Must Have Garden Tools For A Gardener

Having spent several years in the garden, tending to fruit trees, and maintaining a little over an acre of land, there are basic tools which make the job easier.  Many of the tools can overlap with a variety of uses for upkeep and long term success of all aspects of gardening. Gardening is a process which has continued learning opportunities.

It requires patience, endurance, creativity, and can be a taxing and difficult job without having the tools to make it enjoyable and fun.  I learned that concept the hard way until I invested in essential tools to make a long lengthy day into a fun manageable hobby. I find gardening fun and relaxing especially in the early mornings and late evenings.

 

Gardening is more than seeds, sun, soil, and water.  Tools are essential. Below are tools needed to be successful in the garden. Some are more essential than others.

 

Garden Protective Gear

Whether you are gardening in containers, directly in your yard designated for a garden, or raised beds, garden gloves are all-important for protection not only from lots of dirt but also from injury.  If you have a tendency to have sensitive skin, gloves are not optional but necessary to avoid rashes, and allergic reactions. Top quality gloves allow allow you to feel stems of garden plants which is beneficial if you are pruning or cutting.  I have purchased many sets of gloves in an attempt to find the ones that suit me best. I can always use more than 1 set depending on what I am doing. There are other tools which aid in comfort such as kneeling pads, waterproof boots, a broad-brimmed hat, and sunscreen/mosquito protection.  If you are using any type of a power tool such as a chain-saw, eye protection is needed.

 

Wheelbarrow or Cart

Whether you are planting flowers, trees, shrubs, or vegetables, moving about your yard will be easier and make the job at hand a little less effortless if you have a wheelbarrow and/or cart.  Moving dirt, compost, leaves, or garden clean up is best done with a wheelbarrow.  It is easy to make a large dump once you get where you are going. Carts are beneficial for moving tools, plants, or even your harvest once your garden has produced.  I found a cart especially beneficial during my pumpkin and watermelon harvest. It seems I can never have enough containers to carry things so I also use buckets, bags, and large outdoor trash cans.

 

Watering Supplies

Making sure you have available water to your plants is a top priority.  Plants new and old will need a regular schedule of watering. In Texas during the heat of the summer, rain can be hit or miss so I have invested in a good quality garden hose and storage container  Actually I have more than one.  I also have watering nozzle, watering wand, and a watering can. In large planting beds a sprinkler is beneficial but not necessary (you can always hand water).  Drip irrigation is the best as it conserves water and waters only the base of the plant. We constructed drip irrigation ourselves for under $100.00. It is connected to our outdoor spigot, set to a battery operated timer and waters when set to a schedule.

 

Pruners (hand and loppers)

No matter what kind of garden you have, pruners are essential to a successful gardener.  Cutting and trimming can be handled easily with a good pruning tool.  Hand pruners are the tool of choice for stems with a diameter under about ¾ inches. They are especially helpful later in the growing season as vegetable stems become large and thick.  Vegetables such as squash and peppers have thick stems and are easily harvested with a good hand pruner.  They are also good for small shrubs, deadheading, and pruning perennials. Long handled pruner (loppers) is a type of pruner used for small but thick branches such as those found on some fruit trees.  I use loppers to prune apple trees and peach trees. They are good for any type of tree with branches greater than ¾ inches thick. Long handled pruner (loppers) require two hands to operate versus a hand pruner which require one hand to operate.  Pruners need to be kept sharp therefore, investing in a sharpening tool is necessary. When pruning, clean sharp cuts are critical to promote plant health and keep the freshly cut branch disease free.

 

Shovels

Garden shovels come in different types.  Two types which are the most useful are a round-headed shovel and a flat edge shovel.  Most dirt moving and digging can be done with a round-headed shovel. They tend to work well for digging in softer soils, and transplanting plants. They drive into the ground easier than a square edges due to how the pressure of your force is transferred.  Flat edge shovels are used mostly for edging, transplanting plants and shrubs. Flat edge shovels cut through roots easier and are good for trenching.

 

Rakes

There are three types of rakes very useful to the gardener. A leaf rake, bow rake, and a hand rake.  Leaf rakes will help get fall’s leaves out the the garden and other parts of your property. Leaves are an excellent composting material so as you rake them remember the compost pile. Tines with some spring can be used in and around the garden without much plant damage.  I prefer wider rakes for leaves as it works quicker when you are faced with mounds of them. A bow rake is necessary for soil prepping in vegetable gardens and new garden beds. I use mine almost every time I am working in my garden. It is good for leveling soil, spreading mulch, or breaking up hard garden soil and dirt.  A bow rake is a good tool for cleaning out your soil of debris. The tines are short and a few inches long. The tines are made of metal, strong, and rigid. Hand rakes are a small version of the larger rakes described above. They are used to work in tight spaces and close to a surface. They are ideal for small areas around the base of plants and are typically used when being on your knees working the soil around plants is required. Hand raked have a short handle and you have more control over its use.

 

Garden Fork

Garden forks come in many varieties however, the digging fork is the most common type seen in gardens.  The digging fork is similar in appearance to a pitch fork which is used to turn dirt.  I actually use my digging fork weekly turning my compost pile. Digging forks are recognized as one of the most basic garden tools. They are useful for breaking and turning soil. Digging forks are multi-functional and can be used for almost anything garden related.

 

Garden Hoe

The garden hoe gets a lot of use during the spring when garden preparation is beginning.  The garden hoe can come in many sizes. The type you use depends on the type of garden you have.  If you have a large vegetable garden with large areas of dirt, you may want a wider hoe. Flower gardens do not require a large hoe but something more delicate and smaller. Hoe’s are used mostly for weeding and cultivating.  Weeds are a fact of gardening. They make quick work of weeding.

 

Trowels

Hand trowels are essential whether you are gardening in containers, raised beds, or directly into your yard garden.  They are used to transfer dirt into pots, planting bulbs, or transferring plant seedlings into the ground during spring planting season.  Most planting requires you to get on your knees with a trowel for planting. Narrow and wide blades are available. I have both which are used for different garden planting. Narrow blades are good for a more solid soil and the wide blade is beneficial for removing softer soil more quickly. A hand trowel is perfect for children learning to dig in the dirt as full-sized shovel would be unsafe.

 

Weeders

Weeding is the least fun activity in the garden. It is no fun but necessary in any garden whether a vegetable garden or a flower garden.  There is no way to make weeding fun but it can be bearable if you have a good hand weeder.  A hand weeder is basically self explanatory. The key to using a weeder is to loosen the soil around the weed so that you get the entire root out of the ground.  If you don’t the weed will resprout.

 

Whether you are a new to gardening, or a seasoned gardener building a perfect tool shed is essential to make your experience fun and enjoyable.  Use this list to begin to develop your garden tool shed. I have included the Essential Tools for Beginners. These will get you started and over time you can build your tool shed with a robust set of supplies.