Top 10 Must-Have Gardening Tools

When you’re new to gardening, it's hard to know how to get started. Even the most experienced gardeners need to have the right tools. Our list of essential gardening tools will set you on the right path to a beautiful garden.

What You Need To Complete The Job:

Hand trowel | Secateurs | Hoe | Gloves | Spade | Fork | Shovel | Rake | Saw | Wheelbarrow | Scissors | Kneeling pad | Hose | Watering can | Outdoor brush | Loppers | Lawnmower | Shed | Lawn feed | Weed & moss killer

    1. Hand Trowel
    A hand trowel is a small tool that is essential for planting, transplanting and potting. Look for one with a sturdy connection between the blade and handle, and a comfortable grip on the handle to avoid hand fatigue and give you optimal control.

    2. Secateurs
    Also known as pruning shears, pruners or clippers, a garden secateurs is a very useful hand tool around the garden. You will need it for trimming and shaping plants and shrubs and for removing dead growth. High-quality secateurs will last a very long time, stay sharper for longer, be able to take thicker branches, and be more comfortable to use, so it is worth investing in a good one.

    3. Hoe
    A garden hoe is essential for cultivating your soil, edging your lawn, and countless other gardening tasks. This versatile garden tool comes in several varieties but a regular Dutch or Draw hoe will meet most gardeners’ needs. You will find it highly useful when preparing beds for planting and weeding.

    4. Gardening Gloves
    Thorns and splinters are as annoying and uncomfortable as they are preventable with a good pair of gardening gloves. Gardening tasks can wreak havoc on your hands, leaving them sore and irritated. Thankfully there is a huge range of gloves available offering better protection and comfort than ever before.

    5. Spade
    A spade has a long handle and a long, narrow, flat head. No gardening tool kit is complete without one! You will need it for digging tasks, as well as edging beds and lawns, transplanting, dividing shrubs, trenching, and lots more.

    6. Fork
    One of the most hardworking tools in any gardener’s arsenal, a garden fork is a multi-purpose piece of equipment. It can be used to aerate lawns (see our guide on Lawn Care & Maintenance Tips), break up compacted soil, create holes for seeds, mix in soil treatment, remove stones and weeds, and soften the tough ground. Its sharp and strong tines can more easily penetrate difficult terrain than a spade.

    Just outside of the top 10 are the following must-have gardening items: a pair of scissors, kneeling pads or a suitable cushion, a garden hose, a watering can, an outdoor brush, loppers, a lawnmower, and a shed to house all your tools and equipment. You will also need lawn and plant feed, and weed and moss killer to ensure healthy growth in your garden.