What You Need To Make A Garden

The Only Tools You Need to Start a Garden

Don't let a lack of garden tools or know-how keep you from growing your own vegetables and fruit. We've rounded up the essential gardening tools you need to get started, plus helpful tips and optional add-ons that can make gardening easier.

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If you're planning to start a garden, you probably know there are more than just a couple of gadgets you need to get the job done. However, you don't need an entire shed outfitted with tools for each and every type of plant you plan to grow. Save yourself (and your wallet) an overwhelming trip to the garden center by sticking to these must-have gardening tools that will get you off to a strong start.

5 Must-Have Gardening Tools

1. Trowel

Trowel

A hand-held trowel is a must-have for a multitude of everyday gardening tasks, including breaking up clumps of soil, digging small holes, transplanting seedlings and even digging up weeds. Container-only and large-scale gardeners alike will find themselves using a trowel on a regular basis. If you splurge on one piece of entry-level gardening equipment, make it this–select one with a solid metal blade and sturdy wooden handle.

2. Pruning Shears

Pruning shears

Whether you're harvesting fresh produce or cutting back berry bushes, you'll want to equip yourself with a set of sturdy pruning shears.

For a clean cut, snip at the node of the plant (where the branch meets the stem in a Y shape). Once your garden matures, you can invest in a set of loppers designed for branches 2 inches or wider.

3. Hose and/or Watering Can

Hoses

If you're putting plants directly in the ground, spring for a hose, making sure it's long enough to reach from your spigot to your garden. Consider adding a sprayer attachment that will let you control water flow and pressure. If you're purely container gardening, a watering can will suffice–look for a lightweight one you can still carry when full.

For best results, water in the early morning when temperatures are cooler. Avoid midday watering, which will evaporate too quickly, as well as evening watering, which can make the soil waterlogged and create a breeding ground for harmful fungi and bacteria.

4. Garden Rake

Rake

Garden rakes typically have a long handle made of wood with uniform metal tines that are sturdier than leaf rakes you'd use to clean up grass clippings and other loose material. They allow you to easily create smooth, level soil while removing unwanted weeds. If you're cultivating tough, overgrown land, consider swapping the rake for a garden hoe, which is a landscaping tool with more heft to help you chop and clear unruly spaces and remove weeds.

5. Angled Shovel

Shovel

A shovel seems straightforward enough, but you'll be surprised by how many options there are at the store. Select an angled shovel (with a triangular-shaped head), which will give you the ability to dig holes, move soil and relocate plants. If you're starting a large landscaping bed, a squared-off garden spade would help you make cleaner cuts, but for most newbies an angled shovel is the tool for the job.

5 Nice-to-Have Tools to Make Gardening Easier

If your budget allows, consider these five items that will help make your entry into food gardening a bit smoother.

1. Gardening Gloves

Gardening Gloves

While some people won't touch soil without gardening gloves, they're technically not necessary, especially when it comes to lighter-duty tasks like container gardening. However, they'll help prevent blisters and scratches, not to mention keep your hands clean. Look for gloves with reinforced fingertips and padding for added protection, plus cinchable wrist straps to keep soil from getting inside.

2. Kneeling Pad

Kneeling Pad

If you're worried about soreness from kneeling for an extended period of time, consider this comfort item. Most garden centers offer rectangular foam pads that you can place under your knees while you work.

3. Sprinkler

Sprinkler

You can water your vegetable garden with a hose and sprayer attachment (plus a few minutes of your time), but a sprinkler will prove useful for larger spaces. If you need to cover a lot of ground, look for an oscillating or rotating sprinkler that will maximize water usage.

4. Wheelbarrow

Wheelbarrow

If you're diving into a heavy-duty project, consider a wheelbarrow to help you move large quantities of soil, mulch, compost and plants (and, fingers crossed, a bountiful harvest in a few months!). Plastic wheelbarrows are less expensive (not to mention less heavy), while metal wheelbarrows will likely prove more durable. For smaller projects, an old 5-gallon bucket will do.

5. Hand-Held Weeder

Hand-Held Weeder

If your garden becomes overrun with weeds, consider hand-held weeder to facilitate weed removal without spraying. These hand tools make it easier to pull out the entire plant by the root, which is key to keeping them from coming back. Alternatively, place a layer of mulch around your plants to help smother emerging weeds, or simply pop them out with your trusty trowel.