List of Garden Tools Every Gardener Must Have…Or Not

While some would tell you that there is some magic list of garden tools that every gardener should have, the simple fact is, gardens and gardeners come in all shapes, sizes and needs.

We are short and tall, right and left handed, large vegetable garden, a small flower bed or our favorite plants on the balcony, but one thing we all have in common is, we want our garden tools to last and to work as hard as we do.

Like us, garden tools too come in all shapes, sizes and ways we can use them. A simple hand hoe that may be perfect for someone weeding a flower bed may also be the favorite tool for a vegetable gardener making furrows for seeds.

Below is not a list of garden tools you should have, but “suggestions” on garden tools that many gardeners might find useful for a particular type or size garden.

Large Vegetable Garden

Raised Bed Garden

Flower Beds & Lawn

Townhouse or Apartment Garden

Large Vegetable Garden

For sizable gardens, most gardeners find that the longer handled tools not only save the back, but are able to work more area in less time. Buying good quality garden tools will save yourself a lot of broken and bent tool headaches. Look for tried and true materials such as thick carbon or stainless steel tool bodies and Ash tool handles from managed forests.

Garden/Digging Fork -Some would call this tool a gardener’s favorite tool, but it is really your soil’s best friend. Great for turning the soil, aeration and mixing nutrients into the soil.

Garden/Digging Spade -Great for digging, turning the soil, soil aeration and its straight blade also makes it a good edging tool.

Garden Hoes -The never ending battle with weeds is best tackled with a hoe or cultivator (not chemicals). There are many, many head shapes available and most gardeners have a favorite, but a few of the favorites are: pull hoes, hoes like the diamond shaped hoe that works on the push and pull strokes, Dutch hoe, scuffle hoe, oscillating hoe (also called a hula hoe, action hoe and stirrup hoe), half-moon hoe and the heart shaped hoe. Many gardeners own several hoes for the different chores such as weeding between plantings, cleaning up between crop rows or even turning the hoe on edge to create seed furrows.

Garden Rake -If you’re making a new garden or adding on to an existing plot, the garden rake is great for leveling and clearing debris from your soil.

Garden Hand Tools -Now that you have the workhorse tools, you may find any number of smaller tools handy when you’re out in the garden. These tools will probably be specific to your type of gardening.

Pruners -Every gardeners go to pruning tool…buy a good pair and you’ll have a lifetime garden tool.

Hori Hori knife- this gardeners favorite is great for light digging, weeding, planting and so many more.

Wheelbarrow or Garden Cart

Remember, you’re unique and the way you garden is too, so choose tools that make your gardening more enjoyable.

Raised Bed Garden

This type of gardening is becoming very popular because of ease of maintenance and the ability to grow a lot in a smaller space. With most raised beds no wider than four feet, it’s easy to reach half way across the bed from both sides making shorter garden tools a good option.   

Garden Spade and/or Fork -great tools for  turning the soil, aerating, and mixing nutrients into the soil.

Long Handle Hoes – Even with the narrower beds, the longer weeding hoes with their variety of head shapes can be useful.

Medium Length Tools -Look for some medium length tools. There are forks, spades and other mid-length tools out there including good quality kids tools. If you have a favorite long tool that is too long, cut the handle to length that suits your needs.

Dutch Hand Hoe -At 18 inches long, this is a favorite among many gardeners. Available in right and left handed versions, is great for weeding and making furrows for seeds and can easily reach across the bed.

Trowels -With so many different types of trowels available, you may find that a good trowel will handle all your planting needs.

Hori Hori Knife -This is the “MacGyver” of garden tools. Great for digging, weeding, planting, cutting bags open and so many more things.

Pruning Shears or Pruning Knife -Good for harvesting time or cutting unwanted greenery.

As with all gardening, you’re different, and a tool that is popular with others might not work for you, so look around and find the right tool for your gardening chore.

Flower Beds and Lawn

If you are maintaining a yard with flower beds, (and maybe a veggie garden too) you’ll find that your garden tool list seems to be never ending. The good news is that you can use several of your tools not only in your flower beds, but in your veggie garden and yard as well. The garden fork works just as hard in your flower beds as it does in the garden. Your garden spade that you use to turn soil in the garden also works great for planting large shrubs and small trees as well a lawn edger. Those weeding tools you use in the garden will work just fine in your flower beds. Other tools you might find useful are:

Garden Rake -good for leveling and raking debris from your soil.

Leaf Rake -those leaves in the trees are going to fall and the leaf rake is a must for gathering them.

Rabbiting Spade -this spade has a narrow pointed blade that is great for transplanting shrubs, ditch digging or planting one gallon container plants.

Shovels and Specialty spades -You may find that you need sharp pointed shovel for general digging or maybe a border spade for those tight spaces.

Edger -More and more gardeners are choosing to lose more of their lawn and plant beds with native drought tolerant plants to save water and the edger is a great garden tool for defining those beds.

Loppers or Pruning Saw -Loppers are great for pruning smaller tree and bush limbs that are green and the pruning saw for dead branches.

Pruners -Probably the most used tool in the gardeners arsenal. Spend the money to buy a good pair and you’ll have a lifetime tool.

Wheelbarrow or Garden Cart

Water Hose -look around, ask your neighbors to find the best quality water hose you buy…you’ll save yourself a lot of grief.