Best Gardening Tools

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Gardening is a past time enjoyed by millions around the world. When striving to be an effective gardener it is important to possess the best gardening tools for each individual project. Having the correct tool for the right job can save you hours of challenging work making you operate more efficiently.

As gardening is a physically challenging past time tools that save you extra exertion, reduce strain on your joints and muscles are welcomed. The best gardening tools will not only be easy on you but also make gardening chores easier and quicker.

Some of the main functions of gardening tools are Weeding, sowing, propagating, clearing, mowing, pruning clipping, composting and digging. All these gardening jobs can actually require different tools depending on the weather conditions and soil type.

​This variation in uses can make it a little challenging finding the best gardening tools suitable for you. Add into the mix the fact that some gardeners preferer to use some tools over others for exactly the same job just because of personal preference. Some gardeners even use  tools designed for a specific use for something completely different.

For this reason searching for the best equipment can be a very general assumption. However by listing some of the most popular gardening tools with their uses you will have a broad  base to work out what is best for you.

In this article we set out typical tools as most popularly used by gardeners. We also aim to describe some less well known ones which will make your gardening easier and more enjoyable.

​Weeding brush

If there is one job every gardener hates it has to be weeding. Most of the time it is not that the weeding is so terrible its simply the fact that once the job is complete within a matter of weeks the weeds will be back.

Generally serious gardeners are not only used to this but have developed their own systems to make weeding as efficient as possible.
There is one type of weeding however that presents a real annoyance not just to gardeners but the general population.

​Small weeds and mosses which take hold in small crevices such as patios, pathways and driveways are a garden nightmare. These persistent weeds can make an outside space look messy and unkept. One of the best gardening tools to actually combat this is a weeding brush. This consists of a long pole with a wire brush on the end. Simply brush at the weeds to tear them out by the root.

​Edging spade

When gardening there is always a sense of pride and satisfaction from making every detail perfect. It is these small touches that brings the garden to the next level and making it stand out from the rest. Most people long for the perfect, consistent lawn but many gardeners neglect the necessary maintenance of the lawns edges.

This simple element when maintained property lifts the lawns aesthetics by creating a crisp edge! One of the best gardening tools for this is a half moon edging spade. This allows for careful turf cutting whether in a straight line or delicate curves. This tool is also effective at cutting turf into sections ready to be stripped of for larger landscaping projects.

​Push & pull hoe

Many  people new to gardening look at garden hoes and wonder what this strange tool could ever be used for. For such a seemingly useless contraption consisting of a long pole and small blade it is amazing just how useful it is. Hoes are actually one of the best gardening tools for weeding and clearing flower beds during the growing season.
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The long shaft allows the gardener to reach deep into borders in and around established plants with ease. The blade cuts of weeds an inch under the soil killing them quickly especially in warm dry weather. The best way to use a garden hoe is to cut off weeds when they are still small. doing this regularly will mean no weeds taking hold all season making the work light, quick and easy.

​Long handled shovel

It is very easy when gardening to get stuck in your ways using the same tools for the same projects. This can mean missing out on new easier ways of doing things.

​This can not be more evident that with replacing short handled spades for long handled ones. One of the largest complaints gardeners have and occurring injuries is lower back pain. This is usually a result of bending and awkward lifting.

One of the best gardening tools to combat this is long handled tools especially spades and shovels. Instead of having to bend and lift loads at a short distance the long handle allows you to utilise the mechanical advantage of leverage. This means less fatigue getting more work done while saving the pain of a bad back in the process.

​Azada digging tool

In the west gardeners have commonly used spade like tools for digging and pick axe tools which utilise a swinging action for loosening soil. In the east there is a tool that has been used for thousands of years for loosening ground and moving about soil. This ancient tool capitalises on the power of momentum to cut into soil from swinging opposed to brute force.
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This allows for more energy efficiency when working over a long period of time achieving more work with less effort. It is the Azada tool which even to this day helps to shape and sculpture the famous paddy fields of Asia. This remarkable landscaping tool can be used for a multitude of garden projects including digging, weeding and lifting.

​Gardening knife

Some of the best gardening tools encourage a gardener to do more interesting and skilled projects. Most weekend gardeners are obsessed with making the garden neat, tidy and a great place to relax. However the deeper a person dives into this amazing hobby the more intricate and exciting the endeavours become.

On a horticultural level taking cuttings and grafting plants is one of the more advanced pursuits in gardening. However to become and expert in these activities a certain amount of trial and error is needed. A good horticultural knife will allow a gardener to start their journey into more advanced gardening. As well as other general objectives such as cutting twine.

​Professional secateurs

Not only is gardening about growing the things you love but is also about the after care of all living things on your plot. One of the more advanced disciplines in gardening is pruning successfully. This can be as simple as cutting back over grown vegetation or as advanced as pruning to encourage more fruits and flowers.
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There are many tools out there for pruning such as loppers and hedge trimmers but one of the best gardening tools for detailed pruning are secateurs. These scissor like cutters enable a gardener to prune up close making delicate cuts perfect for pruning soft fruit and roses. These professional secateurs are sharp and come in there own case for easy transportation wherever the gardener ventures.

