What are the most common gardening tools?
You may already be a keen gardener. Or you maybe you would like to become one. Either way, you will need to make sure you have all the right tools to get the job done. Maybe you are new to gardening or just aren't exactly sure what tools you need? A good place to start is to think about what other successful gardeners are already using. What are the most common gardening tools that they have in their shed?
You will also need to think about a number of other factors including;
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the size of your garden
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what you want to grow
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what you hope to achieve
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how much work you really want to do
Gardening can definitely be hard work. But it will be a lot easier if you choose the right tools for each particular job. In this article, you will see the most common gardening tools. As well as why you may need each particular one of them. While every garden and every gardener is unique, these common tools will be great for all gardens.
1. Gardening gloves
Not the first tool that springs to mind when you are thinking about gardening, but you should definitely put these on before you do anything else. That way, your hands will be protected from any sharp thorns or objects and you can avoid getting and splinters or dirt down your nails while you carry out your tasks. You will have a better grip on things and that always makes the job easier and completed faster.
2. Hand trowel
Whatever else you decide to keep in your garden tool shed, a hand trowel is one option you definitely will not want to be without. This is an absolute essential, particularly if you are fairly new to gardening, you have a small garden, or you are gardening in containers. A garden trowel will come into its own if you are planting bulbs or perennials, or digging up small weeds. You will soon see that you need it almost every time you are tending to your gardening tasks.
3. A shovel
While a trowel is useful, you definitely will not want to attempt bigger digging jobs with one. That’s why you may also wish to think about a quality shovel. Something which you can use for larger gardening tasks such as moving soil into your wheelbarrow, planting trees, or turning over the earth in a vegetable garden to get everything ready for planting. Don't forget to wear your gloves while using a shovel. You might not thing you really need to bother, but trust me on this one. Those blisters will appear quicker than you realize.
4. A spade
Closely related to the shovel, but not quite the same tool, every gardening shed must surely have a spade in it. If you have a lot of digging to do, you will definitely need a spade. A spade has a flatter edge, which makes it particularly good for breaking up soil and getting straight edges on your flower or vegetable beds. While you can manage with either a spade or a shovel, having both will be more efficient. And yes you will want gloves while using.
5. A rake
Similar to a broom, but much more robust, a rake is one of the most versatile tools you can choose for your garden. You can use a rake for turning over and breaking up your soil to make sure it doesn’t clump together, making it impossible for your seedlings and plants to break the surface. You can also level out your soil, remove weeds and gather up your garden debris before transferring to a wheelbarrow. Once again, don't forget those gloves!
6. Leaf rake
Similar to a garden rake, but with a specific function, a leaf rake has longer prongs and is used for raking up lightweight debris from your garden, such as leaves. It is particularly helpful if you want to rake up leaves without damaging the lawn underneath. If you live in an area with lots of trees, you’ll find this tool really comes into its own during autumn when the trees are shedding their leaves. It is also useful to thatch your yard. And I know you wouldn't even consider using a leaf rake without those gloves right?
7. A garden fork
While you can do many of the tasks you need to with a rake, a garden fork will still prove invaluable when you need to loosen, lift and turn over the soil on your plot, no matter what the size. Also vital if you need to remove large roots from the ground, your fork will come in handy for spreading compost too. Gloves are a must.
8. Garden hoe
You can use your gardening trowel for weeding, but to save you from having to do too much bending, you may wish to invest in a good garden hoe. You can use the flat end of your hoe for shaping trenches to put your plants into as well as for weeding. Once you have your seeds in the right place, your hoe will also come in useful as you can simply push the soil back over them.
9. Loppers
Even if you already have a pair of pruning shears, you are likely to find that they aren’t heavy-duty enough for some gardening tasks. A pair of loppers will have longer handles to give you more leverage, allowing you to cut thicker branches and to keep your hedges under control if you prefer to cut them manually or you don’t have access to an electric supply at your garden plot. When choosing a pair of loppers, the information with them should say what the maximum diameter is that they can cut through. They really will make light work of those thicker branches that you will run across.
10. Pruning saw
If you have a set of pruning shears and a lopper in your toolbox, you may still find you need another type of tool for bigger jobs. A pruning saw can be helpful if you need to cut through larger branches, but you don’t quite need something as heavy-duty as a chainsaw. Pruning saws can be a particularly good choice if you are working to prune trees and shrubs which are in tight spaces and where you wouldn’t want to be using electric tools.
