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Essential Gardening Tools & Supplies

 

Having good quality gardening tools makes gardening so much easier and enjoyable. And, most good quality gardening tools will last years and some will never have to be replaced. Today I’m sharing some of my favorite gardening tools and some tips for taking care of gardening tools. If you’re just getting into gardening and aren’t sure what to buy, I have some advice for you too. 

Gardening Tools

Gardening Tools – The Essentials

Garden Tools for Beginners

Gardening can be an expensive hobby – just ask me how I know. If you’re just starting to dabble in gardening and you’re not even sure if you’re going to like it, you can pick up some great tools at garage sales, or raid your parent’s garage. Sure I would love for you to click on my affiliate links and fill up your carts, but I really don’t want you to waste your money, if you aren’t going to fall in love with gardening. That being said, this post has lots of great tips for what to look for in gardening tools and how to take care of them.

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The Best Gardening Gloves

I don’t know about you all, but I go through the fingertips of garden gloves so fast. Also, I just hate gloves, they make my hands hot and sweaty and I feel like I lose dexterity when I have gloves on. That is until I found these – Wonder Grip Nearly Naked Gardening Gloves. They fit snug, but they breath so my hands don’t sweat in them. So far, I haven’t gone through the fingertips. I actually have a few pairs, because I tend to misplace my gardening gloves frequently. Can you relate?

Sale
Wonder Grip Nearly Naked Gloves, Medium, Assorted Colors
  • Made in China
  • Package length : 0.77"
  • Package width : 3.52"
  • Package height :9.52"

For tougher gardening jobs, I really love these hydrahyde leather gloves. They’re soft, supple and they fit my hands… well, like a glove. I even wash mine in the washer (hanging them to dry), and so far they come out great. 

Gardening Hand Tools

Having a good set of hand gardening tools is definitely an essential and this set is one of my go to favorites. When you’re shopping, look for ones that offer good ergonomic features, such as soft rubber, contoured handles that are easy to grip. I like everything to match, so I usually pick up a set. Because it’s so popular, sometimes this tool set pictured goes out of stock on Amazon. If that is the case, do a search for a 4-star plus rated tool set and read the reviews.

Gardening Tools Set from Alloy Steel - Heavy Duty Garden Tool Set with Light & Rubber Non-Slip Handle - Gardening Tool Kit - Ergonomic Garden Hand Tools - Gardening Gifts for Men and Women
  • TOP QUALITY GRADE: Our garden tools are made with rust resistant CR-MO alloy steel blades, metal plates and wire perfect for long-lasting use. Garden supplies include gloves and a storage bag
  • Improved Design: This gardening tool set makes the working in the garden a pleasure. Garden tools have new anatomical ergonomic handles from lightweight TPR with grooves that provide slip and moisture resistance
  • Comfortable Use: This garden set has brightly colored handles to help prevent tool loss. The gardening supplies kit includes a storage bag and gardening gloves for your added convenience
  • THE BEST GARDENING GIFTS: This garden tools set is specifically designed for gardeners and flower growers. The gardening set is the perfect gift for men or women, pensioners or teenagers
  • What You Get: Each garden kit includes a trowel, a transplanter, a weeder, a fork, a rake, a storage bag and gardening gloves. They are perfect for digging, weeding, transplanting and more. Why wait? Get yours today

The Best Gardening Shovel

Every gardener needs a shovel that is tough, sharp and will cut through sod, weeds and compacted soil like a knife cutting through butter. I’ve had this spearhead spade shovel for a several seasons now and I love it. It is lightweight, yet very strong and it’s my go-to shovel for pretty much everything. I like using a sharp shovel for edging my garden beds, and this baby works wonderfully for edging. I also use it for transplanting and digging holes to plant perennials and bulbs. Are you clearing out a place for a new bed? If so, you really need a good, sharp shovel.  P.S. it does come in colors beside pink… I just like the pink one. This shovel is a 5-star rated shovel and sells out fast, so if you’re thinking about it, don’t delay.

