Continuing our Backyard Gardening Basics: Getting Started guide we want to look at helpful beginner gardening tools. Buying fancy new gear is exciting and addicting. I know this lesson all too well. My mind often will play tricks on me and convince me that a new tool or piece of gear will instantly make me a master at the subject. Truth is, the tool is just a tool. Time, effort, and some grit will get you farther than any tool in the shed.
Even though tools won’t make you an instant success in the garden, they can make life a lot easier. By shortening the time it takes to finish a job or chore, it gives you more time to work on other to-do list items or enjoy the fruits of your labor. The right starter tools save time, protect your body, and make gardening less frustrating.
This section covers a few tools I recommend for getting started. Over time, your toolbox will grow—you’ll discover favorite tools and ways to get jobs done faster with less strain on your body. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything right away. If you’re working with a tighter budget, check out my guide on How to Start a Backyard Vegetable Garden on a Budget. You can slowly build your collection just as you gradually build your garden and skills.
Pocket Knife
A good pocket knife might not always make the “official” gardening tool lists, but for me it’s one of the most useful things I carry. I keep one in my pocket every time I’m in the garden, and it gets used constantly. From opening bags of soil or fertilizer, to cutting twine, trimming plants, or even harvesting vegetables, a sharp, reliable knife saves time and frustration.
You don’t need anything fancy. A simple folding knife with a sharp blade will do the job. Just make sure you keep it clean and sharp, especially if you use it on plants. A pocket knife is one of those tools you don’t realize how much you need until you start carrying one — and then you’ll wonder how you ever gardened without it.
Hand Trowel: Your Everyday Go-To
If I could only keep one tool, it would be my hand trowel. It’s perfect for digging small holes, transplanting seedlings, or even scooping soil into pots. There are a lot of options out there. I like ones with a rubberized grip, made of quality alloys, and won’t bend or break the first time I test it. For more on soil preparation, see my Building Healthy Soil for Your Backyard Garden.
Gardening Gloves: Protect Your Hands
A good set of garden gloves can save you time and make work a lot easier. Moving around bricks, or shoveling soil into beds is made a lot easier with a decent pair of gloves. Don’t forget that your plants sometimes have defense systems like thorns and a good pair of gloves will help protect your hands from unneeded damage. I like to use ones with rubber grips. These aren’t fancy gloves. They are affordable and they can last through multiple seasons.
Pruning Shears: For Clean Cuts and Harvests
My most expensive garden tool is my shears. I have two sets:
- One is designed for small cuts like pruning a tomato sucker or harvesting a ripe tomato.
- The second pair is for cutting thicker branches on my fruit trees or vines on my squash plants.
I’d recommend spending a little extra on these and I use them all the time and do not want to have to replace them every year.
Wheelbarrow or Garden Cart: Move More with Less Effort
Moving large amounts of soil, compost, or wood mulch would be more daunting if I didn’t have my garden cart. I like the cart style because a wheelbarrow full of soil or compost still puts a heavy burden on my back. My cart is much easier on my body.
Watering Can or Hose with Nozzle: Keep Plants Happy
If you are growing in containers a watering can is a great way to get started. For larger areas like a raised garden bed or an in-ground plot, consider getting a heavy duty hose and a metal, long handled spray wand. Again a few extra dollars spent here can go a long way to not having to replace them year after year.
Garden Fork or Cultivator: Loosen and Refresh the Soil
A garden fork is a great tool for loosening up the soil prior to planting your seedlings. They work well when you have a lot of containers or pots. While it is not 100% necessary, they tend to be cheap and you won’t need anything fancy here.
Hand Weeder: Beat the Stubborn Weeds
I use what’s called a cobra head weeder. It’s curved and designed to get into the ground and loosen the soil so you can get those pesky weeds out fast. I use this daily when inspecting the garden. It makes quick work of weeds and even pulls out thicker roots.
Rake: Level and Clean Up
A rake can help with more than just leaves. I use it when I top off my beds with compost. It makes it easy to spread the compost around so I can make sure it’s evenly distributed. There are a few options here as far as style goes. If you have a lot of trees in your yard, you probably already have a leaf rake which is what I use most often.
Kneeling Pad or Stool: Comfort Counts
I have one of those fold up garden seats. It actually came in a bundle with a kneeling pad. This has saved me lots of back pain. Weeding sucks, but at least I don’t have to bend over the entire time doing it with these tools.
Bonus Tools Worth Considering (Beyond the Basics)
Once you have the basics, you might want to start looking into some more specialty tools to help with your garden chores. These are items that I’ve gathered over time and I use them regularly in my weekly garden chores.
Hori Hori Knife
This tool could replace your hand trowel and weeder. It’s of Japanese origin and can be used to dig small holes, pull weeds, and most have a serrated edge on them so you can cut through small roots and branches. It’s a great complimentary tool for any garden.
Pitchfork or Shovel for Compost Turning
If you keep a compost bin or pile, you’ll want something sturdy to turn and aerate it. A pitchfork works beautifully for tossing lightweight materials, while a shovel handles heavier loads. Either way, it helps compost breaking down evenly.
Extra 5-Gallon Buckets
Buckets are the unsung heroes of the garden. I use them for hauling soil, moving weeds, carrying harvested vegetables, or even as makeshift watering containers. Having a few extras around never goes to waste.
UV Flashlight for Pest Checks
This one surprises people, but a UV flashlight helps spot certain pests that are otherwise hard to see. Nighttime checks with a UV light can reveal aphids, caterpillars, or even slugs hiding out where you’d least expect.
Garden Twine or Plant Ties
Not glamorous, but incredibly handy. Twine or soft ties help secure plants to stakes, guide vines along trellises, or bundle up herbs for drying.
Tool Sharpener
A small, handheld sharpener keeps pruners, shears, and even your hori hori in top shape. Sharp tools make cleaner cuts and reduce strain.
Wrapping It Up
We’ve talked about taking our time and slowly building up your garden. This holds true for the tools you’ll be using. Focus on things you know you will need right away, then slowly build the tool box as you go. Through my years of gardening I’ve found that I can get by with the basics, but sometimes getting a more specialized tool can make certain jobs much easier. Work within your budget and try to reuse tools you already have.
If you want to dive deeper into the best gardening tools to have, take a look at this article by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia: Extension Master Gardeners Share their Favorite Tools.
