Over the years I’ve tried my share of gardening tools. Along the way, I’ve spent (and wasted) a lot of money. But it hasn’t been a total loss. Some of those purchases have resulted in the tools I can’t live without, including what I consider my top 12 tools to make your gardening life easier too.
As I prepared for this episode, I narrowed the focus to those primary tools needed for the basics we all face no matter our experience or size of land under our watch. With that in mind, here are some of my must-have tools with specific preferences for tackling those never-ending tasks, including pruning, digging, sowing, weeding, hauling, composting, growing and taming, and even keeping up with the weather.
One of my favorite tasks around the garden and landscape is pruning. Here I have three of my favorite tools: Atlas gloves, Corona bypass pruners, and my triple sheath that also holds my folding pruning saw.
To start, I imagined what I’m grabbing every time I head out the door for my next gardening adventure. I’ve become so attached to a few essentials, I have duplicates stationed by every door. Suffice it to say, I’d feel naked in the garden without them. So join me as I take you into my garden and share what I’m using and loving to facilitate some of those tasks we’re all facing as gardeners and weekend warriors.
Footwear
When I think of comfort and functionality for my feet, it’s Muck Boots. I was first introduced to them many years ago by a gardening friend. She wore them all the time—not just in the garden. They were her all-the-time shoes because they were that comfortable. But their greatest attribute is keeping your feet totally dry and warm in the muddiest conditions, combined with the ease of slipping them on and off at the door. I have pairs in two styles and I love them both. Built to last and worth every penny, I consider my Muck Boots as the ultimate gardening and anything-else-you-can-think-of-outside shoe.
Gloves
I’m not sure gardening gloves count as tools, but every gardener has a pair or two and I’m no exception. But, there’s really only one pair of gloves that I wear for all but the toughest jobs: Atlas Gloves. They fit like a surgeons glove and have all the feel you’ll ever need. They’re surprisingly durable, ergonomically snug and incredibly comfortable.
Just another typical day in the garden for me, which will nearly always include wearing my Atlas Nitrile Gloves and Muck Boots. Even red Georgia clay is no match for either.
Almost like a second skin, they’re perfect for sowing seeds, planting, and weeding. The Nitrile coated palm and fingers are tough and impervious to soil and water (although not designed to withstand thorns; nothing’s perfect). Tossing them in the washing machine makes clean-up a breeze! I can’t imagine a day in the garden without them. They’re remarkably long-lasting and at such an affordable price, I always have multiple pairs on hand.
Pruners
If you asked any serious gardener and horticulturist about their favorite piece of equipment, it’s a safe bet that the most common response would be their pruners. In fact, we actually did just that in a recent survey and that’s precisely what we found. And it’s true for me as well.
The industry standard and a workhorse for gardeners and weekend warriors alike is a well-made pair of bypass pruners. (They’re called bypass because, during the cutting stroke, the top blade passes by the bottom “hook” as it slices through the plant part).
Part of what differentiates a good pair of pruners is the balance and the way they feel in your hand. Two of the most popular brands are Felco and Corona, both have very similar styles, including models designed for lefties. I also like that all parts are replaceable. Buy them once and you’ll have them for a lifetime. “Joined at the hip” takes on a whole new meaning when you finally find that pair of pruners you love.
Most pruner styles (including Felco and Corona) have a locking mechanism to keep the tool closed when not in use. It’s typically located near the pivot point. You engage and disengage it with your thumb. While it’s convenient, it’s not for everyone. For that reason, there’s a third option I like – Okatsune Buypass pruners, the number one choice of professional gardeners in Japan.
The Okatsune bypass pruners on top use a locking system located at bottom of the handles. The Corona, Felco and many other brands, use a thumb engaged mechanism located just under the blade.
Okatsune pruners locking mechanism is located at the bottom of the tool and out of the way (not up by the fingers as with Felco and Corona). So it keeps the blades from accidentally locking closed when in use. The razor-sharp blade cuts like a dream. However, the blade and parts are not replaceable (unlike Felco and corona). Fortunately, they hold their edge and only require occasional sharpening to restore them to their original state. They come in three sizes (small, medium and extra large and are especially suited for people with smaller hands. If you buy these, I suggest you get the next size up from what you think you need.
