinklers resort to using a hose to irrigate their plants. You just have to attach a device to it to control the pressure of the water.
The downside, however, is when you have a wide area of land, you have to buy a hose whose length is enough to reach the size of the land, and it can be costly.
* It’s been called the poor man’s manual garden sprinkler, but it is a necessity for every garden to have at least one hose pipe.
When I had my gardening business, my staff sometimes ran over and damaged the pipes with their lawnmowers. In their haste to get their work done, they hadn’t spotted the hose lying on the grass. Over the years we had to buy a lot of pipes!
Joey’s Expandable Garden Hose is anti-kink, lightweight, and extra strength so it would be a winner with me. Frankly, the 8 Function Hose Nozzle has my attention – I cant wait to get into the garden and test that feature – what fun….and clearly a very useful tool!
11. Rake
A rake is another useful gardening tool composed of a row of metal teeth attached to a long handle.
This tool can be used to flatten the surface of the soil to make it smooth, just like a garden hoe. The only difference is that a rake is way bigger intended for more significant garden tasks.
Some of those tasks include collecting grass or hay by dragging them in one place. The teeth of the rake are designed so that no soil can be dragged along when collecting grass or hay.
Before planting, it is best to rake the soil first to remove unwanted weeds and break down clumps of the soil, thereby making this tool a must-have.
*People will tell you a rake is a rake, is a rake. Simply not true. These long-handled garden tools do an excellent job, and if you look at the extended handle, you can see notches (grips) all along at spaced intervals. Those give a lot of leverage and make this heavy-duty work more easily doable.
It’s certainly a ‘must-have, and I would consider buying one to get a good job well done for any garden. The MIYA Bow Rake – Heavy Duty Garden Rake with long Stainless Steel Handle – Metal Rake for Gardening is a ‘no-brainer’ and I would get many years of good service from this one.
12. Hand Pruner
[amalinkspro type=”cta-btn-css” ctabtn-id=”0″ asin=”” apilink=”https://amzn.to/3sTFN3N” addtocart=”false” new-window=”true” nofollow=”true” alignment=”aligncenter”]Check Price and Reviews on Amazon[/amalinkspro]
It has been said that a hand pruner is like a pair of scissors but a bit smaller and more robust.
This tool is used to prune small branches of trees in your garden or shrubs that have hard stems.
Also, they can be used to cut dead branches of a flower to prevent contaminating other parts of the plants.
However, this tool is only useful depending on what you are doing in your garden. Not all gardens need this, especially those gardeners that only supervise small gardens.
However, it is safe to assume that most gardeners will have to prune something in their garden, and this tool is the tool that can help you with that.
*If you’ve ever worked in a garden of any size, you will have found a Hand Pruner a necessary part of your tool kit – I did. I had a couple of these in different sizes and found them invaluable for both little jobs and big jobs.
The Vivosun Gardening Hand Pruning Shear with Stainless Steel Blades has my interest piqued again, and I would happily buy this and at least one more without a second thought as I find the pruning shears an absolute must and not an optional tool.
13. Pruning Saw
[amalinkspro type=”cta-btn-css” ctabtn-id=”0″ asin=”” apilink=”https://amzn.to/3IWsgh9″ addtocart=”false” new-window=”true” nofollow=”true” alignment=”aligncenter”]Check Price and Reviews on Amazon[/amalinkspro]
Unlike hand pruners, this tool is designed for slightly bigger tasks because it’s used for cutting tree branches or big shrub branches.
You might want these if you have shrubs or trees around your garden. It is essential to cut the branches of trees mainly if they are covering the plants from getting enough sunlight.
However, this is not only for pruning branches, and you can also use it to cut other things in the garden. Sometimes, you have to cut wood to make a small tower for your climbing plants, and using a pruning saw is the best answer to that.
*I had one of these tools and found it a necessity. The Corona RaxorTooth Folding Prune Saw is a nifty and necessary garden tool for gardens of all sizes.
