12 Essential Tools For Gardeners
There is a wide array of gardening tools available on the market which can be overwhelming when you are new to gardening. Visiting a hardware store but not knowing exactly what to buy is a common issue, especially if you are still finding your gardening feet!
Tools can be expensive and take up valuable shed space. But there are definitely a number of gardening tools that are really essential and will make your life (and garden!) so much better.
When deciding which brand of tools to purchase, we recommend buying the best quality tools your budget will allow. They will last longer, be easier to use and you will get much more out of your tools.
In this post we round up the top 12 gardening tool essentials you will need. Once you have all of these tools you will have everything you need to have an amazing garden!
1. Gloves
Gloves are the number one gardening tool you should be investing in! Good gardening gloves are essential for protecting your delicate hands against dirt, thorns and branches while you are gardening.
Without them your hands would be covered in scratches and have dirt permanently under your fingernails!
Look for gloves that are durable but light, water resistant and fit your hands nice and snug.
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2. Secateurs
Secateurs are strong, sharp scissors that are great for pruning, snipping off dead branches and getting out-of-control plants back in shape.
There are many different types of secateurs, including left and right hand models and ones that have stronger blades for woodier branches.
Secateurs should be sharpened regularly to ensure cuts are clean and less crush injury to plants occurs
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3. Loppers
Loppers are another cutting tool which are basically pruners with longer handles. They are used to trim hard to reach areas and thicker, woody branches. The long handle also provides the needed leverage to cut much thicker branches!
There are many different types to choose from and handles generally range from 40-90cm in length.
Loppers can be heavy so it can be difficult to reach some areas if you have limited strength. Opt for lightweight aluminium or carbon-composite handles to help with this.
4. Garden Fork
Garden forks are an essential gardening tool that are used for turning and moving soil. They can also be used for harvesting root vegetables, breaking up soil, moving mulch and lifting out plants.
Garden forks get all this done much more efficiently than a spade!
Forks with slight curves in the spines are useful for scooping mulch and turning compost while straight spine forks are better suited for digging compacted, rocky or clay soil.
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5. Hedge Trimmer
Maintaining hedges usually make up a large portion of the work in a garden! Hedges can provide beautiful layers to a garden as well as plenty of privacy when they are nicely trimmed.
Hand held hedge trimmers instead of petrol powered, are a great option for newer hedges that are just establishing themselves. They are cost effective and more precise!
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6. Spade
You simply can’t have a garden without a spade! This essential tool is one of the most useful you can have in the garden. Spades can be used for digging holes, turning soil, moving mounds and cutting edges.
It’s important to go for a high quality spade as it will last longer and the blade won’t get bent in hard ground.
When purchasing make sure the spade is the right height for you and that the blade and handle are firmly connected.
7. Trowel
A trowel is essentially a mini-spade. It is used for weeding, light planting or transplanting small seedlings and repotting container plants. Trowels can be broad and spade-like or narrow, depending on what you want to use them for!
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8. Leaf Rake
Leaf rakes are another essential item for the garden, especially if you have lots of leaves and trees. Lightweight rakes are perfect for leaves, but you can also get heavier metal rakes for jobs like spreading gravel, soil and compost.
There are so many varieties but for starters, a standard leaf rake is perfect.
9. Garden Hose with Adjustable Nozzle
A garden hose with an adjustable nozzle is another essential gardening tool. Watering is extremely important to keep your garden thriving and a hose is essential for this! It’s important that your garden hose is able to reach and spray every area.
A high quality hose which is kink and knot resistant is highly recommended. Having an adjustable nozzle to give you control of water pressure and spray radius is also essential for water different plants.
You may also wish to invest in a water wand, which gently showers more delicate plants and flowers, protecting them from damage.
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10. Watering Can
A watering can is another essential item for taking care of your garden, particularly if it is a smaller one! Watering cans allow you to transport water to plants in relatively large quantities. This is perfect for smaller gardens, indoor plants and areas of your garden that the hose doesn’t reach.
Water cans come in a variety of cool sizes, shapes and colours. Find one that suits you!
11. Wheelbarrow
Wheelbarrows are an amazing tool to have on hand if you have a larger garden and are moving large amounts of mulch, soil and plants around. They can really help with all the heavy lifting!
They come in a variety of sizes with different load capacities, so choose one that suits your garden’s needs.
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12. Gardening Rope & Stakes
Gardening rope and stakes are essential for growing long thin plants like tomatoes and other vines that need extra support. They help the plant grow tall and straight.
Place the stake in the ground next to the plant which needs assistance and tie the plant to the stake with gardening rope to ensure it gets the needed propping up.
These are some of the most essential tools every gardener should have in their shed. If you would like to get a head start with your home garden but need time to purchase these tools, you can always opt to post a job on ezy peazy to find a local gardener near you who already has these tools.
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