Spring is the perfect time to start some gardening work. It’s also an ideal time to do an inventory of all the items you have in your garden shed. This will help you figure out what you have, what you don’t, plus, it’ll give you the chance to declutter and organize the shed when you’re at it.
Having gardening tools is necessary and useful, however, people tend to go overboard with all kinds of tools that they either don’t need or never use. To help you figure out what landscape tools are must-haves and which you don’t really need, we made a list of all the must-have garden tools.
We hope this list helps you save some money that you’d otherwise spend on unnecessary tools, and that also helps you make some space in your shed.
1. Gloves
The number one gardening item that you need when doing gardening is gloves. Gardening is a nice and relaxing hobby, but it can be dirty and painful if you run into thorns and splinters. So, to protect your hands, the best solution is to invest in a good pair of gardening gloves.
Always choose durable gloves that are not overly bulky. Another thing is that gardening gloves should be water-resistant and breathable so that your hands are comfortable in them.
Gardening gloves and shears / Eco warrior princess-Unsplash
When buying gloves, make sure you find the right fit because poorly fitted gloves can be a nightmare. They will constantly slip off, and even cause you blisters. Also, think about the length of your gloves – gloves with longer cuffs can protect your wrists and forearms from things getting in and scratches.
2. Spade
Spades come in many different sizes and depending on the size of your garden you’ll either need a big one or a smaller one. Spades are ideal for digging holes for plants, for lifting sod or moving mounds of dirt from one side of the garden to the other.
It’s important that you choose a quality spade because spades are tools that can last you a long time. So, it’s ok if you invest a bit more money into a good spade, since you’ll be sure they’ll last for as long as you do your gardening.
What you need to know when buying a spade is that spades with ash hardwood handles are very durable as they can absorb shock and vibration very well. Also, spades made of stainless steel are stronger and won’t rust!
3. Shovel
A shovel is somewhat similar to a spade in both its appearance and use. It’s a must-have tool that is designed to save you work. The shovel is used for digging, lifting, and moving bulk materials, such as soil, coal, gravel, snow, sand, and so on. There are many different kinds of shovels, so once again, you should figure out what will you do with a shovel before you buy one.
4. Rake
A rake is another gardening tool that can help you out a lot. The rake is used to gather leaves and debris and easily whisk them away. Just like spades and shovels, rakes too, come in different sizes and styles, and it’s up to you and your needs to figure out which is ideal for you.
Rakes can also come either with steel or plastic tines, this means that steel ones can be a bit rougher than plastic ones, so, depending on what you need to rake, choose your rake carefully.
5. Hand trowel
A hand trowel is a tool ideal for transplanting plants and herbs in planting beds and containers. It can also do a great job taking out pesky weeds.
Hand trowels with a broad blade are great for moving soil and those with a narrow blade are usually used for digging up weeds and for rocky soil.
Choose a stainless steel trowel because they are more durable and will last you a long time.
6. Garden fork
Yet another gardening tool ideal for turning soil and transplanting seeds – a garden fork would be a great addition to your gardening equipment. The garden fork can also be great for loosening soil around perennials and dividing perennials as well.
Just like most gardening tools, garden forks come in different shapes and sizes. You can find forks with straight tines – they are great for digging compacted, rocky, or clay soil; and those with square tines, which are more durable, can turn sod, move mulch and debris, and penetrate almost any soil.
Pruning shears / Crystal Jo-Unsplash
7. Pruning shears
As their name suggests, pruning shears are meant for pruning plants that are overgrown and taking over your garden. You should have at least two types of shears – bypass and anvil-shears.
Bypass pruners are better for live plants and greenwood since they can cut with a sharp blade similar to scissors. Anvil-pruners, on the other hand, are best for deadwood since they can cause injury to fresh and green stems and branches.
Additionally, make sure you sharpen your pruners regularly so that they don’t injure your plants.
Watering / Delia Giandeini-Unsplash
8. Hose
If you want your garden to be green and fresh, you need to water it regularly. And to water your garden, you’ll need to find a good garden hose that can reach and spray every corner of your garden.
When choosing the right hose length, measure your garden and consider how long you want the hose to unwind. Also, consider the diameter of the hose – there are many different diameter sizes but the most common ones are from 12 to 14 mm. The hose material also matters, so make sure you choose one that will last you a long time.
9. Watering can
For places where your hose doesn’t reach or for smaller pots and planters that need just the right amount of water, use watering cans. They come in several different shapes, sizes, and materials. Two basic types are plastic and metal cans. Of course, plastic ones are less likely to last as long as metal cans, but whatever works for you.
10. Wheelbarrow
And the last tool on our must-have list goes to a wheelbarrow. Wheelbarrows are great tools for moving soil, plants, tools, or other heavier objects. They also come in a wide variety of sizes and styles. So, when choosing one for your garden consider how much weight you’re planning to lift and move around your garden.
These were the top 10 must-have garden tools. Of course, this list could go on, and we could add many more garden tools and equipment, but this is just enough.
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Jasmine Anderson is a Sydney-based lifestyle blogger and a toddler mom. She loves to spend quality time with her family, go thrifting, and spend just a little bit too much time on the internet.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndersonJess_AJ