Essential Garden Tools

What Tools Are Essential For Gardening?

Getting into gardening can be overwhelming when there are so many tools to choose from. But never fear, we've put together a list of basic essentials to get started with so you don't have to fork out a shed-load straight off the bat! Whether you're a beginner gardener unsure of where to start or an experienced gardener looking for an upgrade on your kit, we've got all the tools to help you out. From rakes and forks to lawnmowers and sheds, nothing is too big or small to be an important garden tool. Check out our top five list of essentials below...

Gloves

Gardening gloves are a basic essential that any gardener must get their hands on! They are useful for just about every task you might come across in your garden, but they are particularly handy for potting and planting - a hands-on activity that can leave you caked in mud or soil if you aren't careful! In the winter, you'll be grateful that they're keeping your hands warm as you work, but with most pairs designed to be light and breathable, you won't be sweating in them in the summer either. Built to be thick and durable, they're very good at protecting your hands from any splinters or cuts if you need to shift heavy or wooden items. Grab your own pair here!

Rake

A rake is another essential tool for your garden. Rakes are super handy for pushing and gathering loose cut bits of grass, soil or other debris - like a broom or a brush for the garden. Rakes are also very strong, and designed to help you pull or dig things out of the soil, so some gardeners use the rake to pull out dead plants, weeds or roots. It's a great tool for clearing up after a windy day, but you'll find it useful for all seasons and weathers! This gardening rake is perfect for gardening newbies.

Shears

You may also hear these referred to as 'pruning shears' and they're perfect for tidying up your plants or hedges when they get out of control! They cut with a sharp blade to make trimming large plants super easy - it would be a shear-iously good idea to get a pair of your own! These are an absolutely essential tool if you want to keep your garden looking in tip-top order, and they're a practical size to store in your garden shed or storage box for safe-keeping. Grab a pair here!

Garden Fork

A garden fork is another absolute essential - these 4 pronged large forks are mostly used to move compost or soil. They are ideal for anyone looking to plant or replant - truly important for a beginner. Many assume you need a garden spade first and foremost, but a fork is actually far more useful. They dig debris and roots out of the earth far more effectively than a spade, and help you save your hands when the soil is just too tough to move yourself.

Wheelbarrow

Any heavy lifting or just general moving around the garden you need to do, can be made easier with a wheelbarrow. You'll also easily be able to lift and empty your wheelbarrow. These also come in handy if you're having a bit of a tidy-up and could be backwards and forwards to the skip as it'll save you time and the effort of having to carry everything. It's also an essential tool that can hold your other tools while you're bending down and working hard on improving your garden, sounds great to us! They also come in different sizes, so you're bound to find the perfect one for you and your garden.

What Is The Most Useful Garden Tool?

So we've given you our top five essentials - but which garden tool is believed to be the best? According to gardeners all over the country, a sharp pair of secateurs is the best and most useful tool to own! Secateurs are a handheld tool used mostly for pruning tougher shrubs, plants and small trees. Made up of two blades that are curved for a more secure grip and a spring at the base that keeps them open, secateurs are a like a smaller pair of shears that you can hold in one hand and give you greater control over your pruning.

What Is The Best Tool For Weeding?

With the right pair of gloves, your hands can be a fabulous weeding tool. However, sometimes you really need to get to the root of the problem, and for this we recommend handheld forks and spades. They can be used alone or in combination, and are great for digging up deeper-rooted weeds and getting rid of them for good. If you want a tool to help remove shallower weeds, a handheld or standard garden hoe is your best bet. A rake is also a helpful tool to have on hand and can help with larger areas of weeds.