Last Updated on September 15, 2023 by Pro Handyman Australia – Editorial Team

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Selecting the Right Tools for Your Garden

Gardening can be an immensely rewarding endeavor, but for those just starting out, it’s vital to begin with the right tools. Whether you’re a budding enthusiast or a seasoned expert, there are certain essential tools that should be in every gardener’s collection, including Lawn Edgers, which help in giving a neat finish to the boundaries of your garden or yard.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Purchasing Tools

It’s tempting to splurge on every gardening tool that catches your eye. While the variety of landscaping tools available can be overwhelming, it’s prudent to exercise restraint. Over-purchasing can lead to a cluttered shed or storage space. Instead of being lured by the latest and greatest, focus on quality. By selecting high-quality tools within your budget and taking proper care of them, you not only ensure longevity but also get a significant return on your investment.

Quality Over Quantity: A Wise Investment

Prioritizing the purchase of quality tools is a smart move. High-quality tools like a durable Lawn Mower or precise Lawn Edgers not only last longer but also make the gardening process more efficient and enjoyable. Even if you’re working within a tight budget, it’s better to choose fewer, well-made tools rather than filling your shed with subpar equipment. This approach ensures that you have a set of reliable tools ready for every gardening challenge, from trimming your grass to defining your garden’s borders.

Essential Tools for Every Gardener’s Collection

1. The Essential: Gardening Gloves

Gardening is a delightful activity but can quickly become irksome without the right gloves. Protecting your hands from thorns and splinters is paramount.
Opt for gloves that are durable yet not overly bulky. This ensures ease, especially when working with seeds or handling delicate seedlings.
A well-fitted glove prevents unfortunate accidents and blisters. Remember, a snug fit is your best bet.
Seek gloves made from water-resistant yet breathable fabric to ensure your hands remain cool and comfortable.
Gloves with extended cuffs offer protection for the wrists and forearms and prevent soil intrusion.
Make sure your gloves are stored in a cool and dry place away from direct sunlight and insects.
For those searching for a recommendation, there are gloves available online, like ones made of high-tech sport fabric that is both water-resistant and breathable, offering a snug fit likened to a ‘second skin’.

2. Control and Precision: Pruning Shears

Pruning shears, or secateurs, are indispensable for managing plants that might grow beyond their intended bounds.
Anvil-style pruners cut by pressing a sharp blade onto a flat surface, akin to a knife on a chopping board, making them ideal for deadwood. However, they won’t be suitable for fresh, green stems as they can cause crushing injuries.
On the other hand, bypass pruners work more like scissors, where a sharp blade passes by another blade. They’re preferable for live plants and fresh wood.
Your pruners should fit snugly in your hand for maximum control.
For those with reduced hand strength or conditions like arthritis, ratcheting pruners offer added cutting power.
Regularly sharpen your pruners for cleaner cuts and to ensure the health of your plants.
If you’re in the market for an anvil-style pruning tool, consider ratcheting pruners available online, which offer added strength and can effortlessly cut through thicker branches.

3. Reaching Out: Loppers

Loppers are essentially long-handled pruning shears, crafted to trim areas that are hard to reach and handle thicker branches.
They’re designed to cut branches with diameters up to an inch or even more, with the long handles providing the required leverage.
Loppers are available in both anvil and bypass styles. Bypass loppers offer more precision in terms of where the cut is made.
The handle length is crucial; while longer handles give better reach, they can also be heavier.
Loppers with lightweight aluminum or carbon-composite handles are typically easier to handle.
Ensure the blades are always sharp for the best results.
For those looking for anvil-style loppers, options available online can cut branches up to 2 inches in diameter, perfect for tougher growth.

4. Digging Deep: Garden Forks

For turning soil, especially the dense variety, a garden fork often outperforms a spade.
Forks with a slight curve in their tines (spines) are perfect for tasks like scooping mulch or turning compost piles.
Straight tines are better suited for digging, especially in compacted, rocky, or clayey soils.
Square tines offer strength and are typically more resilient than flat ones, which might bend upon hitting an obstacle like a rock or root.
For those on the lookout for a sturdy garden fork, there are ergonomic designs available online with stainless steel square tines resistant to rusting.