Hori Hori Knife

I have a confession to make, I’ve always used an old kitchen knife in the garden. I don’t think I even knew there was such a thing as a gardening knife. Then I kept seeing a hori hori knife mentioned in gardening forums as a favorite gardening tool. That started me thinking about the way I use my old kitchen knife and I decided I needed a Hori Hori Knife, so I got this one and it’s amazing. I use it for slicing through the roots and crowns of plants like hosta and daylilies when I’m dividing them, plus lots of other things. So far, no body parts have been lost.

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Essential Gardening Tools

Best Garden Rake Ever

How can one love a rake… yet, I do. This telescopic rake is the best for cleaning out flower beds and raking around perennials. Or, between a fence and shrubs or plants. And, it works great for raking lawns too. It’s kind of an all-in-one rake.


 A Weed Whacker… Yep, You Need This One

A few years I read a blogger’s review on this weed whacker, and she totally sold me on it, so I bought one. When it arrived my husband took one look at it and scoffed and asked why I needed it when we already have a perfectly good trimmer.  Yes we do, but the thing weighs 500 pounds, it’s nearly impossible to start and I’m convinced the beast would take off my foot if I tried to use it. Perhaps, I’m being a tad bit dramatic (ok, a lot), but it totally stinks and pollutes my lovely garden air. I’m pretty sure the mister used “girly” in his description of my new trimmer. A few weeks later, I was outside and I noticed the mister was using my “girly” trimmer. I just had to laugh. He finally admitted that he really liked it because it was easy to start, lightweight and did the job just as good as his big, gas powered, air polluting monster. I had fun using it in the fall to cut back perennials and I didn’t lose any body parts in the process. It also edges along sidewalks really well. 

The Best Weeding Tools

Another gardening blogger sold me on this cool digger called CobraHead Original Weeder. Okay, I love this gadget. I’m not sure if we just have really rocky soil, or the previous owners just dumped lots of river rock in certain areas. This is the perfect tool for loosening up the soil and rock. It really makes the job so much easier. The other thing I use it for is dividing perennials. It just claws through and separates the roots without demolishing them. But, the best use of the CobraHead Weeder is weeding. It seriously gets to the root and makes weeds easy to pull, including devil weeds like quack grass, crabgrass and dandelions.

I recently read a review of this Stand-Up Weeding Tool on a Facebook gardening group, and there were many comments from others that had it and loved it too. It’s on my wish list.

Tips for Caring for Your Gardening Tools:

Cleaning and taking care of my gardening tools is an area where I’m slack and I need to get better at. It’s best to clean your tools in the fall before you store them for winter. It’s also a good idea to clean your tools like pruners immediately after you’ve trimmed a diseased plant. Here are some simple steps for cleaning your tools:

  • To clean your gardening tools, simply wipe them down with a diluted bleach/water solution or rubbing alcohol.
  • Apply a thin coat of oil to metal parts and let it soak for a few minutes and then wipe clean. This oil is made specifically for gardening tools and doesn’t cause dirt to stick to the tools.

Optional, But More Great Gardening Tools or Equipment:

I’ve always wanted a small, electric rototiller that I could handle and last year we got one. Perhaps, it’s not an essential gardening tool, but definitely was a huge help. We have an area along our back fence that was compacted soil as hard as a brick and my little rototiller tilled it right up. It would have taken me days and lots of aches and pains to do what a tiller did in a short amount of time. I also use it to mix compost into the soil. With the amount of work we’ve been doing in our fixer upper yard, having a lightweight tiller has been a blessing. It definitely isn’t heavy duty, but I wanted something lightweight enough that I could use.

I’ve been watching the price of galvanized raised garden beds for several months. The price dropped substantially in the middle of winter. Yes, you read that right, winter is the best time to get deals on gardening tools, supplies and equipment. I ordered 4 of these and can’t wait to add them to my gardens. They are available in several different sizes.

The Best Pop-up Greenhouse

I’m absolutely love my little pop up greenhouse. It has zipper doors and screens on both ends for ventilation. We usually set the greenhouse up (easy process) by the end of March, beginning of April. I move my seedlings and bulbs that I started indoors into it when they are ready. My caladiums, begonias and my over-wintered geraniums also get a temporary home in the greenhouse. And, I pot up any new lily bulbs, dahlia tubers and anything else I can think of, to give them a head start.

