The 10 Best Gardening Tools, Expert Tested & Approved
Whether you’re a seasoned horticulturist or a novice gardener, the proper gardening tools help make maintaining your garden more enjoyable. We’ve researched and tested dozens of gardening tools both in our lab and in our own backyard gardens, assessing how each performs for its intended purpose, as well as ease of use and overall value. All gardening tools are made with the specific purpose and activity in mind, however, we found what mattered in our purchasing decision for longevity, was the material and comfort of the tool. Home Improvement Everything on this list, from trowels to weeding tools, is manufactured with either aluminium, steel, or high-quality plastic to resist direct sunlight and other weather. They also need to resist drops and impact. Aluminium and steel will withstand rust with time and feel heavier and more premium in hand, while plastic is lighter and more manoeuvrable, but potentially less weatherproof. Prince Princess Home Seek tools with padded handles, ergonomic grips, shock absorption technology or other features that feel good in your hands over time. We love the options on this list because not only do they perform well, but they also don’t wear or tire out your hands while you’re gardening. That is, finding tools that function well, are made with solid materials, and feel good to use. Best Pruners Felco F-2 One-Hand Pruning Shear Buy Now – Amazon India Buy Now – Amazon u.s.a Don’t be deterred by the price tag of the Felco F-2 Classic Manual Hand Pruners. Though definitely a hefty initial expense, these hand pruners come with a lifetime warranty and last very nearly forever. In testing, we found that these pruners worked great for cutting through branches and shrubbery up to an inch thick in diameter in a backyard garden. The sap groove is another great feature that prevents the blades from sticking. Traditionally, this handle utilises hardened steel blades, a forged aluminium handle, and, importantly, an adjustable alignment. Its rubberised handle has shock-absorbing pads to ease the gardener’s grip. We did learn that the F-2 pruners are constructed for a larger hand, but Felco offers other models for smaller hands, such as the F-6. The rotating and ergonomic handles of the F-7 and F-8 pruners may be helpful to users who experience problems with their joints. Another nice touch is that they also sell a left-handed version for leftie gardeners, which means there’s a comfortable and effective pruning shear option for everyone. Dimensions: 9.25 x 4 x 1 inches | Primary Use: Trimming branches | Material: Aluminum Best Garden Knife Nisaku Hori-Hori Tomita Weeding Knife Buy Now – Amazon India Buy Now – Amazon u.s.a While you can get cheaper garden knives, the Nisaku Japanese Hori Hori Digging Tool is still a worthy bit of splurging thanks to its rugged, 7 1/4-inch long stainless steel blade that glides seamlessly through the soil. We found the Hori Hori incredibly effective at uprooting even the most stubborn of weeds, as it features a sharp edge designed to slice through roots with ease. The blade has a straight and serrated edge, which makes it a great tool for medium-light planting, flower dividing, and transplants for small plants. The depth markings on the blade also make it a good planting tool when it’s time to plant spring and summer bulbs. Overall we were impressed with this knife and understood why it was priced higher than many contenders on the market, but we were disappointed by its handle. It’s basically square, which makes holding on to it uncomfortable for extended periods and makes it precarious when you’re digging in really stubborn or rocky soil. The tool is worth making an investment if you would like to use a tool for weeding instead of removing it with your hands. Dimensions: 13 x 2.8 x 1.5 inches | Best for: Roursing weeds | Material: Stainless steel and wood Best Trowe Wilcox 14-inch Digging Trowel Buy Now – Amazon India Buy Now – Amazon u.s.a For its soil-slicing ability and long blade, we were impressed with the Wilcox All-Pro Heavy-Duty Digging Trowel. We believe that the lack of metal seams or brackets makes it less likely to rust or wear in the long run, even if its design might not excite a connoisseur. The maker also sells trowels that measure from 9 up to 18 in, though we tested the 14-in version. The design is supported by a lifetime warranty, which helps justify the eye-popping initial expense. Durability aside, this trowel is super handy and can even be used instead of a soil knife while still nailing its skill to more digging-intensive tasks. We also loved the depth markings that go along the edge of the blade — a helpful feature for planting bulbs and seedlings. We found that dirt can get stuck in the handle of this trowel because the blade of the trowel does not fill the entire circumference of the handle. It wouldn’t completely impede its function, but we think you would want to wipe away this nook with a dry cloth or paper towel instead of rinsing the blade, to avoid prolonged water exposure. Overall, we comfortably gripped this trowel and liked the length because it allows for better overall digging, as well, compared to trowels that are shorter. Dimensions: 14 x 3 x 0.2 inches | Best For: Planting | Material: Stainless steel Best Shovel Bully Tools 82515 14-Gauge Round Point Shovel PHOTO: Amazon Buy Now – Amazon India Buy Now – Amazon u.s.a Best of all, the Bully Tools 82515 14-Gauge Round Point Shovel is more than just a durable and long-handled shovel; it’s useful for a wide variety of gardening and lawn-care tasks. We haven’t had a chance to test this shovel, but we like that the handle is reinforced with fibreglass, which is stronger than equivalent wooden and plastic options.The steel blade is more rounded compared with other options, which may not make it ideal for puncturing into extremely rocky soil, but its long ferrule (the shaft that joins the handle and the blade) gives added durability for very tough jobs.Dimensions: 60 by 9.5 by 1.5 inches | Primary use: Digging | Material: Steel and fibreglass Buy Now – Amazon India Best Rain Gauge Stratus
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