Soil Knife (and so much more)
I am forever searching for that one tool that truly does it all—weeding, digging, cutting, dividing, scraping, measuring, prying, and even opening my beer at the end of a productive day. Okay, the bottle opener feature doesn’t exist yet, but here’s hoping it’s in the next revision of A.M. Leonard’s stainless steel soil knife.
If you know the classic Hori Hori knife, you have a good idea of what I’m describing. The soil knife is as close as it gets to a single tool that does so many things in the garden. Like the Hori Hori, the six-inch stainless steel blade is very stout. But here’s where the A.M Leonard design wins me over. The composite handle is very comfortable in my hand. I also like that its handle is an easy-to-find high-visibility orange and not made of wood. With a lifetime guarantee, this knife packs a lot of big features at a very affordable price. I can say with certainty, this is the most-used tool in my entire arsenal.
The classic Hori Hori knife on top is a tried and true favorite of many gardeners. However, my favorite is the A.M Leonard Soil Knife. I find the handle extremely comfortable, and the orange color makes it easy to find when you lay it down in the soil and mulch.
Sheath to hold them
The dual soil knife and pruner sheath is one of those accessories that you don’t fully appreciate until it’s missing. And then you’re obsessed with getting it back. While every good pair of pruners needs a good sheath, every good gardener knows that’s not all you need on your hip at the ready. As you know by now, the other must-have is a great soil knife. The trick is having both tools in one place.
Enter the Dual Soil Knife and Pruner Sheath. I can’t imagine one without the other by my side and the dual sheath makes that possible in the most efficient way. The unique value of this convenient combo was made quite apparent when a viewer of Growing A Greener World wrote me to ask where he could get the very same thing he’s seen by my side many times on the show. It caused me to reflect just how much I use (and love) my dual sheath, and how I can’t recommend it strongly enough.
Here are five of my pruning sheaths. They’re all designed to hold a different combination of tools. And when you have a really busy day in the garden, the one in the middle holds a third tool, my trusty pruning saw.
Weeding
With no shortage of weeds for trialing tools to remove them, I’ve likely given most of them a workout. And I’ve finally settled on a favorite. The scuffle hoe, aka winged-weeder or diamond hoe reigns supreme. Its three or four-sided, steel blade slides smoothly along the soil surface while severing roots on the push and the pull. Surface rooted weeds are no match for this easy to use weeding tool.
While several companies make a version of this tool, finding the proper handle angle and length are key factors for peak efficiency with the least effort. I find a long handle and angle where the tip meets your breast bone provides the ideal combination.
My scuffle hoe of choice is the DeWit Diamond Hoe (model D20). Unlike other versions I’ve seen, the 74-inch handle includes a “pistol grip” at the end of the handle that provides extra leverage and makes using this tool even more of a pleasure.
The DeWit Diamond Hoe cuts on the push and the pull, thanks to its very sharp stainless steel blade on all four sides. The unique features of this tool include the extra-long shaft and the pistol grip handle. Using this tool actually has me looking forward to weeding.
For a hand-weeding tool, I have two favorites. The first is also made by DeWitt. It’s called the Cape Cod Weeder (aka Japanese Hand Hoe). It’s the popular New England based design with a small blade on the inside of the surface that cuts on the backstroke.
My other hand-weeding tool of choice is the CobraHead, especially for tap-rooted weeds. Without the right tool to extract them, the weed will quickly grow back. That’s no longer a problem with the CobraHead. I like the design in how you approach the weeds from the backside and pull towards yourself. I actually derive great pleasure in popping tough tap-rooted weeds out after plunging the CobraHead into the soil and under the weed and roots.
The Cobrahead feels great in your hand, is fun to use and is even designed for precision weeding around tender plants. And between hard surfaces such as sidewalks and driveway cracks, it’s like a steel fingernail. It also comes in a long handle version if you’d like to do your weeding from a standing position.
The CobraHead hand weeding tool quickly won me over years ago because of its steel-like fingernail for easily removing any weed from hard-to-reach places, and its ability to quickly remove tap-rooted weeds intact (my favorite feature).
