Whether you’re new to gardening or are an experienced gardener looking to replace well-worn gardening tools, it is helpful to know which tools get used most often and what exactly they are for.
What are Gardening Tools?
Gardening tools can be manual or power tools used in the garden to make jobs easier. Some are ‘must-have’ tools, and it’s almost impossible to complete gardening tasks without them. Others are ‘nice-to-haves’ – they’re not essential, but the job gets done much faster and easier with them.
Using the right tools for the job doesn’t just make life easier, it also ensures the job gets done well. Keeping some basic tools in the shed means you have everything you need to keep your plants healthy and your garden tidy.
Gardening tools can be sorted into categories to ensure you use the best tool for the job.
Check more gardening tools out at Gardeners Dream.
Cutting Tools
Lawn Mower
The lawn mower is arguably the most commonly used gardening tool in the UK. From spring to autumn, they can be heard cutting lawns all over the country. A properly trimmed lawn is attractive as well as practical, and most gardeners mow the lawn every week or two, making this an essential gardening tool.
The type of mower you choose should largely depend on the size of your garden. A small square of grass needs nothing more than a manual or electric hand-pushed mower. On the other hand, if you have acres of sprawling lawn, you’ll probably want something a bit more powerful to get the job done quickly.
Strimmer
Strimmers are handy tools for achieving a well-manicured finish. As well as producing neat edging around the lawn, a strimmer can be used for cutting back tall grass and weeds and is invaluable for areas like underneath trees or along fences, where the lawn mower can’t quite reach.
Pruning Shears
Also known as secateurs or garden scissors, pruning shears are essential garden tools for pruning and cutting back plants.
Two different types of garden scissors are available: anvil and bypass. Anvil pruning shears have a blade that closes against a flat piece of metal, designed for removing dead and damaged branches. Bypass pruners have two blades that close past each other like scissors and make clean cuts on live stems, making them ideal for more delicate pruning jobs.
Loppers
Loppers are very similar to pruning shears and are used for the same purpose. The main difference is the size. Loppers are bigger and have longer handles than hand pruners, so they are well suited to trimming trees and larger plants.
Like pruning shears, loppers come in anvil or bypass versions with sharp blades for clean cuts. Bypass loppers are an essential tool that can be used as hedge shears to cut branches that hand held bypass pruners can’t reach.
Pruning Saw
While secateurs and loppers are great for cutting small branches, a pruning saw is an invaluable tool for larger, thicker branches. Pruning saws can be hand held or mounted onto a pole for extended reach. They have a straight or curved blade and are used for cutting branches up to around 10cm thick.
Watering Tools
Watering Can
Watering cans are handy garden tools for keeping plants hydrated. They are available in plastic and metal versions and often come with various nozzles or roses to control the water flow. Watering cans are most often used for watering plants and applying plant food. However, they can also be used for weed killer application – just be sure to keep a separate watering can for holding harmful chemicals.
Garden Hose
A garden hose is one of the basic gardening tools that every gardener should own. From pressure washing patios and garden furniture to watering plants and lawns, the garden hose is pretty much indispensable. Attachments like a watering wand and adjustable nozzle are ideal for controlling the pressure and spray for particular gardening tasks.
Digging Tools
Shovel or Spade
A shovel or spade is a key gardening tool to keep in the shed. Curved shovels are used for digging holes for trees, shrubs and fence posts, while flat-edged spades create straight edges on turf and scoop things up easily. Both types can also be used to carry debris, compost and soil to the wheelbarrow or compost heap.
Choose a shovel or spade with an ergonomic handle for comfort and to help prevent blisters and callouses on your hands. Spades and shovels are durable gardening tools, but if the soil in your garden is heavy, opt for one with a thicker head.
Hand Trowel
Every gardener should own a hand trowel. Smaller than a shovel, trowels are ideal for more delicate work, like transplanting and container gardening.
Hand trowels are versatile gardening tools that come in handy for tight spaces. They can be used for digging, sowing seeds, replacing soil and tending young plants. Some even have a serrated edge for cutting plant roots.
Garden Fork
Garden forks are essential gardening tools for mixing, turning and lifting soil. The spokes on a digging fork make it easy to penetrate even tough soil to prepare garden beds for plants and flowers.
The most common garden fork design is with a long handle. However, smaller hand-held versions are also available and are useful planting tools for pots and containers.