If you don’t have one already, then you should consider buying one for the very reasons listed above. You will never regret having one of these.
14. Hedge Shears
Hedge shears are big scissors use to trim shrub, cutting tall grass, or levelling the yard. This tool is a substitute for a lawnmower because a lawnmower cannot be used all over the yard, most especially when trimming shrubs.
Hence, the powerful long blades of hedge shears will ensure that your grass is always level and your shrubs are impeccable.
Although the blades of these tools need to be sharp when you use them otherwise, you will have a problem cutting through the plants.
Aside from that, it can damage your shrubs if the blades are dull. Therefore, keep the edges sharp all the time to enjoy this tool to its maximum.
*A large or small garden needs one of these if hedges or shrubs are involved. You cannot go gardening in a slapdash manner. If you’re half-hearted about it, your garden will never thrive and flourish. Gardens have needs, and so do you regarding the tools you use to make your garden into something special.
The Gartol Garden Hedge Shears with Strong Comfort Grip Handles and Carbon Steel Bush Cutter get a ‘Yes’ from me. Look at the grips on the handles, and also see the shape of the blades. I would buy such a tool if I were back in the gardening business – I would need one.
15. Soil Scoop
A soil scoop is primarily used for scooping and transferring soil in the garden. This is different from trowels because a soil scoop has a bigger soil capacity than trowels.
Trowels are designed for digging, while a soil scoop is for scooping soil to transfer from one place to another.
This is a useful tool especially for transferring compost in your garden or putting a growing medium in a pot. Every gardener has this in their arsenal, and if you are a beginner, you should not forget this tool.
*Every gardener needs one of these. Incredibly useful both in the potting shed and the garden flower beds. The uses are many and are self-explanatory.
If I were back in gardening, I would get a couple of these without hesitation. The Uksat Garden Plastic Shovel, Cultivation Bucket Scoop Sieve Multi-Function Spoon Rush Potted Plant Wear Resistant Digging Tool (what a mouthful) is an absolute necessity (and fun to play with)!
16. Watering Can
[amalinkspro type=”cta-btn-css” ctabtn-id=”0″ asin=”” apilink=”https://amzn.to/3vM2U1W” addtocart=”false” new-window=”true” nofollow=”true” alignment=”aligncenter”]Check Price and Reviews on Amazon[/amalinkspro]
Of course, not everyone can afford a sprinkler, so it is best to use a watering can. This portable tool is handy for watering indoor plants, potting plants, and plants in balconies that a hose cannot be used.
This tool is one of the oldest gardening tools ever created and is widely used until now.
The popularity and usefulness of this tool speak for themselves. Be sure to have one of these!
*I still have one. I like water cans, and they do have their uses. I like the look of this Novelty 2 Gallon Watering Can and would probably get one. Handle grips are so important – as are suitable nozzles, and this has both.
Back in the day, I believe I had about three or four simultaneously. They were all supposed to be stored in the potting shed, but I often found them left under a garden bench or beside a flower bed after planting some new flowers from the potting shed into the garden. You can’t go wrong with a few of these.
17. Garden Scissors
[amalinkspro type=”cta-btn-css” ctabtn-id=”0″ asin=”” apilink=”https://amzn.to/35JBhMd” addtocart=”false” new-window=”true” nofollow=”true” alignment=”aligncenter”]Check Price and Reviews on Amazon[/amalinkspro]
Another important and useful tool is the garden scissors. We need scissors in the garden as much as we need them in our homes.
There are many things to cut in the garden like deadheading flowers, harvesting vegetables, or snipping herbs. Garden scissors are responsible for the lighter cutting task compared to hand pruner.
Aside from that, you also need garden scissors when cutting new packets of seeds, opening a sack of fertilizers, and many more. Always keep a garden scissor in your garden arsenal.
*Another little must – especially in the potting shed. I still use mine at home and in my garden.