5. Hand Trowel: Your Handy Digging Companion

A hand trowel is an indispensable tool for various tasks including transplanting bedding plants, herbs, planting in containers, and removing pesky weeds.

When selecting a hand trowel, consider a broad blade if you’re looking to move more soil. Alternatively, a long, narrow blade is preferable for weeding or for challenging rocky soils.
Comfort is key, so ensure the handle fits snugly in your hand.
Prioritize trowels made entirely or partly from stainless steel for longevity and durability.
If you’re looking for a top-tier trowel, some online options feature sharp blades that effortlessly slice through stubborn roots, making them perfect for bulb planting or working around trees.

6. Spade: The Digging Dynamo

Spades, especially the short-handled square varieties, are the stalwarts of any garden. They simplify tasks such as digging plant holes, edging, lifting sod, and relocating small amounts of soil.

A good spade might require a more significant investment upfront, but it’s a one-time purchase that’ll serve you for years to come.
Opt for spades with treads atop the blade, offering a firmer foot grip when you need that extra push.
Handles crafted from ash hardwood are known for their durability and their ability to counteract shock and vibration.
While spades come in both long and short handles, the longer variants offer more leverage but are understandably heavier.
Spade heads made of stainless steel promise strength and rust resistance.
For a high-quality spade, consider looking online for models with robust handles and heat-treated blades ensuring sharpness and durability.

7. Rake: The Garden’s Great Cleaner

When it comes to clearing fallen leaves and debris, a sturdy rake is an essential tool. While there’s an array of rake styles and sizes available, a standard leaf rake is an excellent starting point for beginners.

Adjustable rakes are versatile, allowing you to access tight spaces or gather large leaf piles.
Steel tines, although stronger, might be harsher on delicate lawns compared to their plastic counterparts.
For those in search of an adjustable rake, online marketplaces offer options with rake heads that can expand and contract, ensuring both functionality and easy storage.

8. Hoe: The Garden Bed Preparer

The kind of garden you nurture will determine the ideal hoe for you. A vegetable garden demands a sturdy, broad hoe, while perennial gardens might necessitate a more delicate approach with a slimmer hoe. Hoes play a pivotal role in prepping garden beds and eradicating weeds.

Comfort and efficiency go hand-in-hand; look for a hoe with a comfortably long handle.
A sharp blade is not just easier to use but also delivers better results.
Weeding hoes come with an open square head and are typically swished just under the soil to trim the top growth.
If you’re tending to a vegetable garden, flat hoes can be particularly effective in turning soil in rows.
If you’re searching for a reliable hoe, online stores offer models with high-grade steel heads that retain their sharpness. These are designed for multi-angle use, ensuring flexibility and ease.

9. Garden Hose: The Lifeblood of a Flourishing Garden

Water is paramount for any garden’s vitality, which is why it’s important for the garden hose to reach every nook and corner and cater to the specific watering needs.

Garden hoses come in three primary diameters: ½-inch (delivering an average of 9 gallons per minute), 5/8-inch (around 15 gallons per minute), and ¾-inch (up to 25 gallons per minute). Understanding these metrics ensures that you choose a hose that meets your garden’s demands.
Before purchasing, assess how long a hose you’ll need. Remember, longer hoses might lower the resultant water pressure.
Vinyl hoses, while light and budget-friendly, are prone to kinking and typically have a shorter lifespan compared to their rubber counterparts.
To extend your hose’s durability, store it coiled and shielded from direct sunlight, ensuring it’s free from kinks.
For those seeking quality, consider exploring online for hoses known for their flexibility and strength. Similarly, nozzles that offer a spectrum of sprays, ranging from gentle flows to drenching showers, can be quite versatile.

10. Watering Wand: Reach Every Plant with Ease

For those plants situated in tricky spots or hanging high, a watering wand is a boon. It mimics the soft shower of rain, ensuring your plants get watered without any damage.