Read more about pop-up greenhouses on this post. It includes information of using a temporary pop-up greenhouse to extend your growing season either in spring or fall. If you’d like to have a greenhouse, but can’t really afford a permanent structure, I would highly recommend reading up on the best pop up greenhouses.

Greenhouse - Flower House

Small Composter

It’s so awesome to have a Composter. I have this exact model and it works great. It has two separate compartments, so one side can be filled up first, and while it’s composting, you can start filling the other side. It doesn’t look that big, but it holds a surprising amount of rubbish. It is the perfect composter if you have a small yard, and it’s so convenient because it’s up off the ground. Just an added bonus that it does not attract critters.

Sale
FCMP Outdoor HOTFROG Dual Body Tumbling Composter (37-Gallon)
  • TUMBLING COMPOSTER – Avoid digging and mixing your compost pile by hand. The tumbling design makes mixing easy and efficient. Just close the door and turn it 5-6 times every 2-3 days. In hot sunny conditions and with a proper balance of ingredients the compost can finish in as little as 2 weeks.
  • EASY TO USE – Fantastic for beginners! The large openings and removable doors make it easy to add scraps/clippings and remove finished compost. Deep fins on the body provide great ergonomic handholds.
  • TWO COMPOSTER BODIES ARE BETTER THAN ONE – Two separate sides allow the first side to finish while leaving the second side available to add fresh scraps/clippings. Continuously swapping sides after finishing will create an uninterrupted flow of rich, healthy compost. Total capacity 37 gallons (5 cu ft)
  • EXCELLENT AERATION– All our composter models feature aeration holes as well as deep fins to break up clumps inside the chamber and mix lots of oxygen into the compost. Tumbling composters allow far greater aeration than standard models.
  • DURABLE CONSTRUCTION – BPA-free, UV-inhibited, recycled polyethylene. The painted galvanized steel frame is corrosion resistant and will look great for years.

Every gardener needs a kneeler/bench. I love mine and it gets tons of use. My hubs even uses it fairly often… and, not for gardening either.

Sale
Ohuhu Garden Kneeler and Seat, Heavy Duty Garden Stool with EVA Foam Kneeling Pad, Foldable Gardening Bench with 2 Tool Pouches, 2-in-1 Portable Gardening Supplies, Idea Gifts for Women Men Seniors
  • ✿ HAPPY KNEES: This handy garden kneeler features an elevated kneeling pad that reduces aches from prolonged kneeling, and keeps your knees away from the muddy ground and grass
  • ✿ KNEELING PAD & GARDEN CHAIR: Flips over to become a garden chair so you can tend to your long-stemmed plants and bigger shrubs in complete comfort (weight capacity: 330. 69lbs/150kg)
  • ✿ FOLDS EASILY: Comes assembled, and opens and closes in a quick snap so you can get down to your gardening as soon as the sun comes up
  • ✿ STURDY AND LIGHTWEIGHT: Constructed with a steel frame and EVA for added toughness that takes any garden mishap, and plastic for grandmother-approved lifting
  • ✿ TWO COMPLEMENTARY GARDENING TOOL POUCHES: Attach them to this garden chair with Velcro, and have your clippers, pullers and spades right by your side

Definitely not an essential, but the cutest gardening hat ever! I got one a few year’s ago for Mother’s Day and I love it. It’s a nice lightweight mesh, so it isn’t too hot and it keeps my hair out of my eyes and provides a bit of shade for my face when I’m gardening. 

KATYDID Garden Hair Don’t Care Baseball Cap - Trucker Hat for Women - Stylish Cute Sun Hat Gray
  • PERFECT OUTDOOR HAT: The high quality curved bill design will keep the sun out of your eyes so you can spend more time in the vegetable garden and less time with a sunburn!
  • ONE OF A KIND STYLE: Fully embroidered, high visibility, distressed design that can be paired with any outfit!
  • ONE SIZE FITS MOST: Easily loosen or tighten with the adjustable Velcro strap to ensure a secure fit.
  • COMFORTABLE ALL DAY: Whether you’re using it as a running hat, gardening hat, or casual, fashion hat– the lightweight, breathable mesh back allows for maximum comfort.
  • HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS: High quality materials (80% cotton, 20% polyester) for long term wear.