Fiskars PowerArc Shears look like they give you a good grip at a good angle, so I guess if I were in need, I would treat myself to a pair of these sturdy-looking shears.
18. Gloves
[amalinkspro type=”cta-btn-css” ctabtn-id=”0″ asin=”” apilink=”https://amzn.to/3vO7hJO” addtocart=”false” new-window=”true” nofollow=”true” alignment=”aligncenter”]Check Price and Reviews on Amazon[/amalinkspro]
One might forget about this, but gloves are helpful when gardening for several reasons. One, they keep your hands clean when handling soil to prevent yourself from getting infected by bacteria. Second, they protect your hands from thorny shrubs and plants that could irritate your hands.
You have to remember that safety is a must even when gardening, which is why using gloves is necessary.
As a result, gardening will become more enjoyable because you don’t have to worry about damaging your hands just by simply wearing gloves.
*I have always used gloves for garden work, and I’ve had different gloves for different tasks. Clearly, I take my garden gloves seriously. There are people who are allergic to some things in the soil and have to wear gloves. I should feel that it’s necessary in order to do an excellent job.
Cool job Gardening Gloves for Women look like an excellent choice for garden work.
I’m very picky about gloves. I had a couple of leather gloves with protected knuckles and shorts to the wrist. These I wore every day until they just about fell apart. However, I would certainly be prepared to give the Cooljob Garden Gloves a try.
19. Leaf Blower
[amalinkspro type=”cta-btn-css” ctabtn-id=”0″ asin=”” apilink=”https://amzn.to/3CwSkNB” addtocart=”false” new-window=”true” nofollow=”true” alignment=”aligncenter”]Check Price and Reviews on Amazon[/amalinkspro]
A leaf blower is useful to those gardeners who are surrounded by many trees in their garden. Raking fallen leaves can be stressful sometimes, and a leaf blower is a solution to that. This tool is a powerful tool that uses a machine to blow in one direction.
The user will then control the blower by aiming where the leaves are located and blow them in a specific direction to make it easier to clean them.
This might be proven to some gardeners but not to those gardeners who never encounter problems with leaves.
*I like the look of this Black + Decker Electric Leaf Blower. The name alone has earned its excellent reputation and a quick look at the design tells you about grip, comfort and great functionality.
Why did I not have one of these when I had my business? I would certainly have used it – and had fun doing so! I just might get one anyway for the sheer joy of blowing the leaves away – and the fun aspect might have something to do with it….
20. Wheelbarrow
[amalinkspro type=”cta-btn-css” ctabtn-id=”0″ asin=”” apilink=”https://amzn.to/3KolktC” addtocart=”false” new-window=”true” nofollow=”true” alignment=”aligncenter”]Check Price and Reviews on Amazon[/amalinkspro]
Last but not least, the wheelbarrow. This tool can be used to move garbage from your garden, carry compost, or transfer potting soil, and many more jobs, depending on what you do in your garden.
You don’t want to use your bare hands carrying stuff around your garden. Instead, use a wheelbarrow because it is more convenient and efficient. Most gardeners have one in their arsenal, so don’t forget to have one for yourself to be used in your garden.
*I had quite a few of these: I seem to remember about four in different shapes, sizes and colors and all working to capacity. I believe a wheelbarrow is a must in any garden for all the obvious reasons.
The Gorilla Carts Poly Garden Dump Cart seems like a well-designed and very sturdy, well-built wheelbarrow which I would consider buying if I was back in my old business.
*So there you have it, 20 of the most useful gardening tools for every gardener, and a few of my comments at the foot of each description.
Gardening is a serious business no matter how small or large the garden concerned. Therefore, you need serious tools to get the job done.
I hope this article has helped you make some serious decisions to equip yourself in a more comprehensive manner so that you spend less time doing things the hard way – and more time sitting back in your garden and enjoying the fruits of your labors.
Jenny Marie
Tribal Writer
Edit & Comments by:
Patricia Godwin
