Garden Tool Guide

Uses:

• Mixing soil
• Spreading compost, mulch, manure, etc.
• Digging holes for trees, shrubs, etc.
• Transplanting
• Cutting sod
• Forming garden borders

Shovels have a huge variety of uses in the yard and garden. They come in several different designs. For example, you can equip your tool shed with a spade shovel and a flat head shovel. A round point shovel is better for digging, while a wide, flat head shovel is good for scooping up dirt, compost, etc. Shovel blades can be wide or narrow, depending on the garden chore you need them for. Narrow shovels with a square point are great for digging holes to plant trees and shrubs. Handles vary in length as well. As a general rule, the shorter the handle, the easier it will be to work in smaller spaces.

Popularity: 79% [?]

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Uses:

• Hauling dirt, compost, bricks, plants, mulch, etc.

If you plan on moving dirt, plants, mulch, compost etc. from one place to another in your garden, a wheelbarrow or a garden cart is an essential tool.

Popularity: 78% [?]

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Uses:

• Pruning thick branches from trees and shrubs

Pruning saws are very handy if you need to remove large branches from trees and shrubs. Look for saws that fold up for safe storage.

Popularity: 75% [?]

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For watering other plants in your garden, in addition to a hose, there are a number of options including drip irrigation systems, micro sprinklers, soaker hoses, etc.

The University of Florida has a very complete website about setting up irrigation systems for your yard and garden.

Additionally, Colorado State University has a quality website about drip irrigation systems.

Popularity: 77% [?]

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Uses:

• Making compost and compost tea to add to your garden soil
• Recycling organic kitchen waste and garden debris
• Reducing the amount of waste you send to the municipal dump

You should consider your compost bin one of the important pieces of garden equipment your own. If you add your own compost to your garden soil, your plants will be healthier and more resistant to disease. This means you probably won’t need to use fertilizers, pesticides, etc. very often. Additionally, your soil will drain better. Thus, you’ll make better use of your water and prevent problems with root rot. Not to mention the fact that you’ll be sending less waste to the municipal dump.

There are dozens of models of compost bins on the market, including traditional compost bins, tumblers, compost cages, etc.

In addition to a compost bin, you may want to consider buying a few composting accessories such as a compost turning tool and a compost thermometer.

These gardening tools will help you product higher quality compost. Learn all you need to know about composting and composting equipment at the Compost Guide.

Popularity: 80% [?]

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Uses:

• Storing rainwater for use in the yard, garden, etc.

With a couple rain barrels set up around your house, you can save enough water when it rains to water you garden, wash your car, etc. This can have a big impact on your water bill. If you use rainwater to water your plants, you’ll probably notice that your garden plants will grow greener and healthier over time. Why? Because plants grow better with water that is chemical-free and naturally soft like rainwater.

Avoid using trash bins or barrels that are not specifically designed for storing rainwater. Check out the Rain Barrel Guide for more information and tips.

Popularity: 76% [?]

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Uses:

• Weeding
• Cultivating
• Working the soil

Just like a normal garden cultivator, a wheel cultivator will help you remove weeds and cultivate the soil.  However, their special design gives you extra flexibility and control when working in the garden. 

Popularity: 76% [?]

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Knowing the quality of your soil can really take the guess work out of gardening. With an electronic soil tester, you can quickly and efficiently test pH, soil moisture, and total combined nitrogen, phosphorous and potash levels. Some electronic soil testers will also give you a light intensity reading. This will help you locate your plants where they will get enough light to grow and thrive.

Popularity: 77% [?]

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Vertical grow bags are fantastic gardening gadgets that allow you to grow both vegetables and ornamental plants in a small space. If you live in an apartment with a small patio, grow bags like the award winning Topsy Turvy Planter will allow you to garden, even if you have virtually no space.

Popularity: 78% [?]

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Garden stools allow you to work in your garden while seated in comfortable position. They are handy for older gardeners who tire after kneeling for long periods of time. You can save both your back and your knees with a garden stool.

Popularity: 79% [?]

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There are many garden weeders now available on that market that claim be more effective than you common hoe or trowel for weeding. There are indeed a few garden tools out there that work very well for those tough weeds.

Try out Grandpa’s weeder, which has been around since 1913.

Another good option is a corkscrew weeder. These tools are designed to dig deep into the soil and pull out the weed by the root.

Popularity: 66% [?]

