Introduction

When you’re new to a hobby it’s easy to give in to emotions and go all out on buying gardening tools. You’ll waste a lot of money and won’t have sufficient storage for storing those tools. That’s not the case for topsoil. You can always search for “topsoil near me” and buy some from the nearest store for building new garden beds. Let’s check out the necessary tools you should own as a gardener.

The Tools

1. Gloves – Gardening is a wonderful, yet slightly dangerous hobby. A nice evening can quickly turn into a splintery and thorny annoyance if you don’t have the right pair of gloves. Protective gardening gloves are durable and protect you from prickly and sharp plant parts. When choosing a glove, make sure that it’s tough and durable while also being lightweight. Otherwise, you won’t be able to work with seedlings with enough care.

The fit of the glove is also very important so that it doesn’t slip off or leave blisters. Test the water resistance of the glove before buying it and make sure it’s breathable. That way your hands would stay cool and clean even when you’re dealing with wet soil full of worms. Gardening gloves should also have long cuffs to protect your forearms and wrists from scratches and prevent soil from getting in.

2. Garden fork – A garden fork is an efficient tool for digging into dense soil and turning it to amend compost or other materials. Choose a fork with a small curve at the spine so that it also acts as a pitchfork and helps while scooping mulch. On the other hand, if you have a garden with dense, rocky soil, choose a fork with a straight spine for strength and durability while digging. You should also prioritize square tines for your fork instead of flat ones for digging into dense soil.

3. Pruning shears – Pruning shears are very useful for checking the growth of plants that are trying to invade more space than necessary. There are different types of pruning shears on the market, and all serve an important purpose. For instance, anvil pruners with a sharp blade and a flat surface are similar to knives and are great for cutting dead wood. Using them on fresh plants harms the plants instead of leaving a clean cut.

On the other hand, bypass pruners have a sharp blade that passes by a sharp-edged flat surface and looks like giant scissors. These are better for green wood and live plants since they can make clean cuts and avoid unnecessary damage. You may also want to buy ratcheting pruners that increase cutting strength with minimal force and movement. They are great for people with arthritis or reduced hand strength.

When you buy pruners, make sure that you check the fit. They should fit in the palm of your hand so that they can be easily operated in the garden. You should also sharpen your pruners regularly so that they don’t injure plants and make cleaner cuts. If you want to cut thicker branches and reach areas that are less accessible, buy loppers. Think of them as pruners with long handles. 

4. Spade – Short-handled spades are small shovels that are workhorses of the garden. They allow you to easily dig up small holes for lifting sod, edging, transplanting, and moving small amounts of dirt. Make sure to buy a premium high-quality spade from a reputed manufacturer so that it can last you for decades.

While buying a spade, make sure that the top of the blade has treads so that they can be pushed by your feet with ease into the ground. For the handles, look for those made of ash hardwood. That material is great at absorbing vibration and shock. Choose spades made from high-quality and thick stainless steel. Get one with a short handle and another one with a long handle so that you can use the leverage when necessary.

5. Hoe – There are different types of garden hoe, and you should choose one depending on the type of garden you have. Perennial gardens would do well with a thinner hoe that allows for delicate control. On the other hand, a veggie garden would benefit more from a sturdy and wide hoe. You can use hoes for preparing flower beds, and gardens, and even for chopping off weeds. While buying a hoe, look for one that has a long reach and a comfy handle along with a harp blade. Flat hoes are good at turning soil while weeding hoes feature a squared-off head.

9. Garden hose with adjustable nozzle – Similar to the soil, water is one of the core foundational factors for garden life to thrive. That’s why you should invest in a good garden hose that can reach any part of your garden and spray all kinds of plants. You’ll find garden hoses in three types of diameters:

• ½ inch with a flow capacity of 9 gallons per minute.
• ⅝ inch with a flow capacity of 15 gallons per minute.
• ¾ inch with a flow capacity of 25 gallons per minute. 

Choose one that suits the size of your garden. The size of your garden would also determine the length of the hose. Hose length also affects water pressure. The longer the hose, the lower the pressure. Invest in rubber hoses instead of vinyl since they don’t kink easily and last longer. After using the hose, make sure to coil it up properly and store it under shade, out of direct sunlight. Eliminate kinks in the hose before storing to avoid building weak spots.

Conclusion

Gardening is a hobby that requires a lot of patience, and love and helps to reconnect you with nature. It’s important to have the necessary tools for gardening so that you can take care of your plants and build a beautiful garden without getting too tired. If you need soil for the garden, you can search for “topsoil near me” and buy some from the nearest garden center.