These wands vary in length, from 10 to 48 inches. Depending on your requirements — whether it’s for high-hanging pots or areas with limited access — choose an appropriate length.
Opt for wands with built-in shut-off valves, allowing you to regulate the water flow and conserve this precious resource.
Some of the finest wands, available online, boast of angled arms that make it effortless to navigate beneath plant foliage and are ergonomically designed to be controlled with just the thumb.

11. Watering Can: Precision and Control in Your Hands

Watering cans, whether plastic or metal, offer the gardener precision in watering. With myriad styles, sizes, and nozzle options, they cater to diverse gardening needs.

While plastic variants are lighter, they might not be as long-lasting as their metal counterparts. If you’re leaning towards metal, ensure it’s galvanized to fend off rust.
Take into account the can’s size and weight, keeping in mind your physical strength. Remember, a gallon of water weighs slightly over 8 pounds.
Ergonomics are essential. A can’s handle should facilitate easy carrying and pouring.
Dual-handled designs can be especially helpful for young children or senior gardeners, offering better stability.
Depending on your requirements, you might want to have two cans: a larger one equipped with a sprinkle head for outdoor plants and a more petite, long-necked one for your indoor greenery.
High-quality watering cans with dual-handle designs and removable nozzles are available online for those keen on getting the best.

12. Wheelbarrow: Your Garden’s Workhorse

For significant garden tasks like relocating soil, adding compost, or mulch to beds, a wheelbarrow proves invaluable.

Traditional wheelbarrows, with dual handles and a single wheel, might pose challenges in balancing particularly when loaded heavily or unevenly.
On the other hand, single-handle two-wheel models offer better balance, making them more suitable for uneven terrains or for individuals with limited strength.
The advantage of single-handled wheelbarrows is their flexibility; they can be both pushed or pulled with just one hand.
To ensure longevity, always store your wheelbarrow clean and dry, guarding it against rust.
Proper wheel inflation ensures smoother maneuverability.
If you’re in the market for a new wheelbarrow, online stores feature models that are lighter than conventional wheelbarrows but equally robust and user-friendly.

13. Illuminate Your Indoor Garden: Ezorkas Grow Light

Indoor seedlings require an optimal light source to ensure they grow robustly and maintain their posture. If not provided with sufficient light, seedlings can become elongated, or “leggy”, and lean towards any distant light source.
The Ezorkas Grow Light is specifically designed to counter such challenges. It easily attaches to tables and countertops and offers programmable features to automate its operations. Its unique combination of red and blue LED lights is specially formulated to regulate plant growth, assisting them through flowering or reaching maturity. With a user-friendly control panel, users can effortlessly select from three time modes and nine dimming options, making the growth process seamless.

14. Expedite Germination: Vivosun Seedling Heat Mat and Digital Thermostat Combo

The secret behind prompt seed germination lies in an often-overlooked tool: the heat mat. This mat emanates warmth, essentially signalling seeds that it’s their time to embark on the growth journey.
The Vivosun Seedling Heat Mat stands out due to its flexibility and water-resistant attributes. Paired with a digital thermostat, it provides gardeners the autonomy to set the desired temperature, ensuring optimal conditions for germination. The brand offers this mat in four diverse sizes, accommodating various gardening requirements.

15. A Gentle Start for Seedlings: Jiffy Peat Pots

Initiating the growth of seeds indoors can be a delicate process, and transplanting them can be risky, often causing undue stress to the young plants or potential damage to their roots.
The Jiffy Peat Pots offer a sustainable and efficient solution. Crafted from organic peat, these pots allow gardeners to initiate seed growth indoors. Once the plant matures and is prepared for the outdoors, both the plant and its peat pot can be transplanted directly into the ground, ensuring minimal disturbance to the plant and promoting a sustainable gardening approach.
16. Precision Cutting: Joyce Chen Kitchen Scissors
For those who enjoy bringing a touch of their garden indoors, the right pair of scissors is invaluable. The Joyce Chen Kitchen Scissors are perfect for harvesting herbs, deadheading, and clipping flowers for indoor decoration. Crafted with stainless steel blades, these scissors are not only sharp enough to tackle chicken bones but are also suitable for both right and left-handed individuals.

