Top 10 Essential Gardening Tools For Beginners
Starting a garden is always exciting and you get out of it, what you put into it. As a first time gardener, everything is new, and the experience can become a little overwhelming.
You have to figure out what you want to grow, where you want to grow it, and how to make it all happen, but the energy you put it to your garden and the many health benefits you will experience is well worth in the end, giving you much joy for many years to come.
Gardening is not as simple as putting some seeds in the ground and letting nature take its course. It takes a little effort and you need the right garden tools and accessories as a beginner to get going.
And guess what you don’t have to break the bank to begin.
This following guide will break down the 10 most essential gardening tools for beginners. They are all tried and tested basic tools, with some having multiple uses for best use at home and design in your yard.
Essential Gardening Tools for Beginners
1. Affordable Gardening Gloves for Beginner
Affordable gardening gloves are a great way to prevent the spread of disease and pests that may be present in the soil or on your garden tools. By wearing gloves, you reduce the risk of transferring harmful bacteria or fungi to your plants or from one area of the garden to another.
It’s important to keep your gloves clean and dry after use to prevent the growth of bacteria or mold.
When choosing gloves, consider the fit, comfort, and durability. You want gloves that fit snugly but aren’t too tight or too loose, as this can affect your grip on garden tools.
Look for gloves with a breathable material to prevent your hands from sweating, which can cause discomfort and even lead to blisters.
Investing in a good pair of gloves is a must for any gardener, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener. They are an essential tool that will help you work comfortably at your home and safely in your garden.
Watering Cans
For those who prefer container gardening, watering cans are an essential tool that offers more convenience compared to using a water hose. They come in handy when watering plants at your home in pots, window boxes, and other container types.
Watering cans are also ideal for use as a portable water source to refill hand sprayers and to rinse areas that have been cleaned, such as garden seating or concrete surfaces.
One of the benefits of using watering cans is the ability to control the amount of water delivered to each plant, which is especially important for plant that require consistent moisture levels. Watering cans also offer the flexibility to water plants in hard-to-reach areas, such as hanging baskets or elevated planters.
Watering cans are available in various sizes and materials, including plastic, metal, and ceramic. When selecting a watering can, consider the capacity, weight, and spout length.
A long spout helps to reach plant in tight spaces, while a larger capacity reduces the frequency of refilling.
It is important to note that cleaning watering cans is essential to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi that can harm plants. Regular cleaning with warm soapy water or vinegar can help to keep your watering can in good condition and protect your plants.
Tips for this essential garden tool
- Ensure the handle position allows you to carry and easily use.
- Plastic cans are a lot lighter than metal, though they won’t last as long.
- Get large for outdoor plants and a smaller (ideally long-necked) for house-plants.
Water Hose
Of course, your plants will die without water. It also never seems to rain when you need it, and your best bet is having a hosepipe for hand watering.
While you can water your back yard with a watering can or a bucket, it takes way too long, especially for the larger yards.
A garden hose ideally makes it easy to water your lawn, flower beds, etc. Go for a hose that’s long enough to reach all the corners of your yard from your spigot.
It should also be durable enough, and if weight is a concern to you, you can forgo the traditional rubber one for a lightweight and expandable one, such as the pocket hose.
Good Garden Hose
Of course, your plants will die without water. It also never seems to rain when you need it, and your best bet is having a gardening tool like a hose for hand watering.
While you can water your back yard with a watering can or a bucket, it takes way too long, especially for the larger yards, that’s where a hose comes in.
A good garden hose ideally makes it easy to water your lawn, flower beds, etc. Go for a hose that’s long enough with a good nozzle to reach all the corners of your yard from your spigot.
The hose should also be durable enough to withstand exposure to soil, and if weight is a concern to you, you can forgo the traditional rubber one for a lightweight and expandable one, such as the pocket hose that won’t damage the soil.
Remember to keep the hose away from areas with contaminated soil to avoid contamination of your plant or vegetables while using the hose.
Spade
A spade is a critical tool a beginner gardener for digging holes to planting trees, large flowers, and shrubs. It can also be used for hoeing weeds, though it’s much heavier compared to a hoe, which is the ideal tool for the job.
You can also use the spade for shovelling small quantities of material and edging flowerbeds. They can also be used for tasks like chopping the small roots of trees before you dig them up. Check out these tips about spade.
Tips for a Spade
- Ash hardwood handles great for absorbing shock, vibration and durable.
- Treads on the blade give comfort and sturdier foot surface for an extra push.
- Stainless steel heads are much stronger than most materials and won’t rust.
Knife
During your gardening, you’ll often need at hand a small knife for cutting sticks, string, flowers, as well as trimming vegetables, accessories, flowers, and fruit, along with many other functions for your garden. For example, a hori-hori knife can be used as a gardening equipment to dig holes for planting, transplanting, weeding and loosening soil, etc.
It’s generally a good habit to bring one in your garden trug or pocket but take care on how you handle it and where you take it too.