Hand Weeder
A hand weeder is a valuable tool for removing weeds from the garden. Whether you want to avoid using chemical weed killers or prefer to tackle individual weeds as soon as they appear, a hand weeder is ideal. Additionally, for those instances where a more comprehensive approach is needed, you may explore alternative solutions, such as hand weeding tools, before considering other methods.
A hand weeding tool is an effective way to remove weeds. Simply push the blade into the soil next to the weed and pull it out by the root. Ensuring the whole plant root gets removed significantly reduces the chances of the weed returning. For a broader range of weed control options, you might want to explore alternatives beyond hand weeding and consider various strategies. If needed, you can also explore where to order weed killers for specific cases.
General Garden Maintenance Tools
Rake
With many uses, a garden rake is one of the most often used tools in the shed. Often the rake head is adjustable to suit the area getting worked on. Different types of rakes can be used for different gardening jobs. For example, leaf rakes are ideal for gathering leaves and grass for disposal, and bow rakes are perfect for levelling soil and gravel.
Brush
Just like inside the home, a brush is a gardening tool you wouldn’t want to be without. Whether scrubbing decking or sweeping up garden waste, a decent brush will come in handy all over the garden.
A stiff bristled brush is best for hard landscaping, while one with softer bristles is more effective at sweeping lawn debris.
Leaf Blower
Leaf blowers are handy garden tools for clearing light debris, such as leaves and grass clippings, quickly and easily. Rather than spend ages raking them into the corner, simply use an electric leaf blower to gather the debris together. Modern tools such as backpack blowers are lightweight and portable and some leaf blowers even have a vacuum setting to suck grass and leaves up for easy disposal.
Garden Hoe
Used for turning soil, chopping weeds, neatening edges, aerating garden beds and planting seeds, the garden hoe is one of the easiest gardening tools to use. Hoes have long handles with an angled metal blade at the end.
The garden hoe has been around in some form for centuries, and its longevity is a testament to how versatile and effective this gardening tool is.
Wheelbarrow
Wheelbarrows are essential gardening tools for all sizes of gardens. They can be used to collect debris and cuttings or transport heavy items such as bags of soil or even small trees. A good quality wheelbarrow is simple to use and saves gardeners a lot of time and energy.
When choosing a wheelbarrow, consider what it will be used for. Metal wheelbarrows are great for heavy items like rocks and bricks but are heavy to use and often prone to rusting. On the other hand, plastic wheelbarrows are lightweight and easier to use but can crack under too much weight.
Soil Knife
Soil knives are gardening tools that can fit into almost any category. This multi-purpose tool has a serrated saw edge on one side of the blade and a sharp blade for clean cuts on the other side. The blade is shaped like a slimline trowel, meaning this versatile tool can be used for everything from digging to pruning and even opening seed packets. Some soil knives even have markings on them for quick depth measurements.
A soil knife, also known as a hori-hori knife, is usually made of stainless steel with a plastic or wooden handle. It comes in handy all over the garden and can replace many other garden tools.
Personal Gardening Tools
Gardening Gloves
Gardening gloves are an essential garden tool, protecting your hands. Working with a sharp blade always comes with a risk, and wearing good quality gardening gloves helps reduce the possibility of cuts. They also protect the hands from being hurt by jagged thorns, pine needles and splinters. A decent pair of gloves also keep hands and fingernails clean and dry, and protects existing wounds from infection.
Gardening gloves are available in a range of materials, each with its advantages. For example, cotton gloves are breathable, leather ones are extremely durable, nylon gloves keep out moisture, and bamboo gloves offer dexterity. Consider what gardening tasks the gloves will be used for and pick the most suitable material for the job.
Gardening Hat
Gardening hats are designed to protect the user from the sun’s harsh rays. They keep your eyes in the shade so you can see what you’re doing and help protect the face and neck against sun damage.
Choose a hat made from a breathable material, such as cotton or straw, to help keep you cool while you work.
Kneeling Pad
Whether digging small holes or planting seeds in a flower bed, kneeling on the ground for any length of time can soon become uncomfortable. Kneeling pads can alleviate some of the discomforts. They also protect the knees from wet grass as well as hard objects like stones or stray tools.
Different styles of kneeling pads are available. Some strap onto your legs so you don’t have to move them around with you. Others are placed on the ground as and when you need them, with many featuring handles to help you up.
From a gardening fork to a watering can, common gardening tools make tasks quicker and easier, meaning you can spend less effort maintaining the garden and more time enjoying it.