17. A Gardener’s Multitool: Nisaku Hori Hori Soil Knife

A soil knife might not be in every gardener’s kit, but its versatility is undeniable. Particularly useful for transplanting delicate young plants, weeding, dividing perennials, and even simple tasks like opening bags or cutting twine. The Nisaku Hori Hori Soil Knife boasts a 7.25-inch stainless steel blade with measurements etched onto it. One edge is straight, while the other is serrated, offering more functionality.

18. The Essential Digger: Nupla Round Point Shovel

Digging large holes, transplanting soil, or enriching gardening beds — all these tasks demand a durable shovel. The Nupla Round Point Shovel offers a robust 48-inch fiberglass handle coupled with a tempered steel head, making it a trustworthy addition to your gardening toolkit.

19. Soil Sifting Mastery: Bosmere Garden Sieve

The beauty of a garden often lies beneath the surface in the quality of its soil. A garden sieve assists in refining soil or compost, filtering out stones, rocks, and lumps. The Bosmere Garden Sieve, with its steel body and mesh base featuring ¼ inch openings, makes this task effortless.

20. The Gardener’s Versatile Companion: TubTrug

A TubTrug’s uses in a garden are as varied as the plants within it. Whether you need a potting station, tool carrier, a mixing spot for soil, a collection point during harvest, or simply a place to toss weeds, it’s the go-to container. With a range of colors and sizes, and two handles for easier mobility, TubTrugs cater to both functionality and style.

21. Comfort First: NoCry Gardening Knee Pads

Every gardener knows that comfort is paramount, especially during prolonged planting or weeding sessions. These knee pads, with their soft dense foam and adjustable straps, promise to keep your knees cushioned against the ground, making garden chores a more pleasurable experience.

22. The Garden’s Throne: H & GT Garden Kneeler and Seat

The H & GT Garden Kneeler and Seat is both a back-saver and a knee protector. Whether you’re seated or kneeling, this versatile tool provides the elevation needed to minimize strain.
Easily foldable for storage, it’s lightweight enough for most gardeners to carry solo. Besides its comfort features, its robust frame can bear weight up to 330 pounds, and it also comes with a detachable pouch for your tools. Whether it’s spring or any season, this kneeler and seat is a boon for any gardener.

Nourishing Your Greenery: Top Plant Nutrients Recommendations

Fox Farm Happy Frog All-Purpose Fertilizer: A Comprehensive Feed

For plants to thrive, they often require external nutrient support, especially if the soil lacks essential elements. One crucial step in ensuring your garden flourishes is by conducting a soil test. This test identifies nutrient deficiencies, allowing you to tailor your fertilizer choice accordingly.

One all-encompassing solution to consider is Fox Farm’s Happy Frog All-Purpose Fertilizer. This powdered product is versatile and can be utilized on a diverse range of plants, from blooming flowers to edible crops. This product is rich in nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. The blend also contains beneficial soil microbes, which can enhance water absorption in different root systems.

Neptune’s Harvest Tomato & Vegetable Liquid Formula Fertilizer 2-4-2: Tailored for Edibles

Different plants have different nutrient requirements. For instance, vegetable gardens have specific needs that enable the plants to mature optimally. If your focus is predominantly on vegetables, Neptune’s Harvest Tomato & Vegetable Liquid Formula is a commendable choice. Its unique formulation is derived from ingredients like seaweed, molasses, yucca extract, and humic acids, paired with the nutritional richness of fresh fish. Though it might have a stronger scent due to the fish component, the nutrient benefits it delivers to plants are undeniable.

SUPERthrive Plant Vitamin Solution with Kelp: A Health Boost for Plants

Plants, like humans, can benefit from vitamins. One such valuable ingredient for plants is kelp, known to enhance their photosynthesis efficiency and foster root growth. The SUPERthrive Plant Vitamin Solution harnesses the power of kelp, providing plants with this boost. Beyond this, the solution reintroduces essential nutrients into the soil, ensuring that plants receive all they need for optimal growth. It’s also worth noting the benefits of SUPERthrive Organic All-Purpose Plant Food for an all-rounded plant nourishment.