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Uses:

• Filtering and cleaning soil, compost, gravel, etc.
• Spreading small quantities of seeds, fertilizers, etc.

Garden sieves are very handy pieces of equipment that will improve the quality of your soil, compost etc. Look for garden sieves that fit directly over your wheelbarrow. You can remove sticks, rocks, etc. from your soil or compost with a garden sieve. High quality plastic sieves won’t rust and will last a long time.

Popularity: 69% [?]

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Uses:

• Weeding
• Cutting
• Digging holes for transplanting

A Japanese Hori-Hori knife is sort of a mixture between a trowel and a multi-purpose knife. The blade is concave like a trowel so it’s suitable for digging and weeding, and because it has a nice sharp blade, you can cut anything from garden twine to vines with it.

Popularity: 67% [?]

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Uses:

• Trimming trees and shrubs
• Breaking down garden waste

Chain saws are nice to have if you have large trees and shrubs in your landscaping that require regular maintenance. As with chipper shredders, mowers, etc., we recommend electrical chainsaws for the garden as they are better for the environment. There are also manual chainsaws which allow you to use your own human energy to cut quickly through garden debris.

Popularity: 65% [?]

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Uses:

• Shredding garden waste
• Making mulch for the garden

Chipper shredders are handy tools if you want to break down garden debris. If you have a lot of trees and shrubs that you prune regularly, a chipper

shredder is definitely a useful tool to have in your garden shed. There are electric chipper shredders available that are good alternatives to the noisy gas guzzling models.

Popularity: 66% [?]

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Uses:

• Mixing compost into the soil
• Breaking up tough soil
• Tilling garden soil

Power tillers can save you lots of time preparing garden beds for planting. If you’re a serious gardener with big plots of veggies, this can be an indispensable tool. Even if you don’t have a big garden, a small electric tiller can really help in the garden.

You can pick from gasoline powered tillers or electric models. If you’re working an extra large garden plot, it’s more sensible to use a bigger, gas-powered tiller. If you have a smaller plot, a smaller electric tiller is very useful. Remember that electric garden tools are quieter and better for the environment. Most gardeners prefer a tiller with a forward and a reverse gear.

Popularity: 65% [?]

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Uses:

• Garden and yard cleanup
• Spreading compost, mulch, etc.
• Smoothing out garden soil

An all purpose garden and yard rake is an essential tool for basic yard and garden cleanup. You can also purchase a bow rake with thick, heavy tines. Bow rakes are better working the soil and preparing garden beds for planting.

Popularity: 66% [?]

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Uses:

Cleaning up grass and leaves in the lawn

Leaf caddies are handy garden gadgets that can help you with general lawn cleanup. Leaf caddies also allow you to avoid the strain on your back and knees from stooping up to bag up leaves, grass clippings, and garden debris.

Popularity: 100% [?]

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Uses:

• Reducing soil compaction in your lawn
• Improving soil quality

Lawn aeration involves punching holes into your lawn or removing small soil plugs throughout your lawn. Lawn aeration ensures that your soil will have plenty of air pockets so that the roots of your grass can grow strong and healthy. Lawn aeration help reduce problems related to soil compaction, which happens as a results of the traffic and activity on your lawn. Aerating your soil will also allow beneficial soil organisms to thrive.

Lawn aerators are available as core aerators or spike aerators. Core aerators actually remove soil plugs in your lawn, opening up the soil and allowing air and water to better reach your grass’ roots. These are big pieces of equipment that you’ll need to rent from your local garden supply store.

An inexpensive alternative that will work for the average homeowner is a spike aerator. Spike lawn aerators are available in different styles, including manual push aerators. There are even lawn aerating shoes that allow you to aerate your lawn while you mow your grass.

Popularity: 80% [?]

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Uses:

• Spreading fertilizer
• Spreading granular pesticides

Fertilizer spreaders come as either drop spreaders or broadcast spreaders. Many granular fertilizers and pesticides should be distributed with a spreader. The use of a spreader ensures an even distribution of the product throughout your lawn.

Take into account that a drop spreader is best for working in irregular spaces with definite borders. A broadcast spreader dispenses fertilizers and other products over a large area, but you may end up shooting the fertilizer wider than you’d like and where you don’t want it.

Read this handy website from the University of Florida on how to use and calibrate your fertilizer spreader.

Popularity: 67% [?]

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