Essential Tools for the Beginner Gardener?

Hi all

Apologies if this has been discussed already, but I couldn't find anything when searching the forum...

Is there a list of essential garden tools which a beginner gardener should start off with? I'm guessing a spade and a fork will be handy, but not sure on best sizes, etc and I'm sure there are many things we haven't thought about.

Thanks!

 

Great- thanks John!

 

This article might help with your predicament;

 

I started off with just a spade and a trowel. Then later added a fork, a rake and a hoe. The collection grows as you go along. I wouldn't buy it all up front, just buy what you need, as you need it.

Cheap tools are generally ok, except when it comes to the spade. Cheap spades are heavy, badly shaped (causing back pain), and soon bend and snap anyway. Perhaps also secateurs should be half decent too. It depends on what you do most. I like digging, so I like a good spade. Some people seem to spend all their time pruning shrubs, so they'd probably be more interested in the best secateurs.

 

If you have a boot sale near you it's well worth a look. I've had new tools - Felco secateurs, hedge cutter for a fraction of the new retail price. You can also pick up used tools and in many cases these can be as good if not better than new ones as spades and forks if well used will be sharp.

I started gardening when a very impoverished student. Garden fork didn't have a handle, watering can was an old 1 gallon oil can with holes in the lid and I cut the small lawn with sheep shears.

 

Don't forget the humble sweeping brush,shovel and bucket

 

Thanks everyone- lots of good ideas! We bought a rake and a fork already and the mother in law is coming up with some old hand tools which will be very handy. Might need to get a decent spade soon as we're planning to do some digging this weekend!

 

Don't stint on the spade - a beginner gardener will use it a lot and I broke two before I bought a Fiskars spade which I love.

Never buy secateurs with only one blade - they're useless. I think secateurs are worth splashing out on.

And anything with a wooden handle is worth getting some linseed or teak oil into so it will last - old hand tools made with hardwood are often better than new ones - new all-metal hand tools look great but they just give you more metal to rust.

My wheelbarrow has an inflateable tyre - if I had my time again I'd always buy one with a solid tyre because punctures (caused by heat) are just too much of a pain.

An old kitchen cleaner bottle with the plastic mechanical spray mechanism: used for spraying vinegar at weeds, ants and slugs.

Bamboo sticks - lots of.

String.

Carborundum stone, for sharpening the mower blade.

A traditonal trug hand-basket. For putting your hand tools, string and pots into while you do a major gardening job. I haven't got one. I want one. It's why I keep losing my sunglasses.

 

A Halfmoon Lawn Edger, a genuine great all-rounder in the garden environment.