Best Gardening Tools

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Having the best gardening tools in your garden shed can be incredibly beneficial when planting and growing produce in your own backyard. Stock your garden tool supply before you begin planting and help make the start-up process easier on your time and back.

Having tools will help you on how to start a backyard garden that will be full of huge organic veggies you can enjoy all year long.

How Backyard Gardens Can Boost Your Health

Having a backyard garden is a great way to give your family fresh, healthy fruits and veggies, but that’s not all it offers.

Gardening can be a really enjoyable and relaxing hobby. It’s a chance to move your body and get some exercise while you’re at it. Plus, it’s the perfect excuse to head outside, breathe in some fresh air, and soak up a little sunshine.

If you’ve got kids or grandkids, your garden can also be a wonderful hands-on teaching tool. It’s an exciting way to show them where food comes from and spark their curiosity.

To keep gardening fun instead of feeling like a chore, make sure you have the right tools on hand. They can make those tough jobs so much easier, turning your time in the garden into something you’ll look forward to.

When’s the Best Time to Buy Yard Tools?

If you’re looking to get the best deals, knowing when to snag yard tools is key. Personally, I love hunting for deals at yard sales during the spring and summer months. You can often score things like rakes and other hand tools for just a few dollars—which is so much cheaper than buying them brand new at the store.

Late summer is another great time to shop. Many stores are trying to clear out their inventory, so you might find some good discounts. Just keep in mind that the exact tool you’re after might not always be on sale.

And don’t overlook spring online sales. Sites are eager to get people excited for gardening season, so you’ll often come across some sweet deals then too.

Be sure to grab your FREE Gardening Tools checklist below!

Best Gardening Tools

Before you start shopping, take a minute to check out this guide. Gardening can get pricey, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Start by making two lists—one for the tools you really need and another for a wish list of fun finds. Focus on buying what you need first to make sure you’ve got the basics covered.

Garden Gloves

Regardless of what kind of garden you’re planting, digging in the dirt and maintaining your plants is hard work and can take a toll on your hands. Even more importantly, you may find rocks, sticks, or unwanted creatures in your soil, and gloves will help prevent injury and blistering.

• Breathable Rubber Coated Yard Garden Gloves I love these gloves because they fit well and are easy to move your fingers in.
• Long Sleeve Garden Gloves These are a great option that will not only protect your hands but your arms as well.
• Thorn Proof No Stab Garden Gloves Working with thorns can be painful, but with these protective gloves, you can work without fear.

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When picking gardening gloves, go for ones with reinforced fingertips to keep your hands safe from punctures. A waterproof pair is also a smart choice to keep your hands dry while watering. If you’re tackling larger gardening projects, padded gloves can help protect against blisters, and adjustable wrist straps are great for keeping dirt and soil out.

SLCG PRO TIP: Be sure to try gloves on before purchasing; the wrong fit can be just as bad as not wearing any. Be sure to look at the fit, feel, and comfort before you invest in a pair of gardening gloves.

Garden Kneeling Pad

Kneeling or sitting on the ground for too long can really do a number on your knees, and all that bending over isn’t great for your back either. Using a kneeling pad makes a big difference, adding cushioning to keep your knees from getting sore. You’ll find these rectangular foam pads at most garden centers or even discount stores, but if you’re in a pinch, you can always whip up a DIY version.

• Basic Kneeling Pad This is a good place to start with a kneeling pad. It is very light weight and easy to carry around.
• Cute Bee Kneeling Pad Who says a kneeling pad needs to be boring? This cute bee pad is perfect if you want a fun way to protect your knees.
• Garden Stool and Kneeler I you are not sure whether you want a pad or a stool, this option gives you both.

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SLCG Pro Tip: For a simple DIY kneeling pad, try repurposing an old chair cushion or wrapping a leftover piece of foam in duct tape to prevent it from tearing. Keep it stored with your hand tools, so it’s always handy when it’s time to plant or weed.

Garden Trowel

If you’re new to gardening, a trowel is basically a small handheld shovel. It’s super versatile, whether you’re working with a collection of containers or grow bags on your patio or a larger raised bed in your yard.

