The range of garden tools is dizzying. Some are mandatory - others are a great gadget. This guide separates the wheat from the chaff so you can make an informed purchasing decision. This list gets to the heart of which garden tools belong in the basic equipment.
What garden tools should I own?
The basic equipment for gardening includes: spade, digging fork or rake, rake, weed cutter, trowel, flower claw or hand cultivator and a wheelbarrow. Secateurs, loppers, hand-held folding saws and optionally hedge trimmers are recommended as cutting tools.
Garden tools for planting and care work
Beginners in hobby gardening don't have to raid their wallet to get started. In order to properly plant and care for the first plants in the bed and pot, these tools form the basic equipment:
- Spade with a D or T handle for digging, digging planting pits and trimming bed edges
- Digging fork or rake for aerating, harvesting and loosening the soil
- Rake for seedbed cultivation and lawn care
- Weed cutter for the back-friendly control of all kinds of weeds
- Flower trowel for potting and repotting or digging small planting holes in the bed
- Flower claw or hand cultivator for cultivating soil in narrow places in the garden and in plant containers
- Wheelbarrow, not a tool per se, but important as an alternative
Over time, valuable experience accumulates, on the basis of which well-founded decisions can be made about investing in special tools. Please do not purchase expensive equipment, such as a weed burner or a shredder, based on full-bodied advertising promises, but only if you sorely miss these tools in the basic equipment.
Cutting tools for the garden – these are really important
Regular pruning is part of the care program for perennials, ornamental and fruit trees. The following list shows which cutting tools should be part of the basic equipment:
- Garden scissors, ideally as bypass scissors with two sharp blades
- Pruning shears with telescopic handle for pruning larger trees without climbing the ladder
- Hand folding saw for small sawing work on bushes and trees
- Manual or electric hedge trimmer (optional) for topiary cutting
The smooth functioning of garden tools depends largely on proper care. Dirty scissors, spades and rakes should be thoroughly cleaned before being stored in the tool shed.
Tip
If you skimp on buying your garden tools, you're saving in the wrong place. The higher purchase price for premium quality tools is reflected in long durability, safe handling and a lot of enjoyment when using them. However, you can build the associated hanging device yourself and save a lot.