11. An edger
Have you ever visited a friend or neighbor and admired how neat their lawn is? Well, chances are they probably have an edger in their tool shed. This tool can create clean, sharp lines between lawn and flowerbeds. Edgers usually have a semi-circle shape to make it easier for them to penetrate the soil. You simply place the edger where you want to create your sharp edge, step down onto it, and then move along in a line (or a circle) depending on the shape you want to make. They also make a gas powered edger for larger jobs. Another tool that people use for edging as well as other things is a trimmer or weed eater. They really will help to get things done much faster. When using both gas powered and electric powered tools you absolutely should be wearing hearing protection. It may not seem like it's not that loud, these tools are easily loud enough to cause hearing loss.
12. Weeder
If you ask any gardener what the bane of their gardening life is, they are likely to say weeds. You will find that keeping on top of weeding can seem like a full-time job. You can use a number of tools to help you, including a gardening knife, trowel or a good hoe. However, you could also choose a specialist garden weeder. A hand weeder, which is also often referred to as a dandelion digger as it helps to remove dandelions from your lawn, can help to take out weeds without damaging the surrounding grass or plants.
13. Wheelbarrow
Even if you don’t have a huge garden, you are still likely to find a wheelbarrow that is useful. Do you, for example, have a compost heap? Then you may wish to transport a pile of compost to your vegetable or flower beds. Or, perhaps you would like to do your weeding. You can simply pop all of your weeds into your wheelbarrow before wheeling it to your garden rubbish bin. It can definitely assist you when mowing the lawn and you need to empty the grass catcher. Dump it into the wheel barrow a few times before you take it to your yard debris bin. The material that you choose for your wheelbarrow is up to you. You could choose a plastic or a steel wheelbarrow, for example. If you are doing a lot of heavy-duty gardening, you will want to make sure you choose a robust option. They also have wheel barrows with two front wheels to assist with keeping it balanced with heavier loads. Again, a good pair of gloves will make this even easier to use.
14. Pruning shears
If you can only choose a handful of gardening tools, then pruning shears are definitely one of those which should be within your arsenal. A type of heavy-duty gardening scissors, they are essential for cutting plants and branches. Making sure that you keep on top of your pruning at the right times of year will ensure that your plants, shrubs, and trees remain healthy. Look for a pair of shears that will fit comfortably in your hand. It really makes a big difference when you are using a quality pair of shears vs a pair that is more economic. Try to find something in the middle.
15. Garden knife
If you’ve been gardening for a little while, you probably already have a garden fork, but how about a gardening knife? Simple, yet effective, a gardening knife is very versatile and will help you with a number of tasks. You can use it for weeding, for dividing up plants if roots have grown together before you plant them and for marking where you will plant before digging in your seedlings or bulbs.
16. Garden scissors
Garden scissors are a tool which is often overlooked. After all, if you already have a pruner, do you also need a pair of scissors? You will probably find that the answer is yes, once you start to carry out a number of gardening tasks. If you are planting seeds, you can use scissors for opening up your packets, as well as for pruning smaller plants when a pair of pruning shears is not necessary.
17. Garden hose
If you’ve done all that work, you will want to ensure that the plants in your garden stay healthy, and for that, they will need enough water. A garden hose will enable you to reach all areas of your garden without having to carry watering cans backward and forwards. You can also get different attachments for your hose, such as a sprinkler, to make watering even easier. Make sure to get a decent hose nozzle. It really is a must have accessory for your hose. Again, look for something that is at least mid range quality. Cheaper products most likely won't last long and you will just be buying another.
18. A leaf blower
If you have a larger yard or garden, or lots of trees either on your own land or neighboring land, you may wish to invest in a leaf blower. You can blow leaves and debris to the side of your garden, either to an area where they can simply mulch down or where you can then sweep them up. They are available in both gas powered and electric versions. Either way you absolutely need to wear hearing protection while using a leaf blower. They will cause hearing loss if you don't protect yourself.
19. A lawnmower
An obvious one if you have a lawn, as you are hardly going to use your gardening scissors to cut your grass! A lawnmower can make light work of keeping your grass to the length you prefer. The size and type of lawn mower you need will depend on personal preference as well as the size of your garden. While many people opt for an electric mower, you might decide you prefer one which works with fuel, or a push mower. And yes once again I am going to remind you that you definitely need to wear your hearing protection while using a lawn mower no matter if it's gas or electric and even if it's only for a minute.
20. A string trimmer
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