You can use it to dig small holes for planting, scoop potting soil into containers, transplant seedlings, or even tackle pesky weeds that can strangle out your plants. It’s definitely one of those must-have tools.

• Digging Trowel Transplanter This option has a serrated edge that helps it go into solid, hard ground more easily.
• Super Strong Garden Trowel If you need something durable, this heavy-duty trowel is a good fit.
• Steel Trowel With Rubberized handle I like this option because it has a no-slip handle, allowing you to work even if your hands are sweating.

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While you can find cheap plastic trowels, this is definitely a tool worth spending a little extra on. Since you’ll be using it a lot, you’ll want something durable that can handle the job. Look for one with a solid metal blade and a sturdy wooden handle that feels comfortable in your hand. It’ll be worth it in the long run.

Pruning Shears

A good pair of pruning shears is a must-have for any gardener. They’re great for trimming plants and small branches, helping you keep everything in check when your garden starts looking untamed. Whether it’s snipping dead leaves, cutting vines, or handling small branches, pruning shears makes the job simple and efficient.

For the gardener, there are two basic types of pruning shears.

1. Anvil pruners: This option uses a sharp blade against a flat surface, like a knife against a board.
2. Bypass pruners This option has a sharp blade passing over a flat surface with a sharp edge, like scissors.

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Bypass shears are best for live plants and green wood while Anvil shears are better for dead branches because they will cause crush injuries to fresh stems.

Again, look for ones that fit comfortably in your hand. To keep them working at their best, they should be sharpened regularly.

SLCG PRO TIP: Do you love the smell of fresh-cut flowers decorating your kitchen table? Then having a sturdy set of pruning shears is a great tool to have in your gardening toolbox. Use them to snip off a few flowers to help create a beautiful bouquet and bring some of those amazing flowers inside of your home.

Loppers

Garden loppers are essentially long-handled pruning shears, perfect for trimming those thick or hard-to-reach branches. The handles can range from 16 to 36 inches, so they give you a good amount of leverage. Just keep in mind, they can be a bit heavy, which might make them trickier to use for extended periods.

Depending on the type of garden you’re working with, you might not need loppers right away. But it’s good to know they’re an option as you expand your gardening skills and take on bigger projects.

SLCG PRO TIP: If you have wrist issues or Carpel Tunnel in your hands, garden loppers can make pruning less painful and even easier. By using both hands to trip branches and stems, you remove some of the actions that can be painful if you suffer from these conditions.

Hose/Sprinkler/Watering Can

Your new garden is going to need plenty of water to help roots grow and keep everything thriving. Unfortunately, rain alone usually won’t cut it. The best watering option really depends on the type of garden you’re planting.

For a small container garden, a watering can is a simple and effective choice. But if you’re tending to a backyard vegetable garden or anything planted in the ground, you’ll need more than that. A garden hose or a sprinkler attached to one will make the task much easier. If you go with just a hose, be sure to add a sprayer attachment so you can control the pressure and water flow.

If you’re on a budget, consider investing in a rain barrel. It’s an eco-friendly way to collect and reuse rainwater for your garden.

• Watering Can A classic metal option good for a patio garden.
• Watering Hose and Nozzle For a larger garden, this hose and nozzle will help make your daily job easier to do.
• Sprinkler Put watering on autopilot with a water sprinkler. It is up off the ground so it can cover more area.
• Drip Irrigation Another option is this irrigation setup. It allows you to water on a schedule.

SLCG Pro Tip: For most gardens, watering in the early morning is the best choice. Watering midday causes quick evaporation, leaving plants thirsty. Evening watering can oversaturate the soil, leading to bacteria and fungi growth.

Garden Rake

A long-handled garden rake is one of those tools I like to call essential. With a rake, you will be better able to create smooth and level soil and remove any unwanted weeds. A garden rake will also help you keep your garden bed clean of leaves, twigs, and other debris so your plants can grow healthy and strong.

When picking a garden rake, be sure to choose a hefty one with a strong wooden handle and a metal rake head.