I received this super handy wheelbarrow organizer, called the Burro Buddy, for Christmas. I’m looking forward to using it this spring.

The Burro Buddy, USA Made Lawn/Garden Tray for All 4-6 cu. ft. wheelbarrows. Holds rake, Shovel, Short Handle Tools, Drinks & Water Tight Storage for Phone. Wheelbarrow not Included. Great Gift!
  • ORGANIZES AND STORES TOOLS - Organizes all gardening needs in one easy location! Easily stores and carries 2 short-handle tools, 2 long-handle tools,1 drink, personal items, and more, all attached to your classic wheelbarrow. Carry your shovel, rake, and other gardening equipment with our garden tray to reduce trips across your yard!
  • FITS STANDARD WHEELBARROWS - Fits most popular wheelbarrows; 4, 5, 6, and 7 cubic-foot wheelbarrows. Will stay securely attached on the wheelbarrow angled up to 90 degrees.
  • WATER-RESISTANT STORAGE - This cubby can keep your cell phone, keys, and wallet safe in a water-resistant storage compartment. You might also use it to keep bugs or the hot sun off your snacks. Temporarily store your packets of seeds and bulbs while you’re planting or taking a short break. Don’t let sun, rain or the sprinkler ruin valuables or personal items while you’re working outside.
  • USA-MADE AND AWARD-WINNING - Proudly made in the United States of America from UV-resistant HDPE plastic, our tray comes in a fashionable Burro blue with green accents. Our gardening tray has received numerous national awards and has been featured in multiple magazines as a top-picked gardening product. Used by professionals as well as for personal use, our wheelbarrow tray makes the perfect tool.

Favorite Gardening Supplies

I also have lots of favorite gardening supplies that are my go-to supplies and I’ve purchased them multiple times.

Best Fertilizers for the Garden

If you are looking for great fertilizers for vegetables, definitely go with organic. I like Espoma Garden-Tone for my veggies. I also use fish emulsion fertilizer for vegetables, but you have to be okay with the smell.

I’m not quite as picky about using organic for my flower gardens and I usually use Osmocote. It’s a slow release fertilizer that I sprinkle around plants in the spring. Espoma also makes a high rated organic fertilizer for flowers. For my flower container gardens, I use Miracle Gro Bloom Booster.

To Keep The Pests Away

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as having rabbits or deer eat your garden goods. I swear by Liquid Fence! You have to be diligent about re-applying it and it smells really bad, but it totally works. See my other recommendations in Dealing with Garden Pests.

Slugs can just ruin a hosta garden. Every spring as soon as I can see the hostas coming up, I apply Sluggo around the base of the plants. I try to get in a second application in June too. Try it, it just works!

Best Garden Stakes for Tall Flowers

If you grow tall flowers like lilies, delphinium or dahlias, to name a few, it’s a necessity to stake them. These garden stakes (they come in lots of lengths), along with this stretchy garden tape, are my go to’s for staking tall flowers.

Be sure to check out Gingham Gardens
Free Gardening Printables Resource Library.
Lots of awesome printables to help you
plan your best Garden ever.

Other articles on Gingham Gardens I think you’ll enjoy:

Practical Tips for Spring Garden Clean-up
14 Plants You Don’t Want In Your Garden – Even If They Are Free
Transplanting & Dividing Perennials
Flower Gardening 101
Vegetable Gardening 101
Tips for the Aging Gardener

Thanks a bunch for stopping by Gingham Gardens today! Do you have a favorite gardening tool that you’d be lost without? Or, do you have a question? I love hearing from my readers, so feel free to leave a comment below.  

Happy gardening,

Joanna

p.s. Follow Gingham Gardens on Pinterest for lots of great gardening ideas and tons of gardener’s eye candy. Gingham Gardens is also on Facebook.

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