Shears
This is one of the best tools you should have if you have shrubs, hedges, or trees around your home in front or back yard. Shears can also be used for trimming grass along pavements, edges of flower beds, curbs, and around shrubs and trees. Make sure to handle with care while using shears.
There are a few types of shears, including;
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Pruning shears as the name suggests, are ideal for pruning and harvesting plants like herbs.
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Anvil-style shears are best for dead wood and can damage green, fresh stems and branches.
- Bypass pruners are best for green woods and live plants.
Ideally, for general purpose shears, you should go for steel sheers, which can cut branches of up to 5/8 inch thick. Ensure that they fit easily in the palm of your hands, and have them sharpened regularly for cleaner cuts and preventing injury to plant.
These shears are a great addition to the toolkits of beginner gardeners who want to keep their yard looking tidy and healthy.
Hand Cultivator
Hand rakes/cultivators come in a couple of different styles, based on the kind of tasks you’re doing on your garden. If you’d rather have an all-in-one garden tool, look for the 3-pronged cultivator with sturdy tines.
You can use it to spread bark mulch and clear leaves around the garden,
A good cultivator is also great when it comes to turning the soil, breaking up dirt, and mixing in compost. Hand rakes are also the perfect tool when digging weeds out in small spaces between the plants.
Although you’ll typically need a bigger tool when working on a large landscaping area, a hand cultivator is great for flowerbeds and container gardens.
Hoe
The kind of gardening tools you have and its size will determine what type of hoe is ideal for your use on your garden. If you have a vegetable plot, for instance, it may require a sturdier, wide hoe.
A perennial garden, on the other hand, will most likely require a more delicate touch, and therefore a thinner hoe.
Hoes are generally used for prepping the flowerbeds, vegetable patches, etc, as well as cutting down weeds. Flat hoes are ideal for turning the soil in rows in vegetable patches, while stirrup hoes or hulas are commonly used to break new ground and cut down top growth.
In general, when selecting gardening tools, look for one with a comfortable handle and a long reach, and a sharp blade as it’s easier to use.
Fork
The kind of area you have and its size will determine what type of hoe is ideal for you. If you have a vegetable plot, for instance, it may require a sturdier, wide hoe. A perennial garden, on the other hand, will most likely require a more delicate touch, and therefore a thinner hoe.
Hoes are generally used for prepping the flowerbeds etc, as well as cutting down weeds. Flat hoes are ideal for turning the soil in rows in vegetable patches, while stirrup hoes or hulas are commonly used to break new ground and cut down top growth.
In general, look for one with a comfortable handle and a long reach, and a sharp blade as it’s easier to use.
Plant Starter kit
A gardener’s plant starter kit is an excellent tool for anyone interested in starting a garden, particularly beginners. This comes equipped with all the essential gardening tools required to grow plant from seed or cuttings, including soil, seeds, and containers.
These kits come in various forms, featuring different types of plant such as herbs, vegetables, and flowers, and some kits even offer a combination of all three.
One of the most significant advantages of using a plant starter kits is that it eliminates the need to purchase individual items separately, saving time and money. These kits also allow you to experiment with different plant, helping you determine which ones you prefer.
Additionally, plant starter kits often come with instructions on how to plant and care for the plant, providing useful guidance to beginners.
Growing plant from seed or cuttings grants you greater control over the growing process, allowing you to select the type of plant and choose the appropriate soil and fertilizer. This level of control contributes to a more personalized and rewarding gardening experience.
Growing your plant from seed or cuttings is also an eco-friendly and sustainable practice, reducing reliance on buying plant from external sources.
In conclusion, if you’re new to gardening, investing in a plant starter kits is a great way to start your journey. These kits offer convenience, variety, education, control, and sustainability, providing you with all the necessary gardening tools to begin your journey towards a beautiful and flourishing garden.
Wheelbarrow
A wheelbarrow is necessary and one of the essential garden tools for one simple reason – shifting large amounts of material around. You can use a wheelbarrow for moving large quantities of gravel, soil, compost, hedge clippings, etc. from point A to B.
The good thing about wheelbarrows is that they are available in both small and large capacities. You can also easily find plastic-body wheelbarrows that won’t rust, though that would mean you can’t carry stuff like rocks on it.
Your best bet is to go for a durable one. Be sure to check the underside supports of the body often, since this is a major weak point for wheelbarrows.
It’s also important to note that after using your wheelbarrow to transport various materials, it’s a good idea to take care of the tool and clean it thoroughly with any cleaners before putting it back. A quick wash with water and soap can prevent dirt, debris, and bacteria from accumulating, which can damage the wheelbarrow and cause it to rust.
This can help prolong the lifespan of your wheelbarrow and keep it functioning properly for many years to come.
So there you have it. As a newcomer to the gardening world, this list will give you some idea of what you need to get started and soon being to move on to more advanced or specialist type tools for different types of landscape gardening.