Gardening Tools 101

To start a garden, you’re going to need some gardening tools. I’m a big believer that anyone can garden. This means I would start with the very basics and then expand your tool collection the more you get into gardening.

Basic Tools

• Hose
  • I love a good hose. Water if part of the main trifecta of plant care soil you’re going to need a way to get it to your garden. I get most my hoses off Amazon but you can get one at almost any big box store-even in the winter. I prefer a retractable (stretchy) hose that is at least 100 ft. Why even mess with a shorter one? Inevitably you’ll want to drag it all over your yard so you might as well start out with a longer one. I love THIS one. It also comes with a spray nozel with is also kind of a necessity.
• Shovel
  • These can be expensive or cheap and if you’re just starting out, get a cheap one. I have several shovels, most under $20 and they’ve all been working for years. I prefer a pointed shovel (it has a small point at the end) with a long handle. Try this one HERE.
• Gardening Gloves
  • I love the cheap nitrile or latex coated gloves. They don’t last forever but that’s good because they get FILTHY. Start with a 5 pack at least because they’ll get wet, muddy, and dusty. I like to rotate through them until they’re holey and unusable. They are also easy to wear and don’t make your hands feel constrained. HERE’s a basic pair like the ones I get.
• Pruners or Nippers
  • Every year I ask for new pruners or nippers for Christmas. I am constantly misplacing mine and love a new sharp pair. This isn’t “essential” but they’re good to have on hand. A good pair of scissors will work in the mean time for small things like flowers and veggies but once you get into more woody plants, pruners will be necessary. I’ve been eyeing THESE ones for Christmas this year.
• Wheelbarrow
  • This just makes things a lot easier. It’s good for moving everything dirty from one place to another. Mine is the cheapest they come and other than replacing the wheel, it’s worked just fine. Tip:get a wheel that’s FLAT FREE. This is a genius invention and will save you $.

Extra Tools

These aren’t a necessity by any means but are really nice to have. They definitely make things easier and I’ve found that some of these are the things I pick up to take outside with me more often than not.

• Gardening Shoes
  • I wear Crocs as my garden shoes. They have holes and get filthy but I love them because I can slip them off and one when I come inside. Whatever shoes you like, find a pair specifically for working outside.
• Rake
  • Some people say this is a need but I find I use it only when I have to. Usually I am just smoothing and things out with my hands. They are good for when you have intense lawn and yard work.
• Bulb Planter Tool
  • I talked about this in my BULBS 101 post and showed some good examples of what to look for. This must makes bulb planting easier, especially when you’ve got over 50 to plant.
• Hoe
  • If you’re planting veggies in the ground this is helpful for making rows and keeping things neat looking.
• Garden Spade
  • These are cute and useful for small jobs. I use mine for potting things and moving small amounts of dirt. I would choose my big shovel over these any day however.

You’re all set! These are just the basic gardening tools you’ll need to get started. I have found some great tools at second hand stores so don’t feel like you have to go buy new things. My favorite rake is from my grandpas gardening days. It has his name carved into the wood and the tines are all rusty but I wouldn’t trade it for anything else. Now go get some tools and let’s get working!

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