Soil Prep
Speaking or the CobraHead weeding tools mentioned above, its inventor is also responsible for another tool that I consider an essential factor in my soil success. These days we’re hearing more and more about prepping or amending soil or preparing a new garden bed without the use of a tiller. Using a no-till or no-dig method is fast becoming the option of choice for many organic farmers and gardeners who love their soil and want to protect it from the destructive impact of ripping into it.
I too embrace this philosophy. However, there are times when I want to create opportunities for more air and amendments deep into the soil than by simply topdressing. Accordingly, I’ve adopted what I call broad-dressing.
The technique uses my CobraHead broadfork to open deep pathways into the soil, with minimal disturbance. Consider it a soil-friendly alternative to a tiller. The only soil disturbance is the insertion of the broadfork tines that pierce easily into the soil. A slight rocking back and forth with the handles is all that is needed to loosen the subsoil and create deep access for a subsequent topdressing of compost.
The CobraHead broadfork is not likely a tool you will be using every day. But it is a tool that is worth its weight in the garden for opening up and loosening soil whenever the need arises. I use it about once a year before topdressing with compost. No other tool style does more without disturbing the soil.
While a quality broadfork is pricy, no other tool does what this can to open up the soil with minimal disturbance. And while it’s not something you’ll use all the time, if you’re serious about your soil, you will be glad you made the investment.
Hauling
If anyone is asking what you’d like for Christmas, birthday or any special occasion, or if you ever want to treat yourself to a garden tool you’ll love for decades to come, get a garden cart. You’ve seen them. They have bicycle tires and a wooden box structure. I was gifted my first cart over 25 years ago. It was (and still is) one of the best tools I’ve ever owned. The Carts Vermont garden cart I fell in love with over 25 years ago was only recently retired. My cart hauled more things than you can imagine, lived its entire life outdoors and was nearly as reliable and dependable in the 25th year of service as the day I bought it.
The classic cart comes in two sizes: large and mid-size. And believe me, you can’t go wrong with either (or both!). Carts Vermont gives you the option on the tire style you chose, solid rubber or inflatable. I have the solid tires on my medium cart and the inflatable tires on my large cart. I’ve found that the inflatable tires definitely make the cart lighter to pull, push and maneuver. The downside will be having to deal with an inevitable flat tire sooner or later. Like with all things, there are tradeoffs for every option.
My Carts Vermont garden cart stays busy in and around the GardenFarm. This is the large style with the classic inflatable bicycle tube wheels.
Tubtrugs
These durable, colorful, lightweight garden tubtrugs have earned their keep as an indispensable resource here at the GardenFarm. Virtually indestructible, they’re perfect for even the toughest jobs. I use them for hauling, harvesting, weeding, mixing soil, storing, and so much more. Their flexibility provides incredible versatility for any gardening task.
Speaking from experience, one is never enough though… so do yourself a favor and buy several in various sizes. The colors will brighten up any garden while adding a touch of personal flair and unlimited utility in and around the garden.
Tubtrugs are ideal for so many tasks in and around the garden. One of the ones I use them for most is filling them with compost and distributing onto my garden beds for topdressing.
Composting
I’m a big composter and a huge fan of mulch. I use both all the time. Nearly 20-years ago, I discovered a tool that I’m still crazy about, and it still lives in my compost pile this very day. And when I need to spread mulch or scoop up either, I use this same tool – the Unifork. It’s part garden fork, part shovel, combining the best of both worlds.
My unifork is ever-present around my compost bin. It’s the perfect tool for turning compost, as well as scooping and moving mulch, and so much more. (photo: Courtesy Nancy Suttles)
Unlike heavy metal forks and shovels that can rust, and stainless steel that can be expensive, the Unifork is made of very strong, lightweight plastic so it can be left outside (right by your compost pile) with never a concern of rusting. The sides of the Unifork are slightly raised to work much like a scoop or shovel. And the rounded tips provide a better way to scoop mulch or compost from the surface without getting the prongs stuck in the ground. The D-style handle provides the perfect leverage and balance too. If you’re a composter or user of mulch, I am certain you will love this tool too.
Growing and Taming
If you’ve ever marveled at the way velcro works, you’ve likely found many uses for it. Well, back in 2003, I came across my favorite application for it as plant ties.