For a container garden, you will want a short-handled rake, about the size of a trowel, to keep the soil in your pots clean. You can also use gloves that are meant for raking. These are a much easier way to keep containers and small garden beds clean and free of weeds.

For tough, overgrown land, swap out a rake for a garden hoe to help chop and clear roots and tough soil. A garden hoe is a wonderful tool that can save your back when cleaning out a new area for your garden. The end of the hoe can slice and chop up roots and weeds, making them much easier to remove. 

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Angled Shovel

If you’re new to gardening, all shovels may seem the same, but they’re not. There are a variety of options for a variety of tasks. For gardening, an angled shovel (one with a triangular head) is the best for digging holes to plant. You can use it when planting seeds, digging holes, moving soil, and even relocating plants to maintain the root system.

If you’re planting a bed, you may want to consider a squared-off spade for cleaner cuts, but it’s unnecessary when you’re just starting out.

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Wheelbarrow

A wheelbarrow is super handy for tackling bigger garden projects, like hauling compost or moving rocks around your space. It’s a real back-saver when you need to move heavy loads.

When choosing a wheelbarrow, think about how you’ll use it and how long you want it to last. Plastic wheelbarrows are lightweight and more affordable, which is great for lighter tasks. But if you need something sturdier and long-lasting, a metal one is the way to go.

• Easy Haul Wheelbarrow
• Garden Dump Cart
• Heavy Duty Wheelbarrow

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SLCG PRO TIP: If you suffer from back issues, then a garden wagon or a utility cart may be more suitable for you. These wagons are quickly gaining in popularity because of their dual purpose. Use it to hold plants, soil, mulch, and tools, or you can use it to hold gardening debris as you work.

Hand-Held Weeder

A hand-held weeder is one of those tools you’ll only need if you’re working with a larger garden. For smaller container gardens, weeds are usually less stubborn and can be managed easily with a small rake, trowel, or even by hand. Since the root systems of weeds in containers don’t go very deep, they’re much easier to pull out.

But in a big outdoor garden, it’s a different story. Those weeds often have deeper, more complicated root systems, which makes them tough to pull by hand. That’s where a hand-held weeder really shines.

The key to keeping weeds from coming back is removing the entire root. This can be tricky, but a hand-held weeder makes it easier by using its metal tooth to dig below the root. Once you’ve got it in position, you can angle the tool to lift the entire weed out, roots and all. It’s incredibly useful, especially if you’re dealing with a garden full of pesky weeds.

• No Bend Hand Weeder This tool is a good basic option to have on hand.
• Weed Puller Tool with Long Handle Standing up can be much easier on your back and the reason why I love this option.
• V-Blad Weeder This is a different type of weeder that works great.

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SLCG PRO TIP: Hand weeding is a great way to ensure your garden remains organic and chemical-free. If you want to deter weeds from happening in the first place, consider using mulch around the base of your plants.

READ MORE ABOUT NATURAL MULCHING 

Plant Dividing Tools

Dividing tools are a great tool to have, especially for flower beds. A perennial divider allows you to easily divide larger plants into smaller ones without causing any damage to the plant and root system so that you can divide, move, and replant. It can also help with edging a flower bed.

A big grip knife helps with weeding, seed planting, dividing smaller plants, and digging holes in a plant bed. These specialized tools help to easily keep up with your flower garden while keeping the plants healthy.

Garden Fork

Garden forks great to have because they can dig into dense soil much better than a shovel, and they’re great for turning the dirt over, giving life to stagnant soil. A pitchfork has a slight curve to the spines for scooping up mulch and turning compost piles.

A fork with strait tines will do a better job of digging in rocky or clay soil or soil that is compacted. And square tines are stronger than flat ones, making it easier to manage rocks or roots.

Consider where and how you’ll be using it to/ select the best fork for your needs. Look for one that has a non-slip grip and is stainless steel to help prevent rusting.

• Hand Held Garden Fork This will help you to move plantings without upsetting the root systems.
• No Slip Hand Fork This option has a handle that is kinder to your grip.
• Pitchfork A pitchfork is great at moving piles of weeds, mulch, straw, or grass.