Essential Additions for Your Gardening Toolkit

Earthgro Bagged Wood Mulch: Enhancing Soil Health and Aesthetics

A well-maintained garden often goes beyond planting. The addition of wood mulch, for instance, serves a dual purpose. Not only does it boost the aesthetic appeal of your garden with its varied color options such as red, black, and brown, but it also plays a pivotal role in soil health. Mulching is key for water retention, ensuring that plants remain hydrated for longer. It also serves as a protective barrier for the soil, shielding it from the harsh effects of fluctuating temperatures. For those pondering about the quantity they’ll need, Home Depot offers a handy online tool to assist you in determining the right amount of mulch for your garden’s surface area.

Smartelf Plant Covers Greenhouse Shade Cloth: Safeguarding Plants from Intense Heat

As much as sunlight is vital for plants, too much of it, especially during prolonged heatwaves, can be detrimental. Enter the specialized horticultural shade fabric. This unique fabric is crafted to allow a partial amount of sunlight, ensuring plants are not starved of their essential light while still shielding them from the intense heat. Additionally, its design facilitates airflow, making it suitable to remain draped over plants throughout the season.

The Smartelf Greenhouse Shade Cloth stands out due to its versatility. Available in an array of sizes, it caters to gardens of different dimensions. Moreover, its tapered edges equipped with grommets add to its ease of installation. Whether you’re attaching it to poles, stringing it along a clothesline, or fastening it to a shed, the included bungees ensure a taut and secure fit.

Understanding Your Garden’s Environment

Before diving headfirst into the realm of gardening, it’s essential to comprehend the environment you’ll be working with. Plant growth is intricately tied to factors such as light, temperature, and available space. Therefore, a bit of research about your local environment can save you time and effort down the line. One invaluable resource in this venture is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. By consulting it, you can gain insights into the ideal planting times tailored for your locale.

Additionally, it’s crucial to be aware of your garden’s sun exposure. In regions prone to intense heatwaves, you might consider improvising shading mechanisms for your plants. Simple solutions, like employing bed sheets, umbrellas, or canopies, can make a world of difference in shielding your green friends from the relentless sun.

Effective Watering Techniques

Watering isn’t just about ensuring your plants get their H2O fix; it’s also about the timing and method. Aim to water your plants during the early morning hours. This reduces water wastage due to evaporation, which is typically higher as the day progresses. Avoid the temptation to drench your plants from above using traditional methods like watering cans or hoses. Such practices might inadvertently introduce challenges such as leaf burn or even fungal infections. A soaker hose or a dedicated irrigation system is a more efficient and plant-friendly choice.

Exploring Planting Alternatives

For those without the luxury of a sprawling backyard, fret not; gardening is still within reach. Portable stand planters are a remarkable solution, especially for urban dwellers with limited space. They’re suitable for balconies or patios, offering benefits such as effective drainage, root aeration, and temperature regulation. The mobility of these planters means they can be relocated to capture optimal sunlight.

If you’re apprehensive about direct ground planting, consider the versatility of planters and raised garden beds. They offer enhanced control over essential factors like water intake and sunlight. Interestingly, herbs like basil, oregano, and rosemary thrive in such environments. If flowers are more your thing, petunias, zinnias, and marigolds make excellent candidates.

For those eager to see quicker results, seedlings offer a shortcut. These are essentially young plants with an established root system, allowing you to bypass the seed germination phase. They’re particularly handy if you’ve missed the window for starting seeds indoors. Whether potted or directly embedded in the ground, seedlings provide a head start to your gardening journey.

Recommendations for Novice Gardeners

If you’re stepping into the gardening world for the first time, starting with forgiving plants can be a confidence booster. Flowers like sunflowers and marigolds are quite resilient and beginner-friendly. In the edibles department, basil, zucchini, beans, and cucumbers stand out as plants that don’t demand expert care.