Velcro® Brands Plant Ties have become an indispensable way for me to secure plants to stakes, tame wayward tomato branches back to their cage, and so much more. You name it, and there is a use in the garden for it. Moreover, they last for years. Literally. I am still using the same pieces of ties that I first used years ago.
A roll of Velcro garden tape is always close by in the garden. I use it constantly to keep plants secured to stakes and trellises. You can see a small piece of it securing a pea vine to the trellis behind my hand. It’s nearly invisible in the garden.
Recently, I came across another option that I’m now using in a similar way. Soft-ties are rubber-coated wire that you cut to your desired length. The soft coating protects your plants and the wire interior makes it very strong yet easy to secure in place. For large, unruly tomato vines, I especially like working with the soft-ties. While I’ve only been using them for one growing season, I can see many more years of use from my original investment.
More Cutting and Pruning
Imagine having your favorite bypass pruners with an extra-long reach (62 inches) and even more cutting power. That’s what you get with the Long Reach Bypass Pruner from Corona. I am forever pruning small branches that are well out of reach of terra-firma. And I loathe having to drag out the ladder to do so. Nor do I want to wrestle my extra-long pole pruner with the rope that always seems to get tangled in the branches and around my feet.
After discovering this tool a few years ago, it’s been my go-to extended-reach pruner of choice. It’s long enough to get most of what I need without getting on a ladder. The blade will easily cut through branches up to 1.25 inches and the overall weight is under three pounds. It’s easy to use and store. And my favorite part; no dangling rope to get in the way. And for the perfectionist out there (like me), the cutting head tilts, swivels, and rotates 360 degrees for unlimited cutting positions.
For those hard to reach branches higher up, this extended reach pruner by Corona makes me smile. It keeps me on solid ground and works without any dangling cords or ropes. Activate the cutting blade from mid-shaft, or from the pull handle at the bottom.
Another option when you need to cut through thicker branches, or you just want to be right where the action is, is a pruning saw. Over the years, the one that lives on my hip for just such times is Corona’s RazorTOOTH folding pruning saw. It’s fast, efficient and a pleasure to use. The blade is made of high-carbon steel and is also coated for rust prevention and reduced friction during the cutting process. I also like this style because when not in use, the saw locks in a closed, folded position for easy and safe transport. This saw is available in a variety of blade sizes and can be replaced without having to buy a whole new tool.
Weather Monitoring
While we can’t change the weather, most gardeners have an obsession with wanting to know what’s happening with it; past, present, and future. That interest is certainly understandable; it has much to do with the success and failure of nearly everything we grow. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth pounds of harvest (or something like that).
While I know there are many choices for home weather monitor, I can tell you I’ve been very happy with the one I have – the Acurite Weather Monitor station. It measures temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall, wind speed, and direction. The separate display is bright, colorful and easy to read, and the free app makes accessing that data from anywhere via your desktop or phone a breeze- anytime, anywhere. I am constantly referring to mine and I love having access to all the real-time data no matter where I am. For the gardener who thinks they have it all, this will be a welcome addition.
My Acurite weather monitoring station in the GardenFarm garden keeps me abreast of current and historical data no matter where I am.
As I noted earlier, culling the list to a few essentials wasn’t easy but it was necessary to keep this conversation manageable. Rest assured, I have plenty of other tools I love and would happy to share with you again soon. You can count on that.
In fact, in preparation for my upcoming Master Seed Starting course launching in January, I’ve been testing all kinds of indoor lighting options and doing comparison studies to find out what equipment is worthwhile and what’s just a waste of money. I’m also comparing which growing mediums are easiest to maintain and promote the healthiest seedlings. And I’ll tell all in the course.
If it’s related to growing plants from seeds – no matter which technique you choose – this course will answer your questions and have you mastering the art of growing your own plants from seed for many seasons to come. I’ll also be inviting students to live Q&A webinars to ask any followup questions or help troubleshoot. So, don’t miss it!
You can sign up now to be notified once the course has launched and check out more details.
Don’t miss this recording either. You can scroll to the top of the page and click the Play icon in the green bar under the page title.
In the meantime, do you have a favorite must-have tool? I’d love to hear about it. Simply leave your comments below. I’m looking forward to reading what you love too.
