Don’t be fooled into thinking you need a ton of fancy or expensive tools or gardening supplies to get your garden started. You really only need five essential tools, to begin with. With these five tools, you will be able to make your gardening dreams come true. If you stick with it, you may want to add tools to your collection over time. Buying gardening tools is almost as much fun as gardening itself.
But to get started, let’s take a look at the five tools you need right now.
Trowel
The trowel is the small, handheld shovel you often see gardeners wielding. This tiny tool is a must-have for every type of gardening. It can be used to break up the soil, dig small holes for planting, transplant seedlings you have started, remove weeds, remove rocks, and it can even be used as a weapon should you find yourself being attacked by garden critters.
When picking a trowel, be sure to get one with a sturdy metal blade and a solid wooden handle.
Pruning Shears
Pruning shears have a multitude of uses. They can be used to harvest your fruits and vegetables. They can also be used to cut back and prune vines and branches.
Quality Water Hose
This may sound like a no-brainer, but a good quality water hose is essential to your garden. The key here is quality. Hoses come in a variety of types and price ranges. You will regret going cheap in this department. A low-quality hose can be a gardener’s worst enemy.
Go ahead and invest the money in a hose that will last. You will also want a hose that does not kink. You can waste a lot of valuable gardening time fighting with a hose that is constantly knotted.
When you purchase your hose, be sure to get enough hose to complete any gardening tasks. You will want to take some measurements of your gardening area to be sure that the hose you purchase will reach every area you will need.
You may also want to consider buying a hose holder. This can be mounted on the side of your house to keep your hose neat and ready to use.
Rakes
Planting and weeding are not the only chores required in a garden. This is quite a bit of housekeeping that goes on as well. Your garden rake is similar to the broom you keep inside. It will be used to keep your gardening area tidy. You’ll be surprised at how much debris will find its way into your garden spot. Keep a quality rake nearby for cleanup. It is also essential during the autumn and winter when you will need to keep leaves raked out of the garden spot.
Shovel
Don’t forget you will want a full-size, sturdy shovel. Shovels are important when planting larger plants, uprooting unneeded plants, or removing large stones. An angled shovel is often the best choice for general gardening needs.