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Garden Hoe

A garden hoe is another tool you won’t need for a container garden but one that will come in handy for a vegetable or flower garden. The garden you plan to grow will depend on the type of hoe you want to buy.

For a vegetable garden, you’ll want one that’s sturdy and has a wide base. A wide base garden hoe will help you dig or cut thick roots and make easy work of turning the soil in preparation for planting.

For a flower bed, a thinner garden hoe is a better option to protect your delicate plants. It will also help with weeding and preparing your flower bed.

When picking out a hoe, go for one with a long reach and a handle that feels comfortable in your hands. You’ll want to use it while standing to avoid straining your back. Look for a hoe with a sharp blade to make your work easier, and remember to sharpen the blade regularly to keep it in top shape.

Flat hoes are perfect for turning soil in vegetable gardens, while a weeding hoe is better for slicing through unwanted growth. Choose the right one for the job, and you’ll save yourself a lot of effort down the line.

Rototiller

This is a big tool that, if used often, can be worth investing in owning one. There are many different types of tillers, but if you plan on using this yourself, I recommend a lightweight option such as the Mantis. I purchased ours at a yard sale for just $40 over 10 years ago, and it is still going strong.

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What is a rototiller?

A rototiller is a gardening machine that uses running blades to break up soil or ground. It is mainly used to start a new garden bed as it works great to loosen up compact soil without much effort. Rototillers, also called tillers, can be electric or gas and come in all sizes and weights.

If you only need to use a tiller once or twice a year, you can rent them at many gardening centers. Most charge by the hour or by the day, but renting can save you quite a bit of money, so you may want to consider if you are on a budget.

Questions to ask before purchasing garden tools.

Before you start shopping for garden tools, it’s a good idea to ask yourself a few key questions so you don’t end up buying things you’ll never use. The right tools should make gardening jobs easier, but it’s easy to get swept up in trends before considering what’s really useful for your needs.

• Are you starting a garden from scratch? If so, bigger equipment like a rototiller or a pickaxe might be necessary.
• Do you have any physical limitations? A gardening table, chair, or kneeler can make tasks more comfortable.
• Want your plants close to your home? Consider investing in containers for growing veggies on your back patio.
• Planning to plant directly in the ground? Check your soil. If it’s unhealthy, you might need a test kit and compost to improve it. For rocky soil, a wheelbarrow is a must for hauling those rocks out.
• Prefer raised beds? You can buy them or build your own if you’re handy with tools.

By figuring out what you need and how you’ll garden, you can build a toolkit that works for you and keeps your garden blooming.

7 Tips for Better Growing

Healthy soil is the foundation of a great garden. It provides the nutrients plants need, so prepping it properly is essential. Different plants have different requirements, so check their needs. If your yard’s soil isn’t ideal, consider using raised beds for more control.

Here are 7 easy ways to amend your soil and get it ready for planting:

1. Add Compost – Boosts nutrients and improves soil structure.
2. Mix in Aged Manure – Fully composted manure enriches the soil.
3. Use Cover Crops – Prevents erosion and adds nitrogen.
4. Balance pH – Adjust with lime to raise pH or sulfur to lower it.
5. Work in Mulch – Organic mulch retains moisture and breaks down into nutrients.
6. Aerate the Soil – Loosen compacted soil for better root growth.
7. Add Organic Fertilizer – Gentle, plant-friendly nutrient boost.

Other Garden Soil Resources:

• Turn Crappy Clay Soil into a Lush Garden
• How to Prep Your Soil for a Vegetable Garden

Before buying your tools or making your first dig in the ground, take the time to plan your garden. Consider what you will grow, where you will grow it, what type of soil and light it needs, and how much water it requires.

A garden is a great way to provide healthy fruits and vegetables for your family to enjoy or create an environment for bees and butterflies to thrive. Having the best gardening tools and a little advance planning will help you get the most out of it.

MORE GARDENING RESOURCES:

• How to Grow a Salsa Garden
• How to Grow Pumpkins for Beginners
• DIY Kitchen Herb Garden