Links & Resources
joe gardener Amazon Storefront: More of my favorite gardening tools, gear, and gadgets (including everything mentioned above)*
Episode 001-Pruning 101: The Pruning Basics From A to Z
Episode 016-Composting Guide A to Z: The Quick and Dirty on Everything Compost
Episode 030-Best Gardening Products Ever: Gear, Tools & Resources We Can’t Live Without
Episode 043-Raised Bed Gardening, Pt. 2: Perfect Soil Recipe
Episode 062: Great Garden Reads (A podcast episode about some of my favorite gardening books)
075-Top Questions for Composting at Home: You Asked, Joe Lamp’l Answers
Episode 114-Understanding Hydrangeas: Pruning, Blooming, Color-Forcing & More
Episode 124-Using Compost the Charles Dowding Way: More Than Just a Great Soil Amendment
joegardener Blog: Pruning 101: The Pruning Basics from A to Z
joe gardener Video: No-Till Gardening: If You Love Your Soil, Ditch the Tiller
joegardenTV YouTube Biggest Pruning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
joegardener Online Academy: Master Pests, Diseases and Weeds – Just $47 for lifetime access! Watch for my new course on seed starting coming in January!
Rain Bird®– Podcast episode sponsor and Brand Partner of joegardener.com
Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs – Podcast episode sponsor and Brand Partner of joegardener.com
*Disclosure: Some product links in this guide are affiliate links, which means we would get a commission if you purchase. However, none of the prices of these resources have been increased to compensate us. None of the items included in this list have any bearing on any compensation being an influencing factor on their inclusion here. The selection of all items featured in this post and podcast were based solely on merit and in no way influenced by any affiliate or financial incentive, or contractual relationship. At the time of this writing, Joe Lamp’l has professional relationships with the following companies who may have products included in this post and podcast: Rain Bird, Corona Tools. These companies are either Brand Partners of joegardener.com and/or advertise on our website. However, we receive no additional compensation from the sales or promotion of their product through this guide. The inclusion of any products mentioned within this post is entirely independent and exclusive of any relationship.
0 Responses to “131-My Top 12 Tools to Make Your Gardening Life Easier”
Thanks for the Christmas ideas! I’ve got family that want ideas next week. I’ve definitely got tubtrugs on the list. I’ve been debating about get one of those buckets with pockets on the side. Any recommendations?My best purchase this year is a triangle hoe from Johnny’s Select. I wrote them about my issue of a deep rooted grass (could have been from rye grass) and this is what they recommended. A bit pricey for my budget but I bit the bullet and it’s great.Thanks again!Shalom,
John Longard
Joe, ditto-ditto-ditto. The first three should be must haves for every gardener. After decades of wet shoes and socks and dirty scratched up hands I discovered muck boots and good fitting gloves. Both are located close to my basement entry. I wear the muck boots almost all of the time now like your friend Margaret and if the gloves aren’t on they are in the back pocket. You will appreciate the muck boots all the more when it gets harder to bend over to tie the boot laces. I am only wearing work or tennis shoes now when the grass is dry in the afternoon. And the pruners are in arms reach as soon as I open the garden shed door. I also like to keep one of those Fiskar small garden snips nearby for harvesting and opening small bag products. I never did have one of those soil knifes, that may be my next gift to myself. Joe one of my favorite hand tool holders is a 5 gallon bucket. I like to keep all of my small garden trowels, cultivators, weed tools, string, hatchet, tape measure and two small stakes for row lines in there to just grab out of the shed and go. If you really wanted to step it up a notch you could add one of those bucket buddies with various size holders that hang on the outside.And Erin, I appreciate the show notes more and more. They are great to be able to read on lunch break without disturbing anyone.” You complete Joe.”
Once again, Forrest, thank you for your thoughtful comment! I’m not surprised that you relate to many of my favorite items, and I can totally relate to your 5 gallon bucket reference. I too am a huge fan and use them often. I’ve lost count of how many I have but I can’t bear to part with a single one. They are indispensable in and around the garden indeed.Thank you yet again. I love reading your replies and honest feedback. it doesn’t hurt that we have a lot in common when it comes to our obsession with gardening and our love of seeking the next level.