​Multitool sharpener

It can sometimes surprise people just how many tools keen gardeners need to carry out so many varying projects. It can be quite remarkable how quickly the working parts of tools wear down and become blunt after not much use. Today in this throw away society it is sad that many prefer to re-buy than take care of their tools.
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Most rusty or overworked tools can be revitalised with just a little love and care. The best gardening tools are those which are built well enough to be re-conditioned and re-sharpened. This Multi tool sharpener is perfect for sharpening a whole range of tools keeping your tool cupboard at its best and ready for action.

​Prunning saw

Gardeners often comment on just how quickly trees and shrubs can grow out of control during a couple of seasons. As these things usually grow gradually it is easy to notice just how large they are becoming. It is often the case that small trees will develop branches too thick to be cut by loppers but do not warrant the need for chainsaw cutting.
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In this scenario the best gardening tools are folding pruning saws like the one above. This saw will fold away neatly and easily power through surprisingly thick branches with ease. They leave a clean cut meaning less chance of trauma and disease entering the wood.

​Lawn aeration spikes

If there is one thing most less involved gardeners would love it would be a perfect garden lawn free of weeds and a consistent texture throughout. The truth is very few people actually attempt the work to gain such an outcome. Many believe it takes expensive machinery or fancy lawn services to achieve this but the reality couldn't be further from the truth.

In fact the best thing you can do for your lawn to reach perfection is to aerate it. This adds oxygen but also allows you to spread sand and fertilizer over and into the surface making the roots grow strong and healthy. The sand adds drainage and organic matter like compost lead to the perfect conditions for optimum growth.

​The best gardening tools to aerate the lawn isn't an expensive aerator machine but these simple aeration shoe spikes. Simply place them on your feet and stomp across the grass to your hearts content, it is also great exercise!

​Digging spade

Gardening requires much physical effort especially when working the soil. Getting the gardens soil to a suitable texture and consistency is an ongoing process which takes many years to perfect. One of the most fundamental actions in achieving the perfect soil is to dig. Quite a lot in fact. This has meant that over the years digging spades have become an essential part of the garden tool collection.
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One of the best ways to reach the perfect soil conditions in the flower beds or allotment is to double dig. This requires digging down to two spades deep, applying organic matter and then back filling. This alleviates compaction and helps roots to reach down far for extra nutrients.

​The digging spade is perfect for such projects cutting and slicing the ground into manageable portions to be lifted and turned over. This digging spade is also fantastic for digging up and planting new plants, shrubs and trees.

​Robot lawnmower

Every gardener knows that the annual lawn cutting regime can become some what of a chore. Even though mowing can become an annoyance to gardeners the results of a freshly cut lawn can be satisfying and rewarding. Everybody relates the smell of cut grass with excitement and the joy of spring and summer.

A well maintained lawn communicates to everyone this gardener is meticulous and organised. This is something gardeners especially want to show off to the neighbours!

The truth is intensive mowing comes at a time when there are so many other projects to carry out in the garden. This means any garden gadget that can carry this out for you is much appreciated! Robot lawn mowers can do just that!

​Not only will they maintain the grass for you they will actually do it better and actually improve the quality of your lawn. These wonderful robots are some of the very best gardening tools cutting regularly. This regular cutting makes the grass grow to a tighter, denser texture reducing weeds and becoming visually superior.

​Leaf grabber

The physical nature of gardening means it is very beneficial to our health. The continuous bending, squatting, pulling and lifting means gardeners have the edge when maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

There is one problem however many gardeners seem to suffer from every now and then. Lower back pain can be caused easily especially when working in cold conditions. A painful lower back can be the result of continuous bending, a common cause of picking things up from ground level.
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Some of the best gardening tools are the ones that alleviate this gardening movement. These leaf grabbers are perfect for cleaning up mess without the need to bend over. This tool is typically used to clear up leaves, soil and debris but can also assist in picking up other light garden objects. Leaf grabbers once obtained are one of those gardening tools you wonder how you ever coped without.

​Garden vacumm blower

There is an old saying in gardening that 'a gardeners job is never done'.  The four seasons means the garden is always changing leading to an endless cycle of growth and death. This means gardeners are always on their toes nurturing new growth, weeding and clearing the garden to keep it in tip top condition. One of the most challenging times for a gardener is autumn time.

As the seasons plants start to die down and the trees shed their leaves gardeners can be left with quite a large volume of mess to clear from their gardens. One of the best gardening tools to sort this problem out is this garden vac blower.

​Not only will it help you clear large areas it will also collect debris inside its storage bag. The gathered material can then be either composted or disposed of. This garden gadget makes a perfect gift at any time of the year.