Please keep your comments coming! If you do, I’ll keep reading and responding. I look forward to whatever you have to say next.
You are quite welcome Joe. If you love gardening like me and your other followers it is good to let you know that we are out here soaking it up every week. We greatly appreciate the work of your entire team and your guests who bring us all of this great content.Yeah, my wife wonders why I need so many buckets and she doesn’t even know of the ones I have out of view. I did get the rest of my garden beds smothered in leafs. And that reminds me that my other favorite tool is a snow shovel to scoop up those piles of leafs into a cart or big tarp bag. The unifork looks like it would be good for that also. Okay, its on my list.
I’ll keep that a secret between us on your attraction to buckets, Forrest. But I totally understand. And yes, I was thinking the unifork is the best of all worlds when scooping up leaves because it has just enough bite in the wide tines to grab on to the ones that might get away otherwise.
Hey Joe,Quick follow up question re: Garden Carts. I appreciate the thorough discussion of this style of cart, but could you expand a bit on the advantages of a garden cart style thing vs the more ubiquitous (and potentially cheaper) wheelbarrow?As a follow up question, I have a fairly small yard, in which the front and back yards are not easy to move between for a wheeled vehicle. There are steps one one side of the house, and a passage through a narrow shed on the other. This is amongst the reasons I use a push mower rather than a power mower, for example. Have you run across any cart or hauling apparatus that might be better at navigating steps or narrow passages?Thanks!
-Ben
Hi Ben. It may be that a one wheel, wheelbarrow is a better option for you given the limitations for maneuvering around your yard. I would say in all cases that’s a more nimble option. But the cart is nice because it’s very stable, it is very easy to pull or push, the back edge slides off for easier unloading or hauling bigger or longer loads, etc. But back to your situation, it would not be as maneuverable as a wheelbarrow. So the tradeoff is you won’t get as much in the wheelbarrow but you will get around your yard a bit easier it sounds like. Good question and thanks for asking Ben. Hope that helps.
It does, thanks!
Hi Joe, really enjoy your podcasts. One of the first things I check for on Thursday mornings. Regarding the Acurite 5 in 1 Weather Monitoring Station, I have one of those same units in my garden. One of the nicest features of that system is the ability to download 30 days worth of weather data to an Excel file. You can easily scroll through the data and, for example, find the exact date where the temp went below freezing. You can then have a very accurate picture of first frost date and in the spring last frost date. Thanks and regards, Roy
Hi, Roy. Good to hear from you.
I love that feature. Do you happen to know if you are able to do that on a Mac computer yet? I know that was a big limitation when I first go mine that precluded me from being able to have a lot of historical data saved. I’m hoping that’s changed. When I contacted them about my displeasure about that, they didn’t seem to be too concerned.
Hi Joe, you can initiate an data export using the Acurite iPhone app. Select CHARTS at the bottom of the screen and then touch the cloud icon with the downward arrow to the right of myAcurite at the top of the screen. Set a date range and then select contact to enter your email address. They will send you an email with a link to the chart data. The file is provided in CSV format which can easily be opened in Excel on the Mac or Windows environment. Only limitation at this point is that you can only download the previous 31 days of data. Hope that helps. I’d like to wish you and your family a very nice Thanksgiving.
Oh, that helps so much, Roy. Thanks for that. I wasn’t aware but will def. be doing that. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family as well!
Hi Joe. Something else I wanted to mention about the Acurite system. In addition to my 5 in 1 Weather Station, I’ve also added one of their Outdoor Monitors with Liquid & Soil Temperature Sensor. This is linked in to the overall system but is a separate device that sits in one of the beds of my garden. Nice way to monitor the temp inside a row tunnel and the soil temp underneath…or even the soil temp somewhere else in the garden. I’ve attached a pic of the device. https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Hi Joe, I am a big fan of your podcasts and youTube channel. Would you please make some videos about how you use these tools? It would be tremendous helpful to get some visuals.
Thank you!
Hi, Roy. I’m just now seeing this info you posted back 9 months ago. This is very interesting and I’m going to look into this. Thanks for sending this. I’m sorry it took me so long to reply.
Great idea, Hannah. Yes, I’ll sure do that. We start shooting videos again here in September so we’ll include this idea. Thanks for suggesting these.