​Petrol multi tool

Keeping a garden in perfect condition is both challenging and rewarding at the same time. The combination of maintaining trees, shrubs, planting and lawns means gardeners need a wide range of garden gadgets and tools. In fact gardening is one hobby which requires so many tools it could leave the beginner a little overwhelmed.
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One of the issues with having so many gardening tools is trying to fit all the gadgets into available storage space. Sheds and Garages can soon become full with clutter making it impossible to navigate and find what you need. Hence any garden gadget that can carry out multiple functions in the garden is very welcome.

​Garden shredder

For many the seasonal variation of gardening is both thrilling and exciting. In spring the garden explodes into life with shrubs putting on new growth in a matter of weeks. During the summer there is a surprising amount of green material which requires constant pruning and clearing. Autumn brings a whole new load of organic material which must be cleared and disposed of before the garden goes dormant for winter.

The great thing about all this organic matter is its perfect for composting down into garden fertiliser. The problem is some larger garden waste such as hedge trimmings and woody material can take a long time to break down. This can make the compost heap difficult to turn.

​This garden shredder will power through all organic waste blasting it into small chippings perfect for composting! The chippings can also make fantastic mulch for your flower borders.

Telescopic pruners

Having larger trees and shrubs in the garden can be very effective at creating a green and naturalistic environment. Not only can larger planting types look great they can cool hot gardens in summer and provide shelter in winter.

Trees and shrubs also provide great food and shelter for wildlife boosting the biodiversity of the garden. One of the drawbacks however of this larger vegetation is it does need to be kept in check regularly.

It is surprising just how much growth trees and shrubs can put on in a season. New stems can turn to branches in a matter of months and these can be in hard to access areas.

​One of the best gardening tools for these scenarios are telescopic pruners. These adjustable pruners allow you to cut larger branches and stems at a variety of distances making them extremely versatile throughout the gardening calendar.

600mm trowel

With all the larger seasonal projects the garden brings it can be easy to forget about the smaller, more enjoyable jobs in the garden. As well as essential maintenance work there is also more enjoyable and creative jobs to be carried out.

​For gardeners this usually means a personal connection with nature and witnessing the miracle of new life. Germinating seeds and planting out new plants is one of the greatest loves of gardeners.

Nurturing young plants and watching them grow is a very rewarding and even spiritual experience. One of the best gardening tools for this up close and personal relationship is a planting trowel.

This 60mm trowel is perfect for seed sowing, planting and even weeding. The known length of the handle also makes it easy to gauge fairly accurate spacing’s when planting new plants.

​Strimmer brush cutter

Even though most gardening endeavours start out with the best of intentions sometimes the growing season can just get the better of some gardeners.

Most of us have busy lives and sometimes gardening has to take the back seat. It is surprising just how quickly a well maintained garden can turn into a wild jungle of tall grasses and perennial weeds. When this happens it can be difficult to regain control and a special gardening gadget is required to regain control.

One of the best gardening tools for long grass and tall woody weeds is this strimmer, brush cutter tool. With two attachments it can either strim or cut its way through anything the garden throws at you.

​The brush cutter can power through brambles and even sapling trees while the strimmer can be used to tidy rough vegetation and even edge lawns.

​Garden folk

The importance of soil can never be underestimated when it comes to successful gardening.

Many gardeners notice this when they attempt to grow things inside pots, plants simply do better in the ground even though you can be more selective with what soil you put inside pots. The ground naturally has a more extensive and stable environment for plants roots not to mention more microorganisms which directly help plants to flourish.

Developing and maintaining healthy soil however can be a long and arduous process. With years of compaction and lack of organic matter garden soils can easily become hard and devoid of nutrients. The only real way to deal with this is to do some heavy digging and turning to allow oxygen, moisture and organic matter to enter the ground.

​Sometimes soil can be too hard for spades so the best gardening tools for this job is a garden folk. Its strong narrow prongs penetrate deep into the soil allowing you do easily lever over the clods of compacted earth.

​Garden tiller

In order to reach the perfect soil it should be continuously worked until eventually it reaches a light, friable consistency.

​Digging with folks and spades will only get the gardener so far with smashing up individual clods of soil consuming large amounts of time and energy. The best gardening tools for taking your soil to the next level are garden tillers.

These cool garden gadgets with their rotating blades can cut into soil smashing down clods and blending the dirt to a light fluffy texture, perfect for fussy plants.

​Tillers give you the opportunity to ameliorate the soil with extra organic material and grit for extra drainage. If used regularly there will never be the need for heavy digging again! This consequently makes garden tillers perfect for vegetable growers!

​Garden wheel barrow

To some it is surprising just how much hard work gardening is but it is one of the most enjoyable ways to burn extra calories.

​There are always projects to carry out which require fetching and carrying and this can take a toll on the lower back particularly. Whether it’s living green material or moving heavy amounts of soil from one location to another.

One of the best gardening tools to do this efficiently is with a garden wheel barrow. This allows you to move heavy loads around with a minimum of effort and its wide open top is perfect for large volumes.

​Wheel barrows are especially effective for garden improvement and landscaping projects. This versatile gardening essential will help you maintain your garden year after year and I bet you will wonder how you ever survived without it.

For more gardening gadget tools check out our tools page here.

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